16 Simple Tips to Boost Your Productivity x10
These easy-to-follow tips will improve your output dramatically.
TL;DR: More productivity tips
1. Remove Notifications 🔔
Check your phone after a couple of hours.
Keep an eye on the app that has the most notifications.
Block them.
Don't fear FOMO.
Choose your shots.
You are going to lose some content around.
Deal with it.
Watch The Social Dilemma.
2. Slice your time 🍕
Use blocks of time without interruptions (timeboxing).
My favorite is Pomodoro Technique.
If you come across new tasks write them down.
Don't multitask.
You cannot switch until the time is up.
20 minutes it's a good slice.
3. Inbox0 📥
Keep your inbox ALWAYS empty.
Unsubscribe to all irrelevant emails (most of the time, it takes just one click).
Create filtering rules - out of the inbox.
If you need to take action on emails: (keep the list out, and create a special folder).
Inbox is not a To-do list.
4. Find your Flow 🕯️
Creative work happens on [flow state](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology).
It takes some time to enter the flow state (about 15 mins).
It takes one second to leave it and go to the queue again.
Remove all external flow interruptions, notifications, noise
Control all internal stimuli.
5. Use Zenware 💭
Use simple software.
Minimalistic task editors like writemonkey and simple managing software like Trello
Don't procrastinate gold-plating your articles.
6. Close Your Browser Tabs 🔓
Manage to-do lists and items.
Do not open multiple tabs.
No operating system or web browser handles them very well. Neither you.
Don't multitask.
If something takes less than two minutes do it. Otherwise, add it to the To-Do list.
Web tabs are not to-do lists.
7. Find Homes for everything 🏠
Every object (real or virtual) should have a home.
You can keep inboxes (or incoming places) for things for a couple of days.
You need short processes to empty those inboxes.
When emptying those inboxes, you should define new 'homes' if necessary.
8. Keep a Daily Agenda 🗓️
Start each day with a short daily agenda.
You can mix personal and work items or keep them in two separate lists.
Plan for unplanned work.
Revisit hourly to keep up.
Close it at night.
Never reuse it for the next day. Start from scratch.
9. Automate Repetitive Tasks 🤖
Find repeatable shortcuts.
Automate repetitive tasks.
It is a two-sharp blade. Never automate when DOING a task.
Automating is more enjoyable than doing (Procrastination).
Automate only tasks made daily.
Don't automate infrequent things.
10. Avoid Unproductive Meetings 🤝
Schedule meetings for 25 or 50 minutes.
So you can have time to switch.
Meetings without agenda are useless.
Avoid meetings with more than three people.
The outcome of the meeting should be action items.
Commitments must include: - who / what / when
11. Avoid Multitasking 👨💼
Don’t multitask.
Work on one task at a time.
Multitasking is a myth, trying to do it only splits your focus.
The Human Brain is a monotask.
Context Switching for neurons is too expensive, so you are thrashing most of the time.
Focus -> Flow.
12. Avoid Voice Calls 📞
Voice Calls are interruptions.
Interruptions are our worst enemy.
Avoid unscheduled voice calls.
If it is not urgent you can asynchronously talk via messaging.
If it is urgent, double-check it is urgent.
If you want to talk, schedule!
13. Eat the Frog Early in the Morning 🌤️
Do the annoying tasks early in the morning.
You will be happy the rest of the day
Avoid procrastination and gain self-confidence.
It is the moment with more energy and freshness.
Plan for the rest of the day.
Review everything accomplished the day before.
14. Don't reuse daily to-do lists ✔️
Start each day with a different one.
With this method, there's no carry-over.
Daily check yesterday's unfinished goals and evaluate if they deserve to be on the new list.
It is YOUR list. Be honest with yourself.
15. Measure Objectives 📈
Set long-term, middle-term, and short-term goals.
They should not be fuzzy.
Set a realistic and measurable metric.
If it is not measurable with exit condition it is not a goal.
Keep track of them every week.
Change it if needed.
16. Don't Save for Later 🍓
Save for later is a myth.
There are excellent apps like Pocket, Inoreader Evernote, or even Hashnode Bookmark as in this article.
But unless you consume the list often this will grow forever.
Don't save content, consume it.
Have you bookmarked this article for later?
Don't [Hoard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_hoarding is a disorder).
[Update] Part II
10 More Simple Tips to Boost Your Productivity x2 (2021 Guide)
I'm sure there is plenty of productivity advice around. Which one does work for you?
Please leave me a comment. Now, don't procrastinate writing your comment.
Wow. Amazing tips. I felt exposed lol as if you are seeing through my problems and you gave amazing solutions. Keep sharing. Thanks alot.