How to Increase Productivity... Without Working Any Harder

Are you as productive as you could be at work? Honestly, think about it. If you’re like most workers, you probably have some room for improvement.

               One of the best ways to improve your productivity is not to look at your actual workload, but to make small lifestyle changes that will help you excel both at work and in your personal life. Follow these tips from Forbes to become more productive without actually working any harder.

1.      Sleep More- According to Gallup, 43% of Americans polled thought sleeping more would improve the way they felt. If you’re one of them, what’s stopping you? Try going to bed an hour earlier every single day for a week. Once you realize how much better you feel, you’ll never go back.

2.      Wake Up Early- As Ben Franklin said, “early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise”. Try getting up a bit earlier and using that precious extra time to plan out the day ahead of you rather than checking to see what you missed online while you were asleep.

3.      Try Meditation- More and more people are realizing the positive benefits for your mind, body, and soul that meditation can provide. Music streaming services like Spotify make it easy to access great meditation tracks any time of day.

4.       Find Time to Exercise- There have been countless studies explaining why exercising is good for the human body and mind. Fit it in before work, during your lunch break, or after you’re done at the office.

5.      Don’t Skip the Most Important Meal of the Day- Breakfast is a workday essential. If you find yourself running short on time in the morning, stock up on fruit and granola bars, or start meal prepping for a delicious and homemade grab-and-go option.

6.      Schedule a Mid-Day Nap- Feeling extra sluggish? Shut your office door and set an alarm for 30 minutes. Your work and mood will thank you. If you don’t have time for a nap, or the luxury of being able to shut yourself off from the office, take a quick break instead. A quick walk or just some precious seconds offscreen will help you refocus.  

7.       Make a To Do List… and Stick to It- Keep yourself organized and track your performance by creating a to do list. You can use this method for both daily goals and more long-term projects. Plus, nothing beats the feeling of crossing a task off your to do list when you finally complete it!