On average, most people work between 5 and 9 hours per day. If you’re like most people, your workday is a blend of low-velocity work mixed with continual distraction (e.g., social media and email). Most people’s “working time” is not done at peak performance levels. When most people are working, they do so in a relaxed fashion. This makes sense, as they have plenty time to get everything done.
However, when you are results-oriented, rather than “being busy,” you’re 100 percent on when you’re working and 100 percent off when you’re not. Why
Focus on the Most Important Task (MIT)
A Most Important Task (MIT) is a critical task that will create the most significant results. Every day, create a list of two or three MITs, and focus on getting them done as soon as possible. Keep this list separate from your general to-do list. A “Most Important Task” (MIT) is a critical task that will create the most important results you’re looking to achieve. Everything on your plate is not critically important, so don’t treat everything on your task list equally. By taking a few minutes to identify a few tasks as particularly important, you’ll make it easier to focus on achieving them first.
Work in short bursts
The Pomodoro Technique is all about working in short, productive, intensely focused bursts and then giving yourself a brief break. It’s incredibly simple, in that all it requires is a timer, and it allows you to break down a large task into manageable intervals. Here’s how you do it:
- Choose a task
- Set your timer for 25 minutes
- Work on the task until the timer ends
- Take a short break (around 5 minutes)
- Every 4 Pomodoro sessions, take a longer break (15-30 minutes).
This technique allows you to accomplish a significant amount over the course of the day while still taking adequate breaks. The relatively short time of each session also allows you to intensely focus without becoming mentally fatigued.
Read more: Avoiding Burnout in Your Work Life
Know Your Most Productive Hours
In its natural circadian rhythm, the body has cycles of intense energy with
Most people pay little attention to the natural rhythms of their body and use stimulants like coffee to power through periods of low energy. This almost always results in a complete crash in mid afternoon, which corresponds with a trough in your ultradian rhythm. Working in 90-minute bursts, however, allows you to correlate your maximum energy levels with your task list, which then gives your productivity a major boost. You’re working with your body instead of against it.
What are your suggestions for getting more productive and organized in your workday?
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5 comments
Thanks for this, Rich! So many people struggle with focus and productivity, especially with so many distractions at our fingertips. These suggestions are quite helpful, and I especially like the idea of working in short, undistracted bursts. I also think turning off your phone or disconnecting from the internet when possible can help keep work times as productive as possible!
This is so helpful, Rich! Getting the best productivity out of a work day can be extremely challenging. I really like the suggestion of working in short bursts and setting a timer. I think this is a great way to challenge yourself throughout the day. Personally, I tend to avoid things like social media while at work as I find it to be a huge distractor in my workday. Great blog!
This is such a great guide to increasing productivity. I especially really appreciate your point on doing the most important tasks. Prioritizing your tasks is definitely a very important skill to learn and use.
Productivity can be such a challenge, so this blog post is incredibly helpful. I am particularly drawn to the concept of making use of your most productive hours. There is so much we can learn by tuning into our bodies, and I love how you show this can even come in handy to make the most of your work. Great post, Rich!
This is a great blog, Rich! There are so many distractions in our lives, and we face a mounting social pressure to be productive. I particularly like the idea of tuning into our specific bodies and noticing when is the best time of day for us to get things done. I find that giving my mind and body a break can really improve my productivity.