7 Simple Life Hacks That Immediately Boosted my Productivity

1) Keep a to-do list

Whether it’s in a notebook, a calendar, or on your smartphone, some people find it helpful to track their daily tasks and accomplishments. By writing down what you need to do and accomplishing those tasks (and checking them off!).

You can feel more accomplished and have less anxiety about forgetting something — which will help you focus on getting things done. Reducing your stress level means you’ll be able to better manage and enjoy your life, which will improve your productivity even more.

There are plenty of ways to keep track of what you need to get done — you can use a whiteboard, a notebook, or an app. Whatever method you choose, make sure it’s something that’s always available to you.

Some people like to assign tasks by importance — you may want to put your most urgent items at the top of your list so they don’t slip through the cracks.

If writing out everything seems overwhelming, try keeping it short and sweet — stick with three things at most and include only those things that need immediate attention.

If you’re trying to get more things done and improve your productivity, starting with a to-do list is one of your best bets. Keeping track of everything you need to do on a daily or weekly basis can help keep you on track.

If you start writing everything down as soon as it pops into your head, there’s no telling what could happen: Before long, your desk will be clear, and you’ll have completed several important tasks — and did all that in less time than usual!

2) Track your time

If you’re feeling unproductive or just want to improve your workday, start tracking how you spend your time. With a pen and paper, write down what you’re doing for each 10-minute block of time throughout your day.

If it helps, use an alarm clock to ring every 10 minutes; once it goes off, jot down how you spent that 10 minutes on a notepad beside your computer. Once a week (or as often as needed), review what you wrote down.

You might be surprised by how much time was spent doing unimportant tasks like opening junk mail or answering emails. Also, note what activities aren’t adding value to your day — and try to eliminate those things next week.

In order to save time and increase your productivity, it’s important to analyze where you spend your time. Knowing how you use your time can help you make better decisions about how to use it more efficiently.

Time tracking is often associated with small business owners and executives who need to account for every minute of their day.

Being able to accurately track how much time you spend on a particular task is one of life’s biggest productivity hacks. The problem with tracking your time, however, is finding a system that works for you.

Experiment with several different apps and techniques until you find one that helps ensure everything gets logged — and does so quickly and easily. One option: If you already use a project-management tool like Asana or Basecamp, try connecting it to your phone through an app like Toggl or RescueTime.

3) Prepare ahead

One of the easiest ways to boost your productivity is by preparing ahead. While we’re often told preparation is key, few people take that advice seriously.

I’m a big believer in clearing out my calendar at least 24 hours before an important meeting, brainstorming and planning what I’m going to say, then going over my notes and practicing those points so they’re quick, effortless, and conversational.

Then just when it’s showtime? I pretend like I don’t know anything about what’s going on so everyone else will be caught off guard as well! If you want to improve your productivity without a lot of work — just do some advance prep. There’s no shame in that game!

Try to have meals planned out at least a day or two in advance. Although you don’t need to obsessively plan each of your meals, prepping even one or two in advance makes it far easier to stick with your diet.

With fewer decisions to make throughout your day, you’ll find yourself more likely to follow through on eating well — and that’s what really matters.

A great time-saving tip is to prep as much food as possible before you sit down to eat. Cooking your own meals helps you control your diet and save a significant amount of money over eating out, so take advantage of it!

4) Take breaks

The solution to not getting things done is not working more, it’s finding a way to work smarter. This means taking breaks! Successful people are able to overcome procrastination because they know that even if they only get one hour of productive work done.

One hour is better than nothing. Here’s how you can become successful and stop procrastinating. Instead of sitting at your desk and forcing yourself to focus on your task list, take a five-minute break every 30 minutes.

When you come back to your desk, you’ll be refreshed and have new energy for completing your tasks. Taking time out of your day (even when you think it doesn’t matter) will lead to healthier habits and higher productivity down the road!

Some days, it may seem like you’re doing nothing but working. But if you know when to take breaks, they can be just as important to your productivity as working.

The key is to find healthy ways to relax throughout your day so that you don’t burn out. For instance, taking a quick walk around your office building during your lunch break can provide a much-needed mental reset.

I used to think that taking breaks at work was a waste of time. I’d rush through my tasks, only to make careless mistakes and burn out. Now I take regular micro-breaks throughout my day.

For example, taking 30 seconds to stretch or stand up and walk around. These little breaks keep me on task and greatly improve my productivity.

5) Start earlier

An efficient way to organize your day is to start earlier. I always found that if I woke up 15 minutes earlier than usual, I could knock out a full morning’s worth of work before 9 am — without sacrificing any time for lunch or personal tasks.

Waking up early also saves you from wasting time feeling rushed. In fact, psychologists say that if you wake up 10 minutes earlier each day, in two weeks you will experience a 33% increase in productivity.

a recent study conducted by Vodafone of 2,000 British office workers found that people who start their workday earlier are generally more productive than those who start later.

The reason? Those who woke up early felt better able to focus on work and get things done. So, if you’re feeling sluggish before lunchtime, consider waking up a bit earlier to supercharge your productivity.

You’ve probably heard about one of these famous morning routines, like getting up at 4 am to meditate or something along those lines.

The problem is that most people don’t have time to cram such rituals into their day — but what they do have time for is getting up a few minutes earlier than normal and starting their day with a quick workout.

6) Get more sleep

A lot of people think they get by just fine on five or six hours of sleep, but that only compounds their fatigue and makes it harder to get anything done. If you’re not getting enough sleep, try setting an alarm for ten minutes earlier than usual and see if that helps.

Eventually, you’ll find a good rhythm for your body. Once you do, getting enough rest becomes easier. You’ll feel better in general and be able to concentrate better — which means you can accomplish more in less time (and become more productive).

Sleep is a powerful weapon for productivity. Studies show that after just 17 hours without sleep, you’re as impaired as someone legally drunk. Even if you’re well-rested, can’t get eight hours in one night?

Try setting an alarm to wake up during a lighter sleep phase — you’ll feel more rested than if you spent an entire night in bed.

Sleep is a powerful performance booster. Getting less than six hours a night leaves you groggy and lowers your ability to think straight, so get yourself on a sleep schedule that ensures you’re getting quality zzz’s each night.

Sleeping longer doesn’t necessarily mean sleeping better, though — it can just leave you feeling tired and unproductive during waking hours. Instead of extra shut-eye, try going to bed earlier so you can wake up in time for work.

7) Exercise regularly

If you’re like most people, your typical Monday-through-Friday routine includes slumping in front of a computer for hours on end. This reduces blood flow to your muscles and slows your metabolism.

It can also make you cranky and unfocused. So break up long periods of sitting with short bursts of exercise — don’t just sit there, stand up! Even if it’s just two minutes at a time, that’s still better than nothing at all.

You can even do quick exercises in your office chair: Just sit straight with good posture, place both hands on top of your desk (or any flat surface), and then lift one foot off the floor about six inches.

Go for a walk every day. It doesn’t have to be for long — even half an hour can work wonders for your health and productivity. I used to dread going to the gym, but now I try to get there at least twice a week (walking is totally free!)

If you hate exercising, try getting up earlier in order to fit it into your schedule. This can make even 15 minutes of morning exercise seem much more manageable; plus, getting up early will give you extra time throughout your day.

If you’re feeling sluggish and out of shape, a regular exercise routine will not only make you feel better but also boost your productivity. Even just a half-hour of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise.

Like walking briskly or cycling can make a noticeable difference in your energy levels and ability to focus. Make sure you do some type of activity on most days to keep yourself energized, fit and motivated.