Do you feel as though it doesn’t matter how hard you try because you just can’t get motivated with work? If this sounds like you then these tips will change your life.
Manage your Energy
The first thing you need to try and do is manage your energy and not just your time. People have ebbs and flows throughout the day and if possible, you need to use your peaks to get as much done as possible. You can’t compete with science, so rather than trying to double down on your caffeine intake, pay attention to the various times of the day when you feel the most energized. Keep a journal for a week or two and identify positive trends too. If you can do this then you will have a much easier time spotting when your prime times are, from a biological perspective. You can then work when you feel most in the zone.
Create a To-Do List
Another thing you can do is create a bit of a to-do list for yourself. Try to whittle down some of the many things you feel as though you need to do and choose around five tasks that you are going to focus on today. If you can do this then you will soon find that it is easier to stick with what you want. If you are in a position where you just can’t decide what has to be done then use the Eisenhower Matrix. This allows you to sort through your tasks so you can figure out which ones deserve your top priority, and which ones can be delegated.
Tune Out
Another thing you need to try and do is tune out any distractions. Distractions and interruptions are the best way for you to impede your productivity in general. Distractions tend to fall into two different categories. You have self-imposed distractions and environmentally-imposed distractions. If your distractions are happening within your environment and you work from home then one thing you can do is move your office. If you haven’t thought about it yet, consider investing in a garden office.
Focus on One Thing at a Time
If you think you’re great at multitasking, you’re probably not. If you want to help yourself here then make sure that you are not doing things that can be done by someone else. If something can wait, let it wait. Research has shown time and time again that the human brain is not capable of focusing on more than one thing at once. You will be interrupting yourself, which will harm your productivity overall. This is the last thing you need, so say out loud one thing you are going to be working on, and then do not stop until that is done. If you can do this then you will be able to keep yourself on track more and this can go a long way to helping you to be more productive. It’s also the best way to make sure that each task is done properly, as well.