how to improve logo

How to improve my productivity?





In general, people found these activities the most helpful:


  • If you have symptoms of depression, or other mental health conditions, consider contacting a psychiatrist about therapeutic or drug interventions.

  • Set your own goals and deadlines, and schedule them

  • Be accountable to someone-- a coach, supervisor, colleague, online coach, putting your goals online somewhere, joining a class, or using apps (https://medium.com/better-humans/6-accountability-apps-that-will-skyrocket-your-success-6a3c1821e15b) including Beeminder

  • Consider tracking how you use your screen time (e.g. Time Doctor, RescueTime), and then possibly blocking specific websites based on your goals (apps for blocking (https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/10-distraction-killing-tools-for-better-concentration.html), SelfControl, Freedom, StayFocusd and Anti-Social)

  • Clear your screen when you're working on a task so that only the relevant applications / screens are available

  • Avoid monitoring your inbox continually

  • Removing message alerts off of your computer

  • Limit the number of tabs you have open

  • Collect information on how you use your screen time (e.g. Time Doctor, RescueTime), and then possibly blocking specific websites based on your goals (apps for blocking (https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/10-distraction-killing-tools-for-better-concentration.html), SelfControl, Freedom, StayFocusd and Anti-Social

  • Turn off notifications on your phone, and check it once an hour

  • Charge your phone somewhere other than your work desk

  • Collecting information on how often you use your phone (apps include https://blogs.systweak.com/best-phone-usage-tracker-apps-2017/), and then limit phone usage based on your goals

  • Collecting information on how often you use your screen time, and then block specific websites based on your goals or limiting usage

  • Establish a working environment where you have to make few decisions-- everything is optimized for you to make progress without friction

  • Optimize your environment based on your working habits.

  • Develop established morning habits to get you ready to work.

  • Can you make better use of your commute time?

  • Avoid multitasking

  • Block tasks, group similar tasks together; for example, by scheduling a block where you spend a couple of hours on email, or by setting aside 5 minutes every hour to work on them

  • Reduce the number of meetings you take

  • Be more unavailable on messaging channels

  • Dissuade colleagues from engaging you unless necessary, e.g. by wearing headphones

  • Use Trigger-Action Plans-- when you want to execute a plan, set a trigger (e.g., seeing a particular sign for a staircase in your office building) and execute a plan (e.g., taking the stairs rather than the elevator) every single time, such that you remember and it becomes a habit

  • Monitor and track progress towards your goal

  • Consider getting an accountability partner-- a coach, supervisor, colleague, online coach, putting your goals online somewhere, joining a class, or using apps (https://medium.com/better-humans/6-accountability-apps-that-will-skyrocket-your-success-6a3c1821e15b) including Beeminder

  • Break down your goal into many smaller steps, and celebrate achievements of each of those smaller steps.

  • Ask yourself "If I hypothetically failed to execute this plan, what probably went wrong?" Simulate the experience, and once you have an answer, edit your plan until that probably won't go wrong. Then ask yourself "If I hypothetically failed to execute this revised plan, what probably went wrong?" Iterate until you're fairly certain you'll succeed in the plan.

  • When plans involve other people, try spending some time simulating the experience so you'll know what the likely responses are.