12 habits that will instantly increase your productivity
Parent Post
Most people aim too
Most people aim too high and big when trying to form a new habit — which often leads to them failing.
The key to success is to think small when wanting to develop new behaviors or routines.
For instance, if you
For instance, if you have a goal of drinking a gallon of water a day, the key is to start with having a sip after you wake up in the morning.
There’s no need to create an elaborate plan or rally social support. It’s also safe to experiment with because if you don’t succeed, the “misstep is tiny.”
It’s crucial to start a new behavior following something that is already a staple in your routine (like brushing your teeth).
Say these habits to
Say these habits to yourself throughout the day. Each habit is connected with an anchor or prompt to help you remember to complete it.
- After I sit down at my desk, I will put my phone on do not disturb mode.
- After I close my office door, I will organize one item that’s lying around.
- After I finish reading email, I will close the email browser tab.
- After I launch a new Word doc, I will hide all other programs running on my computer.
- After I find myself mindlessly browsing social media, I will log out.
- After I sit down at a meeting, I will write the title, the date, and the attendees at the top of my notes.
- After I notice a call going on for longer than expected, I’ll say this: “It’s been great to talk, but I need to wrap up. What haven’t we covered yet that’s important?”
Every behavior needs a
Every behavior needs a prompt to occur. Your existing routine can serve a prompt in a powerful and elegant way.
To make something stick permanently, it’s important to celebrate after completing the habit. Give yourself a fist bump. By congratulating yourself after completing the habit, you will be more likely to repeat it.
After I read an
- After I read an important email, I will file it in a folder for the designated project.
- After I read an email I can’t deal with immediately, I will mark it as unread.
- After I read an email that’s time-sensitive, I will reply with this script: “Got it. I will review it in detail and get back in touch soon.”
- After I leave the office, I will think about one success from the day.
- After I walk in the door at home, I will hang my keys on the hook.
You’ll eventually do more
You’ll eventually do more of the habits in time that you hadn’t planned and you’ll also be less fearful to try to attempt other changes.
The habits people want to make part of their routine the most are around productivity. Productivity beats the desire for habits that have to do with being financially secure and losing weight.
A good small habit
A good small habit for productivity is putting your phone on do not disturb mode as soon as you sit down at your desk. When the habit takes hold, it will have a ripple effect and eventually boost your productivity.
When you go tiny, you don’t need to rely on willpower or motivation. Tiny will grow bigger, just like a seed grows into a tree.