Start your week off right and combat your unproductivity in just seven days. This week, instead of working on creating a more organized to-do list, learn all about the to-don’t list that will help keep you on track. Lynn Miles Peisker of The Daily Blur provided the below steps to becoming a more productive you in just seven work days.
Day 1: Get rid of distractions. What are the factors that keep you distracted and hinder your overall productivity? Websites like Pinterest and Buzzfeed are best frequented during your downtime. Even checking your website stats can cause distraction, so try to do this after hours or during your lunch break.
Day 2: Continue getting rid of distractions. It’s time to organize your smartphone. Place all your apps into folders titled “Work” and “Non-Work.” Anything Non-Work will simply have to wait until after 5 p.m.
Day 3: Take breaks. Working through the day without a break will only leave you tired and with a to-do list that is longer than it should be. Set up a 45-minute timer. Every time it rings, spend the next two minutes stretching, getting a drink or turning up your music for your own mini dance party. When those two minutes are over, reset the timer and start again.
Day 4: Keep break times appropriate. Typically, your breaks should account for 10 to 15 percent of your workday. Don’t let your short breaks or lunch exceed the allocated time and take over your day.
Day 5: Don’t let emails take over your day. Checking and replying to emails can easily take up the better part of your afternoon without you realizing it. Instead, try a system of checking it three times a day — morning, midday and before ending the day. If the email will take longer than just a couple of minutes, add it to your to-do list. If you find your inbox is getting too flooded too quickly, ramp this up to four times a day.
Day 6: Get moving. Exercise is a great way to getting your endorphins flowing, which will get you energized and pumped for your next task. Try working at a standing desk or use an exercise ball as a chair. Or, take a short walk during lunch.
Day 7: Make time to play. Treat your productivity like a diet — a little cheating is encouraged to be successful. Make time to be creative or to do something fun, but don’t let it take over your whole day.
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