If you struggle to find time for things you love doing being busy with to-do lists and agendas, don't worry, we've got you covered. These six simple tips will help you be more productive during the day to get the most out of every working minute and free up space for fun.
1. Physical exercise
Working out doesn't just keep your body in shape, it also makes your brain perform better. It becomes sharp, your memory improves, and you study with more focus. UBC researchers proved that aerobic exercise helps our brain obtain better learning skills. Exercising keeps brain cells in a healthy shape, builds new blood vessels and neuronal connections. It’s been also stated that running has an antidepressant effect, so if you decide to go for a jog this morning, you will most likely face your day without any stress or anxiety.
2. Use mobile productivity apps
One of the best free apps to stay focused is Pomodoro Timer. The strategy is simple - you work for 25 minutes, then rest for 5. After 4 of such sets, you need to take a longer break of 25-30 minutes. Make sure you turn off all your phone notifications, otherwise, you will be distracted and the technique won’t work.
Another app you can use, but have to pay CAD$2.79, is Forest. Before performing a task you plant a seed, so every time you manage to stay put, a tree will keep growing. The more you do, the more trees will be in your forest. The catch is that if you leave the app, that tree will die. Moreover, the most amazing part is that if you buy virtual coins, the app developers will donate money to WeForest organization, and a real tree will be planted. So far, thousands of trees have been already put at different locations. Therefore, by staying focused you can also help our Earth.
3. Mental exercises
Exercising your brain will assist you in having mental clarity, an increased focus and faster thinking. Here is what you can do:
- Assemble puzzles
- Change your usual commute to or from work/school (and don’t cheat by using Google maps - use your inner compass)
- Try new hobbies, especially the ones which improve your fine-motor skills, like knitting or painting
- Meditate
- Learn a new language
- Use mind maps (Instead of just writing what you need to do or memorize, try to draw it. For example, put the main subject in the center of the list and then structure the idea with lines and symbols. The more colorful it is, the better.
4. Drink matcha tea instead of coffee
North Americans are big on having their coffee every morning, sometimes without thinking - just because it is a part of a culture. Yet, what if you can try being more mindful of what you consume? Coffee is well-known for a sudden energy boost for 1-3 hours, but then the effect wears off and you become even more tired than you were before. And, most of the people go and get that second cup… Matcha won’t do that to you: your energy level will be stable and stay with you for about 4-6 hours. L-theanine found in matcha tea encourages the production of alpha waves in our brains. That helps with staying more alert and productive during the workday.
5. Plan beforehand and prioritize
Make sure you always have a to-do list and follow it. Every time you have a task you don’t want to complete but have to, think of it as a frog (nobody likes frogs, right?) and tell yourself, “I’ll finish one frog a day.” So in this case, you don’t have to force yourself to deal with “all the frogs” on the same day.
Furthermore, setting clear goals of what you want to achieve is crucial - that will lead you in a right way. Also, if you know what you exactly want, it is easier saying no to the unnecessary projects. When I was in the journalism school, I was working on a particular human rights oriented project, so every time someone offered me to write about something else I would have to say no. I knew I wanted to make a difference with my article and even though some suggestions were tempting, I had to be firm and stay true to myself.
6. Make the best out of your travel time to/from work
I, personally, live extremely close to my workplace, but still, manage to upgrade myself in those 15-20 minutes of commute. I read books (audiobooks are super convenient too), listen to productivity podcasts, and check my emails. It is better than just staring out the window and I also manage to get some work done. Moreover, I stress out less about small tasks and zillion emails and focus on bigger projects when arrive.
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