It can be challenging to stay productive. We are all so busy, with myriad responsibilities pulling us every which way. Between full-time work, kids, partners, exercise, hobbies and keeping in touch with friends and family, it can all get a touch exhausting. Amidst the hustle and bustle of daily adult life, staying productive, whether at work or in life admin tasks, can be a challenge. You often feel like you have just finished all your tasks when another five appear out of the blue, heaping more on your to-do pile. It’s hard to catch a break and get ahead.
And the new year is fast approaching, and with it, many of us are brainstorming our new years’ resolutions. What if you resolve to be more productive in 2023? Lucky for you, this helpful article will share a few tips to help you practice better productivity in the new year. Read on to find out how.
Invest in a Standing Desk
An excellent productivity hack is to buy a standing desk. Did you know that sitting for extended periods can compress your spine, neck and shoulders and leave you feeling stiff and sore? It can be challenging to get things done if you’re cramped and tense from sitting down all day. A standing desk allows you to stand for periods throughout the day, giving your body a break from sitting and increasing productivity. You can also lower a standing desk so that you can alternate between standing and sitting. Switching it up is best because standing for too long can make your feet sore, and this can radiate up your legs into your hips and back. A 50/50 split between standing and sitting is a good ratio to aim for, and you’ll quickly notice an uptick in your productivity.
Try the Pomodoro Method
The Pomodoro method is a work or study technique that has some evidence that it can increase productivity. Using this method, you separate your time into 25-minute chunks punctuated with five-minute breaks. After four of these cycles, you take a longer break of 15 to 20 minutes.
The premise behind this productivity hack is that the 25-minute timer instils urgency in you by having a short amount of time to complete a task. Instead of the hours stretching out, inviting the temptation to procrastinate, you focus on your 25-minute slot.
Furthermore, the forced five-minute breaks help to alleviate the rushed, frazzled and tense feeling you can get at the end of a long work day. The little break is excellent to give your eyes a rest from the screen and your fingers and wrists a rest from the keyboard, and you can also stretch and get a drink of water, which is always beneficial.
Some advocates of the Pomodoro technique recommend an analog timer device, but you can just as easily use an app or even the default timer on your smart device.
Try a Nootropic Supplement
Another way to increase your productivity in 2023 is to try a mild nootropic supplement. Nootropics, also known as smart drugs, are substances that increase productivity, help you focus, and unlock your mind’s capabilities—sort of like the movie Limitless but less sensational. An excellent nootropic is a dose of caffeine combined with L-Theanine, which occurs naturally in black and green tea. The caffeine will give you energy and drive, while the L-Theanine smooths out the jitters and anxiety that can come with caffeine and helps you focus well.
Invest in Self Care
Believe it or not, working 12 hours daily is not a great way to boost your productivity. By engaging in self-care and leisure activities, you’re investing in your well-being, ultimately impacting how you work when you’re on the clock. Self-care looks different for everyone, but some examples you can practice include hot baths and showers, exercise, meditation, yoga, reading, listening to music, engaging in hobbies and interests and talking with friends and family. Some people also choose to see a life coach, therapist, counsellor or other mental health professional to get things off their chest and, by doing so, actually improve their productivity during working hours.
The idea behind this is that by looking after yourself outside of work, you are calm, focused, and productive when you get to work, and you can easily leave it behind you when you knock off, which is a better outcome for both staff and employers.
In Summary
This helpful article has shared how you can practice better productivity in the fastly approaching the new year of 2023. A standing desk can be just the ticket to give you a productivity boost, as can trying the Pomodoro technique of short bursts of work coupled with quick breaks. Trying a nootropic supplement is also worth a go, and investing in self-care can pay handsome dividends regarding your productivity. This is by no means an exhaustive list of ways to boost your productivity; what other ideas can you think of?
