A guide to increasing productivity. High productivity at work? Easily

In 1915, Albert Einstein presented his brilliant and revolutionary theory of relativity. Throughout three years, preceding this, he devoted himself entirely to the creation of this theory, without being distracted by anything else.

I'm not advocating that you spend three years creating one project, but this method of focusing is really effective.

This was a short excursion into the past, and now let’s turn to modern realities: today the trend of “doing less” has become quite popular. As the name suggests, this area covers techniques that can help you achieve greater results with less effort.

1. Pareto's law, or the 20/80 principle

IN general view This principle is formulated as follows: 20% of efforts give 80% of the result, and the remaining 80% of efforts give only 20% of the result. The 20/80 Law applies to almost all areas of life. For example, according to this law, 20% of criminals commit 80% of crimes.

If you know how to use Pareto's law properly, it will help you not only professionally, but also in everyday life. This is a handy little trick that can help predict the outcome. For example, if you are a sociable person, then you most likely have many friends. Think about which of these people will come to your aid in a difficult situation. There will probably be few of them, just something around that notorious 20%. It is worth taking note of this and trying to maintain communication with these 20%, instead of wasting time on virtual friends.

How does this work

According to Pareto's law, you should do all unimportant tasks when your productivity is low. For example, many people, as soon as they come to work in the morning, cannot immediately get involved in the work process. They need to chat with colleagues, have a cup of coffee, or do something else that will help them get into the mood for work.

Only in this case will they be able to work productively. It is important to prioritize work tasks. Try to complete important tasks at a time of day when your performance will be at a high level.

2. Three important tasks

Many people make a to-do list; this allows them to make their work process more organized. Of course, in the 21st century we have already moved away from writing down upcoming tasks on paper; for this we have smartphones and computers.

I suggest you follow one simple rule: Every morning, take five minutes to write down your three most important tasks for the day. And then focus all your efforts on completing that short list.

This is a great alternative to those endlessly long task lists that we usually like to make. Who are we kidding, because even a week is not enough for them, let alone one day. Focus on these three main tasks, and if you manage to complete them ahead of schedule, then you can move on to something else.

This simple but powerful habit can really improve your productivity.

3. Do Less Philosophy

The philosophy of “Do less” is very popular in modern realities. Different authors propose different approaches. For example, Mark Lesser wrote a book, Achieving More by Doing Less, based on Zen Buddhism.

His manifesto to “do less” begins by refuting the claim that reducing workload makes employees lazy and negatively impacts their productivity. When we complete fewer tasks, we can enjoy our accomplishments.

Mark Lesser recommends taking a few minutes during your workday to meditate. This will even out your breathing, you will come to your senses, get rid of stress and be able to better concentrate on the task at hand.

Don't forget about prioritizing. Complete important tasks first and then move on to low priority ones. Don't overload yourself a large number tasks: it is better to do less, but with high quality and with pleasure, than to do more, but without enthusiasm.

4. Pomodoro technique

The tomato technique was proposed by Francesco Cirillo. The technique is called the tomato technique because its author originally used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer to measure time.

The technique is based on the principle of working for 25 minutes on a specific task without a break, but after that, be sure to take a break.

How does this work

  1. Look at your task list and select the highest priority tasks from it.
  2. Then set a timer for 25 minutes and start working without distractions until you hear the timer beep. Each 25-minute period of time is called a "pomodoro".
  3. After this, take a five-minute break and start the timer again.
  4. After four pomodoros (that is, every two hours), take a longer break of 15–20 minutes.
  5. If your task takes more than five pomodoros, it can be divided into several parts.

This technique helps you work on higher priority tasks, improves attention and helps you concentrate better.

5. The Myth of Multitasking

Multitasking doesn't make us more productive; that's a myth. In fact, when we concentrate on many tasks at the same time, it has a negative impact on our productivity and concentration.

No matter how good you are at multitasking, your productivity will be much less than if you decided to focus on one task from start to finish.
David Meyer, professor at Michigan State University

Effectively performing multiple tasks simultaneously is only possible in some special cases. Let's say when you do something automatically, like walking and talking at the same time. Walking is an automatic activity; it does not require you to concentrate on it. This is well illustrated by a well-known parable:

One day, an ant met a centipede on a forest path, which ran cheerfully and serenely towards it. The ant asked the centipede: “How do you move all your 40 legs so deftly? How do you manage to move so easily and quickly?” The centipede thought for a minute and... could no longer budge!

If you want to complete your tasks more productively, it is better to focus on one task, complete it from start to finish, and only then move on to others.

6. Information diet

These days, overloading your brain with information is as easy as getting heatstroke in the Sahara Desert. And even the symptoms are similar: sleep disturbance, distracted attention and slow reaction. Our brain is overloaded with information noise. IN modern world people are constantly looking for news, although it is already everywhere around us.

In this case, Timothy Ferris, author of the book “How to work four hours a week without being stuck in the office “from bell to bell,” live anywhere and get rich,” advises people to “go on an information diet.” Think about how important everything really is to you. emails, blogs, newspapers and magazines that you read? Do you really need to spend so much time on social media and TV?

Try to receive as little information as possible that is completely unnecessary for you for at least a week and see how this affects your productivity.

7. Live according to a schedule

Ask any successful person when he or she wakes up, and you'll likely hear that that person is an early riser. This is quite easy: there are not many distractions in the first half of the day, so we can focus on priority matters.

Remember that there is a time to rest and a time to work. Draw clear boundaries between one and the other. Start by stopping what you are doing as soon as you feel you need to rest.

It is better to live with a plan than without it.

Parkinson's law states that “work fills the time allotted for it.” This means that if, for example, you decide that you will write a report for the week, you will spend the entire week writing it. Parkinson's law especially applies to things that we don't like and that we have no desire to do. Many of us tend to stretch things out as much as possible. But if you put each task within a strict framework, it will allow you to deal with things much more efficiently. When you have deadlines, you try to get everything done on time, so this is a great motivation.

Increasing productivity is an integral element of success in life and professional activity. Why haven't many people taken this road yet? Read more in detail and step-by-step about increasing personal productivity and its importance in life in the following material.

You will learn:

  • Why do many people believe that increasing productivity is actually unrealistic?
  • What strategies and ways to increase productivity exist.
  • How to successfully increase productivity with simple tools.
  • Can working through force be considered an increase in productivity?

Dispelling myths about increasing productivity

  • “Organized life is lifeless and sterile.” Many people conjure up images of sterile office spaces that they saw in magazines, with the clear understanding that... real life This setting is fundamentally unsuitable. This is partly true - workplaces specially prepared for advertising look beautiful, but are implausible. In fact workspace can be considered organized if conditions are met where we require a minimum of time to complete daily operations. That is, they are always at hand necessary items. If to search necessary documents If it takes at least half an hour or you need to make more than 3 clicks to launch the required program, you should think about improving the organization of your workspace.
  • “I don’t have time for time management” . This is usually said by people who have tried to mindlessly copy one of the fashionable Western systems. After all, if you make lists all day, record tasks and take into account time, then there will be no time and energy left for real things. But any organizational system requires an initial investment of time during study and implementation. However, over time, it fully justifies such investments due to increased productivity and significant saving time.
  • “Current systems lack flexibility” . According to many, organization systems are quite rigid and do not fit real conditions unpredictable, dynamic life. But in reality this statement is not entirely correct. Any of the time management systems is aimed at maximum flexibility and meets the requirements and expectations of a wide range of people.
  • “Productivity is workaholism” . Yes, using the system will help you become more organized. With increased productivity, you can complete your tasks much faster. But this does not mean that your subordinates will be happy with your long rest or early departures home. The freed up time is better spent on self-development, long-planned projects, and career advancement issues.
  • “Increasing productivity is not about creativity” . Successful creative personalities of our time are not just creators, but, above all, businessmen. Development of your own brand, promotion, contracts, conclusion of contracts, fees and other factors require more space than a pen or brush. Yes and for creative process Having a system in place can be extremely helpful. It is important to understand that creativity is work. And successful creativity is based on daily work. Proper organization of work is useful in every field of activity.
  • “Organization, productivity – it’s so boring” . Many people believe that proper organization and systematization will deprive a person of the effect of surprise in life, of pleasant spontaneity. But that's not true. After all, if you have a clear goal, you can achieve it much more pleasantly and successfully.

Expert opinion

About David Allen's GTD technique

Alexey Soloviev,

Managing Director of Prostor Capital, Moscow

A few years ago, I realized that I had reached a critical volume of unfulfilled tasks that began to put pressure on me. I had to solve current problems as they came, leaving no time to even think about my long-term goals. Then I thought about the need to stop, figure out how to get more done.

I once attended a time management seminar with David Allen, learning the principles of his GTD technique. The main principle of this technique was to focus on completing tasks rather than memorizing them.

  1. Be sure to record all matters. Anyone will do convenient way– paper, computer program, voice recorder. It is necessary to divide tasks into categories - “today”, “delegate”, “this week”, “put aside for information”, “add to basket”, etc.
  2. Do not respond to incoming messages right away. Many tasks come from people writing letters, callers. Not all of these requests require an immediate response. To save time, I decided not to respond to messages as they arrived. I don’t check my email all the time, they don’t answer messages and calls – that’s left for later. I check my accumulated messages twice a day. I answer some immediately when watching. I put others in long term plan or I delegate.
  3. Link all emerging tasks to your long-term goals.

1.5 hours a day is enough for me to plan things. It may seem like a big waste of time, but for me it is an investment that allows me to successfully complete tasks and save more time.

Where to start increasing productivity

  • Recognize that most of what you do is useless. If you evaluate your work for the last work week, you will be able to see that 30 out of 40 hours were spent on unnecessary, unplanned, unproductive activities. If you think this doesn't apply to you, just do it for working week write in a notebook every 15 minutes. Indicate what you have done in the last 15 minutes. After completing 40 hours, count the time intervals. The result may surprise you, and you may understand that increasing productivity requires not so much the inclusion of new tasks as the abandonment of unnecessary ones.
  • Do the must-dos as soon as possible. We spend a lot of mental energy on postponing our affairs. Instead, it is better to complete urgent tasks as quickly as possible, and productivity will increase.
  • Reward yourself for doing important things. You can reward yourself for completing an important task. This will stimulate our brain to understand - we need to be in time in set time for a certain incentive.
  • Make sure your mind is pure. If you are overcome by different negative thoughts, feelings of guilt, shame for improper work, etc., then high level productivity will not be achieved.
  • Praise yourself for your achievements. The human mind is able to exert more effort if it is confident in praise for efforts. Praise yourself every day for 30 days and you will be surprised at the purity of your thinking.
  • Focus on what you are good at. A key aspect in increasing productivity. You should focus on what you are really good at, and do tasks in which you are strong. Make these tasks a priority for yourself.
  • Focus on how to help the consumer of your product or service. If you concentrate on helping other people, your mind will important reason finish the job quickly. Our minds don't like solving pointless problems.
  • Don't lose touch with people. Sometimes, being alone, productivity decreases and is disrupted. creativity. A person is social, and without communication, the ability to concentrate on tasks decreases. Therefore, do not forget to communicate while working - this will significantly increase your overall productivity.
  • Change your environment. When immersed in a new environment, you allow your mind to become more creative with improved productivity. The basis of this effect is that the mind becomes more curious when the environment changes. If you allow your mind to be creative in relation to the world around you, then it will be more creative in its work.
  • Avoid striving for perfection. There may be situations where 90% of the project is completed in 10 hours, and 10% in 20 hours. But are the latter worth such a waste of time? Is it possible to complete the project faster by saving 20 hours?

10 Strategies to Increase Productivity

1. Parkinson's Law

British historian Cyril Northcote Parkinson in 1955 in the magazine The Economist formulated the following rule: “Work fills the time allotted for it.” Subsequently, this axiom became known as Parkinson’s first law. We had this problem in our lives too. In particular, you have a month to complete the project, but you do the bulk of the work in the last week.

How to deal with the Parkinson's effect? Reducing our deadlines:

2. Flow state

If you're so focused that you don't notice anything going on around you, you've fallen into a state of flow. This often occurs among athletes who are focused on achieving results. However, to achieve this state Only a person who is passionate about the activity can do it. In flow, a person is completely involved in his process, focused on it, fully involved and focused on the result.

How to achieve your flow state

1) You should take a short break. Sometimes a 10-minute nap or a walk fresh air will allow you to “reset” your state, reducing personal stress.

2) You should start by breathing slowly, deeply, inhaling for a few seconds, followed by a slow exhalation, during which you need to press your tongue to your teeth, making a hissing sound (like a hissing snake). We do this manipulation several times.

3) We divide the problem into subtasks, otherwise you can unconsciously worry about solving it. It should be divided into several subtasks or a sequence of steps to reduce anxiety.

4) We clear our consciousness of unnecessary information - the brain is probably loaded with a lot of thoughts about work, problems, information about finances, and shopping. Take a pen and get everything down on paper so that your brain can concentrate on one task.

5) Take a shower – good shower Helps relax the muscles of the body and mind.

6) Think about what can relax you - memories of a loved one, the seashore.

7) Make the task more difficult - if it’s too boring and simple task, you may simply lose interest in her.

8) Walk, move, jump, dance, make your body move.

9) Have a drink (not alcohol) or a snack, but not something sweet.

10) The right balance of satisfaction and anxiety. Ask yourself - how will you feel if you fail to complete the task? How will you feel after completing it?

11) Turn on music: this will charge you with optimism to complete the task. You can achieve greater effect with headphones.

12) Turn on multitasking mode on short time. Of course, multitasking cannot be considered effective, but it is better than not completing tasks. We turn on multitasking for 5-15 minutes until you feel motivated. Chat with friends, turn on the TV, make a call. This will help you cheer up a little, but you shouldn’t make it a habit.

3. Single-tasking

Many continue to try to inherit the talents of Julius Caesar - wanting to do 5 things at once and succeed in everything. However, multitasking only leads to a decrease in personal effectiveness.

Threats of multitasking:

  • exhausts;
  • violates quality;
  • destroys social connections. With more information flows, it becomes more difficult to manage. If you write a letter to your partner while simultaneously talking to a friend on the phone, you will be inattentive to each task.

For proper productivity, you should return to single-tasking.

4. Two-minute rule

If a task takes less than two minutes, you just need to do it. Dozens of things that can be done in one minute, but are put off until later, together become a serious problem.

5. Internal clock

The biological processes of our body undergo serious cyclical fluctuations during the change of day and night. They are called circadian rhythms, which record periods of activity and decline. Circadian rhythms are subject to a 24-hour schedule - the time during which the Earth cycles around its axis. Our brain is in different times day and night it works differently. Therefore, you need to take into account the relationship between your circadian rhythms and certain daily activities.

According to a study by Dr. Steve Kay, representing the University of Southern California, it is better to solve analytical problems within two to three hours after waking up. In the morning, body temperature is slightly increased and blood flow to the brain is improved.

Activity decreases after lunch, given the redirection of energy to digestion. Better to use given time for creative tasks.

Evening is time for sports. A person in the period 16.00-18.00 hours has greater muscle strength, joint flexibility, with best job lungs, improved coordination.

You should listen to your body's internal clock. With the decision of important intellectual tasks before lunch, devoting time after lunch to creativity, and in the evening do not forget about physical exercise.

6. Reverse engineering

There is a concept of reverse engineering." It assumes the following: a new product is invented based on an existing one with a reverse algorithm of action. First, it is planned to study the operating principle and functions of the existing product, and then an analogue will be developed. The principle of reverse engineering is commonly used in the computer and mechanical engineering industries. However, it is also suitable for other areas of activity.

7. Three forces

Kelly McGonigal, a professor at Stanford University, in her book “Willpower. How to develop and strengthen,” notes that self-control is built on 3 forces:

  • “I will” are promises you make to yourself and keep.
  • “I won’t” are certain taboos imposed on one’s bad habits.
  • “I want” are your true desires.

If these forces are in disharmony, it will be difficult to achieve your goals. Thanks to their control, it will be possible to develop willpower and streamline affairs.

8. 52 minutes of work - 17 minutes of rest

Only robots are able to work without interruption, although they also fail. But many of us feel guilty if we drink coffee “for a long time.” But a person cannot remain as productive as possible all day. We need rest. The study by the developers of the Desktime system involved studying the habits of different employees. The result is this: the greatest productivity can be achieved when working according to the following scheme:

52 minutes - hard work, then 17 minutes - rest.

9. Pose

Professor Amy Cuddy, a social psychologist, has spent many years studying nonverbal body language. In her scientific research, she concluded that postures can influence feelings, hormonal levels and human behavior.

10. Validation of progress

Famous entrepreneur, author of the book “Business from Scratch. The Lean Startup method for quickly testing ideas" Eric Ries noted - “Working effectively on the wrong product is like driving a car off a cliff and being happy how quickly you pick up speed."

In this regard, we can note the mathematical allegory with the Sharpe ratio, which is a certain indicator of the efficiency of the system. The higher it is, the more profit the system will bring. Therefore, your actions must be constantly compared with the goal. Are you moving in the right direction? Perhaps you’ve lost your way and that’s why you don’t see your desired result?

How to work half a day and get everything done: algorithm from Gazprom

You take away your time when you spend hours answering unimportant emails, chaotically completing overdue tasks, and as a result you don’t get anything done .

David Allen, consultant to Gazprom and World Bank, shared with the “Commercial Director” magazine an algorithm for how a manager can free 4 hours a day from work.

1) You need to learn to say “No!” Sometimes everyone faces different offers and requests that you need to learn to refuse.

2) Try to learn something new as often as possible - there will be a desire to use new things in practice, and additional motivation will arise to increase the productivity of your work.

3) Find sources of life motivation and energy. For some it's morning jog, and for others - relaxation with friends.

4) Stay confident own strength. For confidence in work and personal life, constant monitoring of the level of self-esteem is required. Learn to notice your victories and achievements, no matter how small - this will increase your personal confidence. There is no need to dwell on your mistakes and failures, just draw conclusions and move on.

5) Planning working time during free time.

6) Save mental resources. Every time you don’t want to work, but force yourself, you use a mental resource in the form of willpower. But this resource is limited. Every time you force yourself to work more than necessary, you gradually deplete your resource. Therefore, do not forget to rest and restore your energy.

You can increase productivity with yoga

Sergey Agapkin,

Physiotherapist, host of the program “About the Most Important Thing,” Candidate of Psychological Sciences

Many people go to work fresh and full of energy, but at the end they feel seriously tired. How to achieve increased productivity when constant stress in the office, significant physical and mental stress, which provoke exhaustion of the body?

Characteristic signs of the harmful effects of stress on health are insomnia or increased sleepiness, problems concentrating, loss of libido, and heart problems. Gradually, this contributes to the development of chronic diseases, including mental ones.

What should you do to increase productivity without causing health problems? I think yoga is one of the most effective solutions. After just a few months of simple activities, you can get additional energy so that the working day does not seem so exhausting.

Information about authors and companies

Sergey Agapkin, Physiotherapist, host of the program “About the Most Important Thing,” Candidate of Psychological Sciences. Received medical education with a specialization in “Physiotherapy and physical therapy”. In 1989, at the age of 13, while treating scoliosis, on the advice of an orthopedic doctor, he began to practice yoga. And since 1993 he began teaching it. Member World Association yoga therapists. Leading teacher at Agapkin Yoga Station.

Alexey Soloviev, Managing Director of Prostor Capital, Moscow. Graduated from Moscow State Technological University. N.E. Bauman. He worked in IT companies for more than ten years, developing plans to enter new markets. In the current company since 2011. Since 2014 - member of the investment committee and the board of director of the Internet Initiatives Development Fund "IIDF Invest". He is on the board of directors of Dnevnik.ru, Infratel, UMI and other portfolio companies of the fund. Prostor Capital Ltd. Field of activity: venture fund.

In 1915, Albert Einstein presented his brilliant and revolutionary theory of relativity. During the three years preceding this, he devoted himself entirely to the creation of this theory, without being distracted by anything else.

I'm not advocating that you spend three years creating one project, but this method of focusing is really effective.

This was a short excursion into the past, and now let’s turn to modern realities: today the trend of “doing less” has become quite popular. As the name suggests, this area covers techniques that can help you achieve greater results with less effort.

1. Pareto's law, or the 20/80 principle

In general terms, this principle is formulated as follows: 20% of efforts give 80% of the result, and the remaining 80% of efforts give only 20% of the result. The 20/80 Law applies to almost all areas of life. For example, according to this law, 20% of criminals commit 80% of crimes.

If you know how to use Pareto's law properly, it will help you not only in your professional life, but also in your everyday life. This is a handy little trick that can help predict the outcome. For example, if you are a sociable person, then you most likely have many friends. Think about which of these people will come to your aid in a difficult situation. There will probably be few of them, just something around that notorious 20%. It is worth taking note of this and trying to maintain communication with these 20%, instead of wasting time on virtual friends.

How does this work

According to Pareto's law, you should do all unimportant tasks when your productivity is low. For example, many people, as soon as they come to work in the morning, cannot immediately get involved in the work process. They need to chat with colleagues, have a cup of coffee, or do something else that will help them get into the mood for work.

Only in this case will they be able to work productively. It is important to prioritize work tasks. Try to complete important tasks at a time of day when your performance will be at a high level.

2. Three important tasks

Many people make a to-do list; this allows them to make their work process more organized. Of course, in the 21st century we have already moved away from writing down upcoming tasks on paper; for this we have smartphones and computers.

I suggest you follow one simple rule: Every morning, take five minutes to write down the three most important tasks for the day. And then focus all your efforts on completing that short list.

This is a great alternative to those endlessly long task lists that we usually like to make. Who are we kidding, because even a week is not enough for them, let alone one day. Focus on these three main tasks, and if you get them done ahead of schedule, you can move on to something else.

This simple but powerful habit can really improve your productivity.

3. Do Less Philosophy

The philosophy of “Do less” is very popular in modern realities. Different authors propose different approaches. For example, Mark Lesser wrote a book, Achieving More by Doing Less, based on Zen Buddhism.

His manifesto to “do less” begins by refuting the claim that reducing workload makes employees lazy and negatively impacts their productivity. When we complete fewer tasks, we can enjoy our accomplishments.

Mark Lesser recommends taking a few minutes during your workday to meditate. This will even out your breathing, you will come to your senses, get rid of stress and be able to better concentrate on the task at hand.

Don't forget about prioritizing. Complete important tasks first and then move on to low priority ones. Do not overload yourself with too many tasks: it is better to do less, but with high quality and with pleasure, than more, but without enthusiasm.

4. Pomodoro technique

The tomato technique was proposed by Francesco Cirillo. The technique is called the tomato technique because its author originally used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer to measure time.

The technique is based on the principle of working for 25 minutes on a specific task without a break, but after that, be sure to take a break.

How does this work

  1. Look at your task list and select the highest priority tasks from it.
  2. Then set a timer for 25 minutes and start working without distractions until you hear the timer beep. Each 25-minute period of time is called a "pomodoro".
  3. After this, take a five-minute break and start the timer again.
  4. After four pomodoros (that is, every two hours), take a longer break of 15–20 minutes.
  5. If your task takes more than five pomodoros, it can be divided into several parts.

This technique helps you work on higher priority tasks, improves attention and helps you concentrate better.

5. The Myth of Multitasking

Multitasking doesn't make us more productive; that's a myth. In fact, when we focus on many tasks at once, it has a negative impact on our productivity and concentration.

No matter how good you are at multitasking, your productivity will be much less than if you decided to focus on one task from start to finish.
David Meyer, professor at Michigan State University

Effectively performing multiple tasks simultaneously is only possible in some special cases. Let's say when you do something automatically, like walking and talking at the same time. Walking is an automatic activity; it does not require you to concentrate on it. This is well illustrated by a well-known parable:

One day, an ant met a centipede on a forest path, which ran cheerfully and serenely towards it. The ant asked the centipede: “How do you move all your 40 legs so deftly? How do you manage to move so easily and quickly?” The centipede thought for a minute and... could no longer budge!

If you want to complete your tasks more productively, it is better to focus on one task, complete it from start to finish, and only then move on to others.

6. Information diet

These days, overloading your brain with information is as easy as getting heatstroke in the Sahara Desert. And even the symptoms are similar: sleep disturbance, distracted attention and slow reaction. Our brain is overloaded with information noise. In the modern world, people are constantly looking for news, although it is already everywhere around us.

In this case, Timothy Ferris, author of the book “How to work four hours a week without being stuck in the office “from bell to bell,” live anywhere and get rich,” advises people to “go on an information diet.” Think about it, do all the emails, blogs, newspapers and magazines you read really matter to you? Do you really need to spend so much time on social media and TV?

Try to receive as little information as possible that is completely unnecessary for you for at least a week and see how this affects your productivity.

7. Live according to a schedule

Ask any successful person when he or she wakes up, and you'll likely hear that that person is an early riser. This is quite easy: there are not many distractions in the first half of the day, so we can focus on priority matters.

Remember that there is a time to rest and a time to work. Draw clear boundaries between one and the other. Start by stopping what you are doing as soon as you feel you need to rest.

It is better to live with a plan than without it.

Parkinson's law states that “work fills the time allotted for it.” This means that if, for example, you decide that you will write a report for the week, you will spend the entire week writing it. Parkinson's law especially applies to things that we don't like and that we have no desire to do. Many of us tend to stretch things out as much as possible. But if you put each task within a strict framework, it will allow you to deal with things much more efficiently. When you have deadlines, you try to get everything done on time, so this is a great motivation.

Elizaveta Babanova


1. Plan your day in advance (the night before or in the morning, immediately after your shower).

If you are concerned about the question “How to work productively,” then, first of all, use the quadrant technique from Stephen Covey, which is brilliant in its effectiveness and simplicity.

Write down the points:

  • Important but not urgent matters (register your global goals, exercise)
  • Urgent and important business (make a call to a client or partner who will instantly bring you profit)
  • Urgent but not important affairs (for example, answer incoming call for a non-priority task)
  • Not urgent or important matters (answer not-so-urgent emails or hang out on social networks)

So, to increase your productivity, you need to leave only 2 categories of things on your “to do list”:"Urgent and important" And "Important, but not urgent" .

Feel free to discard everything else. When you only have the things you need to do on your list, you won't waste your time and energy on little things that don't matter. The question “How to become more productive” may disappear by itself, as you begin to manage everything.

2. Work in 90-minute intervals.

This is the best time to concentrate on one project. For maximum efficiency, log out of all social networks, turn off Skype and forget about email. Many people who are concerned about how to become more productive don’t even think about the fact that by removing all distractions, you can significantly increase your work efficiency.

Focus on your project. Don't lift your butt off your desk until you make significant progress. If you immerse yourself in anything for 90 minutes, progress is guaranteed. Focus will help you increase your productivity and, most importantly, get everything you do to the end.

After 90 minutes, you can drink some water, do a warm-up if you work from home, jump into Contact for 5 minutes (no more!) or look at your Facebook feed - and then on to the next 90-minute interval for the next breakthrough.

3. Do in 6 hours the work that you usually do in 8.

And dedicate the 2 hours thus carved out to your professional development: read articles by leading experts in your industry, attend a webinar, or read a promotional book.

Reducing your work schedule by ¼ is quite possible, unless your work consists of consultations and direct contact with people. This way you will significantly increase your productivity.

If you constantly strive to tighten your schedule and at the same time put new ideas into practice, you will soon move far away from your colleagues who are aimlessly surfing the Internet or getting into fights at work. In addition, thanks to new knowledge, you will be able to increase your productivity by 2 times and you will be able to become an invaluable employee.

4. Do your most challenging and creative tasks immediately after exercising.

Scientists have proven that our brain is most active after good physical activity.

Do you need to write a super text or competently conduct complex negotiations? Don't know how to increase your productivity, but the task needs to be completed today? Go to the gym before this, or at least do a warm-up. The more “healthy” load, the better.

5.Don't eat a lot of food in one sitting.

The more food that goes into our stomach, the less productive we become. We want to lean back in our work chair (or work sofa) and think about the eternal. You need to think about the eternal when you set global goals or when you meditate while walking or before going to bed.

During the day you need to work efficiently. Don't kill your productivity by overeating. Eat 2/3 of your usual lunch portion, and “get it” during the afternoon snack necessary for the body quantity . Then your energy will not run out and you will not have to think throughout the day about how to work more productively, since you will be able to do it just fine anyway

6.Get up early.

Yes, yes, it sounds quite trivial. But, in fact, nothing else is like , provided that you went to bed no later than 12 at night, does not provide as much energy and does not increase productivity. Many people who are unable to increase their productivity at work are simply ruining their health with an incorrect schedule. Getting up early will give you an unprecedented surge of energy and strength.

Get up for a week at 5 am, consistently, and you will see how your life will change dramatically.

7.Take calculated risks. Set yourself a super task and do it today.

Nothing forces us to step out of our comfort zone more than taking risks. The more we take risks, the more inner strength and understanding we have of what we are truly capable of. This strengthens our self-confidence and inspires us to perform at our best.

An excellent technique for working with goals: take your written goals, multiply them by 2, and cut the deadlines in half. Now your productivity will start going through the roof.

Good luck!


Success comes to a person not when he does nothing, but when he acts correctly. A successful person works on himself, his skills, increases his productivity and efficiency.

1. First things first.

At first glance it may seem very simple, but once you try it out at the moment in practice, all illusions instantly collapse. A person is always busy with something, solving problems, traveling, meetings, main work. But is this so important to you? Determine what really matters to you and do that first. Remember, all important things need to be done in the morning, before the routine drags you down. As soon as you wake up and complete all the morning rituals, make, for example, an important call to a client.

2. Write down everything you do.

You don’t even need to try to keep all your affairs and ideas in your head. Use a notepad for this or computer programs, editors, planners.

The less your mind is loaded with thoughts about unfinished business, the more you are able to concentrate on current tasks, and accordingly, complete them better.

3. Plan in the evening.

Make a plan for the next day in the evening, do not put off this activity until the morning. In the morning, you can review this plan again, adjust something, add or delete something. But the morning is not suitable for making a plan for the day; it is so that you can focus on more important and global matters, as well as for setting priorities.

4. Paper media.

In our age of information technology, there are many ways to record your ideas, plan and set goals. Keep all matters and all projects in electronic form. This will not only save your time, but will also allow you to quickly find all the necessary records and files. The only thing you need to do is organize your files and tasks correctly and neatly. Weekly, sort out and correct the information on your computer, and also keep your desktop clean, remove all unnecessary shortcuts, and sort the rest of the information into folders.

5. Use the Dropbox service.

This service will allow you to sync all your files across all electronic devices. A great time saver, and you will gain additional opportunities for your business and success.

6. Save your time when working on the computer.

This time flies so quickly and perhaps you have already noticed it. If you work on a computer, give yourself periodic rest. If you spend your leisure time, set a timer for yourself.

7. 10-finger printing method.

Learn touch typing on the keyboard. Now there are many opportunities to master this method perfectly, from recommendations to special programs on the computer and on the Internet. This skill will especially help those who use a computer in their work; this will help save not only minutes when typing, but even hours.

8. Unambiguity.

There is no need to try to do several things at once and expect instant results. The algorithm of a successful person consists of the following tasks: select and define a goal, remove external distractions (social networks, telephone, Internet, mail) and complete it.

9. Get up early.

Very ancient and wise advice, thanks to which many successful people manage to complete many tasks every day.

10. Charging.

If you don’t have time to devote yourself to sports or you find morning or evening jogging difficult, then do exercises. This will help you keep your body in good shape, and accordingly your spirit and mind will work much more efficiently. Remember that in healthy body as it says wise proverb, healthy mind.

11. Eliminate tasks you don't need from your to-do lists.

Let your plan contain only those tasks that are truly important to you and that can be done without much thought. For example, “launching a profitable project” can hardly be called a task; rather, it is a goal. And if it sounds like “think through and determine the project’s tasks for the month” - this is already a task that has a place in your plan. Also, if your plan contains specific actions, this will not only be more effective, but will also give you more strength to achieve them.

12. Deadlines.

You need to set time frames for yourself and for your goals. For each specific purpose indicate a specific time, as well as the time frame within which this task must be completed.

13. Ignore the unimportant.

Save your time and don’t waste it on information and tasks that don’t make sense to you at all. For example, reading spam in your mail will not bring anything positive for you, and you will waste a lot of time.

14. Be proactive.

Stephen Covey coined this term, which means that you have to determine for yourself what you should do and what you should not do.

15. Activity.

Sometimes it is worth changing activities. By doing the same thing over and over again, you reduce your productivity and, accordingly, your success. Try to switch between tasks throughout the day, which will keep you creative and fresh.

And most importantly, never forget why and for what you are doing all this. Don't forget to live in the present tense, enjoy life and love your loved ones.