8 Productivity Hacks To Stay Focused

Staying focused can be a real struggle. We have to deal with so many things at the same time in our daily lives that it's almost impossible to simply focus on one task without one hundred and one other preoccupations interfering with our focus and attention.

Learning to be more focused and productive can be a huge challenge but it can also be life-changing. This is why it's essential to arm ourselves with some productivity tips, tricks, and tools to help us stay focused and get things done properly and on time.

Productivity and focus are skills that can, fortunately, be acquired. These are 12 productivity hacks to help you stay focused. Simple but effective

1. Start with a simple task

This may be controversial but from personal experience, this is what works the best.

Starting your day by completing a simple task and ticking it off from your to-do list can have a huge impact.

The most important thing is that it boosts your motivation and self-confidence. The feeling of already having completed and accomplished something, no matter how small really boosts your energy and motivation in wanting to complete the rest of the list.

Another reason this is so important is that when you leave the simple tasks to the end, what happens is that generally you get so stuck and frustrated with the most difficult task or you spend so much time on it, that at the end of the day, you just want to call it quits and rest. You postpone the simple tasks that are left because they're "easy and simple" compared to the hard ones you already did. You end up with a longer to-do list for tomorrow and a feeling of unsatisfaction because you couldn't complete today's list.

So please take my word on this one, and start with the easy task first. You want to start with empowerment.

2. Time dedication

In my opinion, this is one of the most effective productivity tips.

It's not enough to have a to-do list for the day, it's actually more important to have a specific time as in what hour or how many hours are dedicated to each task or thing you have to do.

Instead of simply noting down that you have to go to the supermarket today, it's way more effective to specify exactly at which hour or which time frame (between 3 pm and 5 pm for ex) you should be going.

3. Use the magic of automating

Technology is not always your friend (in my humble opinion) but in this case, it is a very dear friend.

Learn to use the magic of automating and the power of technology to get your tasks done more easily and quickly whenever it is possible. This tip not only helps you be more productive and focused on the most important task, but it's also both time AND energy saving.

Whether it's using apps that automate your monthly bill payment system or automating your email folder organization system, you can always rely on this side of technology to get more things done with minimal effort and headaches.

4. Use a calendar planner

It's very important to keep track of schedules and deadlines. And it's just as important to keep track of the different time frames for your goals and tasks (weekly, monthly, yearly) because it helps you decide on your priorities and is the basis for planning your schedules.

For this, I believe that even if you're not a planner, you have to use at least a simple calendar or if you really hate calendars (I do!) then use a simple note-taking app.

5. Figure out your time holes

You can't stop wasting time and focus if you don't first figure out where does exactly your focus and time get wasted on.

So do a bit of introspection and figure out your time holes. What times of the day do you waste being completely unproductive (when you're not supposed to! I'm not talking about me or leisure time) and doing what. Once you do this, you can make better choices and be simply more mindful.

A common example of a time hole for many is social media of course; We decide to check out Instagram for ONLY a minute then next thing you know, we've been scrolling down for an entire hour.

6. Don't procrastinate in the morning

It's really a case of starting as you mean to go on.

Once you start procrastinating in the morning, you just get more lazy and lazy and you set yourself up for a day lacking in productivity and focus.

You think I'll just watch half an hour of this show, next thing you know, you're too relaxed and you are in no mood to work. You only wanna binge watch your favorite series for the entire day!

So if you want to have a focused and productive day, eliminate any urge to procrastinate in the morning and get things done and out of the way

7. Manage your phone notifications

If you don't check your phone settings and turn off some app notifications, you're likely to be bombarded with them; And unfortunately, it's very hard to resist the temptation to check everything that comes on your screen. So do yourself a favor and turn off your "secondary" and non-urgent notifications.

What I suggest is to dedicate certain time to checking certain apps and platforms like your emails for example.

8. Take small breaks

Yes, rest is as important as work.

Think of a phone that needs to be recharged every few hours. Humans are not so different. Every few minutes make sure to take a break, even if it's just for 5 minutes.

This is very important because when you're in the midst of a task, stress, and pressure can make it very hard to focus. For example, while it normally would take you only a few minutes to come up with a solution, under stress you may keep running yourself in circles for hours.

Taking a pause or a break allows you to take a step back, clear your head and look at the picture in a better way. You will come back to your tasks with more focus and intention. This actually can save you a lot of time and ultimately help you be more productive.

These 8 productive hacks are very simple to apply and get used to but I promise they're quite effective in helping you stay more focused!

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