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Time is a precious commodity and life can be full of distractions. Increasing your productivity will give you more time to do the things you love. Apply these productivity hacks to achieve more in less time.

1. Plan for tomorrow today.

Fail to plan? Plan to fail. Develop the habit of writing down the things you want to achieve tomorrow at the end of each day. Break your day into parts and set your goals. Also black out time for breaks and leisure. If you can get into the habit of doing this each day you will condition yourself to become more productive and more efficient. You may be surprised by how much time you find you have when you start to plan your time in this way.

2. Tune-in to get into the zone.

Listening to the right music to help you focus on the task at hand. Streaming services like Spotify for example have curated playlists for every taste. Here are three of our favourites:

Which is your favourite? What music do you listen to to help you focus? Let us know.

3. Use the pomodoro technique

Working in short bursts has shown to significantly increase productivity. The technique involves breaking up your time into 25 minute segments or ‘pomodoros‘. After each pomodoro you take a five minute break. Once you have completed 4 pomodoros you then take a longer break (between 20-30 minutes). Simple but effective! This method not only makes you more productive but can also increase your creativity! Give it a try.

4. Focus on the ‘why’ and watch your productivity fly!

It’s true that if you can see the value in the work that you are doing you’re more likely to apply yourself with rigour and be more productive. So, ask yourself what is the positive impact of your work? Allow your self time to really get in tune with this. When you truly feel the benefits your work is providing it will have a hugely positive effect on your mindset. This in turn will increase your motivation. Your productivity will rise and before you know it you have achieved everything you set out to do.

5. Write a ‘to-don’t’ list.

In order to be more productive be aware of all of the things which are likely to distract you. We’re talking social media, TV, phones etc. Being cognisant of the things which are likely to get in the way of you achieving your goals will raise your awareness and prevent these distractions getting in the way. For example you could set an intention ‘to not’ check your phone until you have completed a given task. This is an important technique to increase your productivity.

6. Prioritise your to-do-list

When your inbox and list of to-do’s becomes overwhelming it’s time for you to utilise the Eisenhower matrix. This simple but effective tool will help you organise your to-do-list by helping you to sort tasks into four different categories. The process of organising your tasks in this way will enable you to identify work which can be delegated, what can wait til later, what you need to find time to do and perhaps most importantly what is most pressing and needs to be done immediately. Make the Eisenhower matrix a part of your toolkit today and reap the benefits.

What productivity hacks do you already use? Do you already use any of the hacks in the list above? Let us know which hack are you most likely to try?