10 hacks to boost your productivity management in 2020

Boosting productivity has never seemed more difficult than it is in today’s highly connected world. While everyone would like to be efficient and productive, the number of distractions that people face at work is constantly rising. Salesforce has recently shared statistics revealing around 90% of adult Americans spend between 15-18 hours per month on social media channels like Facebook.

Just like most growing businesses, we understand that time management is a critical stepping block that cannot be ignored. Our in-house productivity scheduling consultant often has these same discussions with our clients who are looking for ways to make their business more productive. Here are her top 10 productivity hacks to help you ace your game this year.

1. Work on the hardest task first

Most of us have tasks on our lists that we just don’t to get around to. Procrastination is the number one reason for poor productivity. Experts unanimously agree that you should always tackle the hardest task first. You might not like it, but once the pressure eases from that task, you will find the rest of your day much easier to handle.

2. Learn to say ‘no’

Learning to say ‘no’ is a skill that everyone should learn in order to be successful. Taking on more than you can handle will affect not only your productivity but also your relationships with your colleagues. In addition, sometimes the easiest way to get things done is to delegate. You do not have to be personally involved in every task assigned to you. them. Delegation not only frees up time but also helps to foster an atmosphere of sharing and teamwork as everyone is in it together and collectively responsible for outcomes.

3. Schedule some ‘downtime’

Productivity does not equal nonstop work schedules. Grilling schedules often result in poor productivity in the long run. Scheduling time off every 60 to 90 minutes will help rejuvenate you and sometimes help you arrive at a solution once you return to the problem with a fresh mind.

4. Try the ‘Pomodoro technique’

Consider using the Pomodoro technique that breaks down your work hours into bite-sized 30-minute slices. The idea is to work continuously for 25 minutes and take a break of 5 minutes in between. After every four Pomodoros, reward yourself with a longer break.

5. Nightly recap of your day

Ever spend sleepless nights worrying about the pending or critical tasks you will need to work on first thing in the morning? It does not take a genius to figure out that poor sleep and rest drains productivity levels drastically. While early morning to-do lists are helpful, emptying your thoughts, action points and accomplishments at the end of the day will prove rewarding and give you a much-deserved peaceful night’s sleep.