Five Habits to Boost Your Productivity in Less Time

Note: This article is by Darius Foroux, who shares his experience developing habits that help him get more done in less time.

I can work out, visit the sauna, read a book, watch a movie, or dedicate time to my hobby or additional work. It takes less effort or an earlier wake-up time to be more productive and accomplish more in less time. Investing time is the key to making the most of each work hour. It also involves working more efficiently and intelligently.

Habits to Boost Your Productivity in Less Time

Here are five habits that will help you achieve this:

1. Plan ahead for the next day's tasks

Some days, you wake up with no obvious intention, feel like you're failing, lack the drive to accomplish anything, and it seems your day controls you instead of you controlling it. You then wonder, "What should I do now?" all the time. Small decisions like these require time and effort, so planning the night before makes it easier to be more productive because you'll wake up knowing what you want to do and what you want to achieve.

Hence, try to jot down the top three to four things you need to get done the following day. I've been giving this advice since 2015, and despite its simplicity, it can be challenging to put into practice because life's daily grind can present challenges and obstacles. We also frequently feel exhausted at the end of the day, making it the last thing we want to do. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile.

2. Avoiding chaos

Distractions come from chaos, and I find working in a chaotic environment impossible. Still, I also don't require my desk to be completely clear of items or anything of the sort.

A small and elegant workspace is enough for me, and I do not want to see chaos surrounding me in my office. You can develop this habit by paying attention to the following advice:

• Make your bed when you wake up, and do it automatically so you don't have to think about it.
• Spend some time cleaning your desk regularly, and avoid stacking up stacks of paper or books.
• When you need to add or remove items, make your files, notebooks, and other items easily accessible.

Even though they don't take up much of your time, these little things impact significantly. You can be more productive and focused on your work in less time.

3. Facilitating the process of completing tasks

Task completion doesn't have to be tough. Most people fail at this stage because they try too hard. To avoid this, keep things simple and use the following advice:

3.1. Choose the right time

Based on the guidance of American investor Charlie Munger, I refer to this as the Manger technique. When engaging in mental exercises like reading a book or picking up a new skill, schedule your time when you're feeling more energetic, like early in the morning, late at night, or whenever you think is more appropriate.

3.2. Dedicate your energy to important tasks

Don't waste your energy on pointless and easy tasks like "checking" emails because we all have limited resources. To get the best results for the most essential tasks, you can always put them off until later and focus on finishing your most important tasks first.

3.3. Avoid hesitation

It takes time and energy, but it will be easier if you've done your homework the night before. Seeking Wisdom was a great help to me in developing my decision-making skills, and the concepts in this book enabled me to make more informed choices.

3.4. Remove distractions

That could mean turning off chat notifications to concentrate on your work. It could be as simple as putting your phone away when you're working, taking charge and considering the things you can control, or refraining from making answering emails or chats your first task.

3.5. Give yourself time to reach the flow state

You are said to be in a flow state when you work at a higher caliber and faster. That can happen instantly in certain situations or gradually over time if you are in a supportive environment.

4. Exercise

Psychiatrist John Ratey found that exercise is necessary to achieve “high levels of performance in intellectually demanding jobs.”

However, it's hard to make time for exercise when you have a busy schedule, so follow these tips:

4.1. Try to practice for only five minutes

When you don't feel like exercising, exercising a little, five minutes is better than doing nothing.

4.2. Exercise daily

I was compelled to put off exercising when I tried to exercise only three times a week because I was having an internal debate about it. However, when I started exercising every day, I stuck to my routine because I had no internal conflict stopping me.

4.3. Exercise in the morning

Work out in the morning to finish the task before work starts. Perhaps you've had a long and hard day and want to go home and watch TV. In that case, you probably don't have the energy to exercise.

I began to feel better during the day after I started using these tips, and I also started to become more dedicated to my workouts.

5. Focus on the things you control

It can be easy to get carried away by the fears of others, especially in an office setting or any situation where you have to deal with people face-to-face. It's crucial to stop wasting energy on things you can't control and concentrate on what you can.

"You have power over your mind, not over external events; understand this well, and you will find strength," emphasized the Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius.

That also holds when you have a big project ahead of you. While it may be tempting to work faster and finish tasks quicker, complex projects, like writing a book or starting a side project, may require more time. Instead, break up your tasks into manageable chunks and focus on one at a time, making sure to make some real progress every day.

In conclusion

The mentioned habits are easy, and the majority can be completed in under an hour. You'll be able to perform them instinctively with enough practice. That is the strength of tenacity. You get farther when you commit to doing all these things daily because small victories add up. We've all experienced the satisfying feeling that comes from completing a task.

You'll have closed your laptop, had a fun lunch, and taken care of business while people grab a coffee during their midday break. We avoid job burnout and produce far better results when completing critical tasks quickly and effectively.