Do you often feel like you’re not making the most of your time? Do you struggle to stay productive and motivated? If so, you’re not alone.

Productivity is a challenge for many of us, and it’s something we all need to work on if we want to succeed in life and at work.

As someone who is constantly striving to become more productive in life and at work, I have identified several strategies that have helped me stay on track and maximize my productivity. These strategies have helped me at various stages in my life.

Here are some tips for how to be productive at life and at work.

Develop a routine.

Having a daily routine is essential for staying productive. Establishing a set of habits can help you stay focused and organized. For example, you might wake up at the same time each day, exercise, make breakfast, and then start your work day.

I know it can be hard to develop a routine, but the key is in breaking your goals into small set of input activities that you can achieve most of the time. This not only gives you confidence to stick to the routine, but also develops grooves in your mind that slowly make it a habbit.

Remember – you can take goals, but a systematic approach that develops long lasting habits is what helps you win.

Once you turn anything into a habit, it does not feel like work any more.

Tell me – do you feel exerted while brushing your teeth in the morning ?

Set goals – reward yourself on achivement

Goals are important for staying on track and motivated.

However, keep in mind that taking goals can be stressful as well. So, break large goals into smaller, more manageable tasks, and reward yourself for completing them.

This will help you stay focused and keep you motivated as you work towards your larger goals.

When my wife and I completed one particular job stint in our lives, we took a break as we had planned and went for an unorganized random tour. Rewarding ourselves is necessary if we really want to be happy at work and in life.

Prioritize.

It’s important to prioritize your tasks so that you’re focusing on the most important ones first.

This will help you stay organized and make the most of your time. You only have limited hours in a day, and where you use them makes most of the difference.

There are many frameworks that you can use to prioritize your time.

Urgency-Importance matrix ( as described by Stephen Covey in his bestseller book – 7 Habbits of Highly Successful People) is one of the technique. I followed it for a long time to de-clutter my mind in hectic sales jobs and focus on the important things.

Take a wise call on what your priorities are and take a call on what needs to be done first. A very simple framework that I follow is to start with the tasks that involve other people ( the uncontrollable, as you may call them ) first as they have lead times from assignment to delivery.

Your own tasks can be done later as you yourself are responsible for them, and most likely you would not lie/cheat yourself.

Take regular breaks.

Taking regular breaks throughout the day will help you recharge and refocus.

Step away from your desk, go for a walk, or call a friend. This will help you stay energized and productive.

In the famous Pomodoro Technique, a famous time management method, you work for 25 minutes, then take a five-minute break, and repeat till you complete the job. This technique has been shown to help improve productivity.

Get organized.

Being organized can help you stay productive. Have a designated place for all of your items, and make sure everything has a home.

This will help you stay focused and less distracted.

In the Yoga Philosophy, a lot of importance is given to cleaning the asana (seat) , the meditation hall, and keeping ones environment organized. It is known that mind, with its outward nature , can get distracted easily and make you waste hours without you realizing this loss.

Delegate – invest time in training

Delegating tasks can help you get more done in less time. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from colleagues or family. Everyone needs a hand from time to time, so don’t be afraid to ask for help.

If you have a team, spend your time on scalable stuff like Training your team, so that you never have to do your delegated jobs again.

Limit distractions.

Distractions can make it hard to stay productive. To limit distractions, turn off notifications, close unnecessary tabs and windows, and put your phone away when you are doing some important work.

Get enough sleep.

Getting enough sleep is essential for being productive. A lack of sleep can lead to fatigue, difficulty focusing, and poor decision making. Aim for 8 hours of sleep per night to stay energized and productive.

Exercise.

Exercise is not only good for your physical health, it can also benefit your mental health and productivity. Taking regular breaks to exercise can help keep your mind and body energized and ready for the tasks ahead.

We all want to be productive in life and at work and staying productive can be a challenge.

But following these tips can help you make the most of your time and get the most out of life and work.