7 Brain Hacks That Boost Productivity
Productivity is important because it relates to income and time. The more productive you are, the more money you can earn in many situations. You can also save time which ultimately can save more money as well, as many say, “time is money”. That time can be spent on anything you like, including making more money.
There are many obstacles to productivity, such as a lack of focus, a lack of intention, a lack of stamina, and too many distractions, to name a few.
Hack your brain and increase your productivity with these strategies:
Set an intention. Most people can’t focus because they’re not truly clear on what they want to focus on or for how long. Give yourself a fighting chance by choosing a specific task for a specific amount of time.
For example, you might decide you’re going to work on your tax return for 30 minutes. Set a timer and do your best for those 30 minutes.
Your brain will do its best to give you what you want if you give it clear instructions.
Meditation & Prayer. Meditation helps to build focus and calm your mind. Meditation is incredibly popular right now, so there is plenty of free information on how to meditate effectively, educate yourself and get started alongside a healthy prayer life. Prayer is power, when we come into a place of surrendering everything to our Heavenly Father and meditate on His word and our time with Him, bigger things take place. It’s simple, effective, and renewing.
Take regular breaks. Experiment with break frequency and duration. The best option for most people is either 25 minutes of work and a five-minute break, or 50 minutes of work and a 10-minute break. Doesn’t this remind you of school? Discover what works best for you and then stick with it. Timers can be powerful tools. 😉
Avoid giving in to temptation. Most of us give in to the temptation of distraction far too easily. It’s a very difficult habit to break. We quickly go from feeling bored or stressed to amused. It feels good to check email or read a text, as we live in an instant world, many times we feel the need of that instant gratification, but don’t allow this temptation to detour you from the bigger picture.
The most productive people are able to overcome the urge to break their attention from their work task.
It’s important to avoid these distractions during your breaks, too. It’s too hard to get back on task, and your breaktime magically extends from five minutes to 25. Learn how to say “no” to your urges.
Alternate high and low-focus tasks. Many people report greater productivity when they alternate between cognitively intense activities and those that require less intellectual effort. It’s similar to interval training in the gym.
Lower-level activities might include returning calls and emails, or other routine work. The lower-level activities give your brain a rest and the chance to recover. Soon, it’s ready for another round of more intense activity.
When I am intense writing, my brain begins to get overwhelmed, so I switch to housework until I regain the focus I need to concentrate. A clean and work done, it is the perfect balance for this momma.
Drink plenty of water. Most people are partially dehydrated. The solution is to drink plenty of water. That doesn’t mean you have to be chugging 20 ounces of water every hour. But, a 20-ounce bottle of water every few hours would be beneficial to most.
So many metabolic processes require water that you’re not at your best if you’re dehydrated.
Develop a positive mindset. A positive outlook on life makes you more productive. Studies show that mindset affects productivity. Work on having a positive outlook and you’ll accomplish more each day. You’ll also be a lot happier.
It is helpful to start with turning off all distractions and turning on a motivation speech, it is incredible the mind shift of just listening to something that is encouraging to help get things done much easier.
Productivity should be important to everyone. Time is your most valuable asset, so do what you can to maximize it. We can all be more productive, but it doesn’t happen by magic. It must be a priority if you want to see real results. Dedicate yourself to maximizing your productivity with focusing on what is most important, without losing sight on your “why”.
Give your brain every chance to be your ally on this important journey, it is the greatest tool God has given us when it is trained effectively. The power of the mind can do extraordinary things 😉
