Productive Not Busy Podcast - 11 QUICK TIPS TO Add Hours to Your Day

11 QUICK TIPS TO Add Hours to Your Day

08/08/22 • 7 min

3 Listeners

You can’t wave a magic wand and make the day longer. But there are things you can do to save time. And there are things you can do to maximize what you accomplish with your time. In essence, you can add hours to your day. This will require a change in your habits, but many of these strategies are self-rewarding. Once you see the benefits to be gained, you’ll be motivated to continue. Follow these tips to add hours to your day and accomplish more: 1.Put things away when you’re done with them. Rather than creating clutter which gets in your way and is emotionally distracting, put things away when you’re done using them. Tell yourself that a task isn’t complete until everything is picked up.

2. Do easy things during your least productive hours. Everyone has a time of day when their physical or mental energy is low. Schedule easy tasks during these times. It can be a good time to read emails, file papers, or tidy up.

3. Do your most challenging tasks during your most productive hours. Likewise, you have a time of day when your focus and energy are high. Do your most challenging tasks during this time.

4.Reduce the amount of time spent on low-value activities. You might be surprised by how much time you spend watching TV, surfing the internet, or texting friends. Putting this time to better use can easily add a few hours of productive time for most people.

5.Batch your activities. Answer all of your emails at once. Pay all of your bills twice a month. Remember that it takes time to switch tasks and regain your focus.

6.Make use of waiting time. If you’re stuck in traffic, make your phone calls. If you’re waiting at the doctor’s office, deal with your email. Waiting for your child to get dressed? Clean up the kitchen.

7. Track your time. The average person has little idea how they spend their time. Track how you spend your time for a week. Every 30 minutes record how you spent the last half-hour. Divide your activities into different categories and see how much time you spend on each.

8. Get help. Ask for help at work. Give your spouse or children some tasks to do at home. Is your mother constantly asking you if she can help? Give her something to do. Hire someone to mow your grass. Hire a cleaning service. Buy your groceries online and have them delivered. Pay someone to run your errands.

9. Schedule your day. Make the most of each day by making a schedule and sticking to it. Decide the most important tasks that need to be done and do those. You’ll waste less time and add hours to your day.

3. Do your most challenging tasks during your most productive hours. Likewise, you have a time of day when your focus and energy are high. Do your most challenging tasks during this time.

5.Batch your activities. Answer all of your emails at once. Pay all of your bills twice a month. Remember that it takes time to switch tasks and regain your focus.

Previous Episode

Getting Organized and Energized

Few things are as emotionally draining as living a life that’s out of control. We become accustomed to living this way and fail to realize there’s a better way. With a few simple tips, you can gain control over your life and your sanity. Some of us have a natural knack for keeping our lives neat and tidy. For others, it can be a real struggle. Enhancing your organizational skills might not sound like a lot fun, especially for those that are least organized. However, the payoff for organizing your life can be huge. Give it a try and see for yourself. Use these tips to gain energy and peace of mind by becoming more organized: 1. Tidy the spaces you use the most. The spaces you use the most, often the kitchen area and office, tend to accumulate the most clutter. This clutter drains your energy and weighs on your mind. It’s frustrating to constantly have things in your way. This is a great first step to getting organized and boosting your mood. 2.Make lists. You might be great at keeping track of things in your head, but it comes at a price. The things you have to remember take part of your attention and mental resources. It’s much easier and more effective to simply write down the things you need to do. As long as you remember to check your list, you can never forget anything. It’s much easier to do that than to remember multiple things.

Next Episode

7 BRAIN HACKS THAT Boost Productivity

7 Brain Hacks That Boost Productivity

Productivity is important because it relates to income and time. The more productive you are, the more money you can earn in many situations. You can also save time. That time can be spent on anything you like, including making more money. There are many obstacles to productivity, such as a lack of focus, a lack of intention, a lack of stamina, and too many distractions, to name a few. Hack your brain and increase your productivity with these strategies: 1. Set an intention. Most people can’t focus because they’re not truly clear on what they want to focus on or for how long. Give yourself a fighting chance by choosing a specific task for a specific amount of time. For example, you might decide you’re going to work on your tax return for 30 minutes. Set a timer and do your best for those 30 minutes. Your brain will do its best to give you what you want if you give it clear instructions.

2.Meditate. Meditation helps to build focus and calm your mind. Meditation is incredibly popular right now, so there is plenty of free information on how to meditate effectively. Educate yourself and get started. It’s simple and effective.

3. Take regular breaks. Experiment with break frequency and duration. The best option for most people is either 25 minutes of work and a five-minute break, or 50 minutes of work and a 10-minute break. Discover what works best for you and then stick with it. Timers can be powerful tools.

4. Avoid giving in to temptation. Most of us give in to the temptation of distraction far too easily. It’s a very difficult habit to break. We quickly go from feeling bored or stressed to amused. It feels good to check email or read a text. The most productive people are able to overcome the urge to break their attention from their work task. It’s important to avoid these distractions during your breaks, too. It’s too hard to get back on task, and your breaktime magically extends from five minutes to 25. Learn how to say “no” to your urges.

5. Alternate high and low-focus tasks. Many people report greater productivity when they alternate between cognitively intense activities and those that require less intellectual effort. It’s similar to interval training in the gym. Lower-level activities might include returning calls and emails, or other routine work. The lower-level activities give your brain a rest and the chance to recover. Soon, it’s ready for another round of more intense activity.

6. Drink plenty of water. Most people are partially dehydrated. The solution is to drink plenty of water. That doesn’t mean you have to be chugging 20 ounces of water every hour. But, a 20-ounce bottle of water every few hours would be beneficial to most. So many metabolic processes require water that you’re not at your best if you’re dehydrated.

7. Develop a positive mindset. A positive outlook on life makes you more productive. Studies show that mindset affects productivity. Work on having a positive outlook and you’ll accomplish more each day. You’ll also be a lot happier. Productivity should be important to everyone. Time is your most valuable asset, so do what you can to maximize it. We can all be more productive, but it doesn’t happen by magic. It must be a priority if you want to see real results. Dedicate yourself to maximizing your productivity. Give your brain every chance to be your ally on this important journey.