Strategies to boost productivity
Brain tips and tricks to boost productivity according to a neuropsychologist
Many of us find it a challenge to use our time productively in order to complete the tasks that we need to do, whether that be at home, work or school. This can be all the more challenging for people who experience conditions that affect their attentional abilities such as ADHD, traumatic brain injury, stroke and certain mental health conditions. We have outlined our top tips to help boost productivity that you can put in place day to day.
Use a timer
Use a timer or a stopwatch to set yourself a fixed chunk of time in which to focus and complete tasks. Once the timer goes off, step away from your work and give yourself a short break.
Rinse and repeat as needed!
There are various versions of this method such as the Pomodoro technique and Timeboxing. The exact length of the time interval is up to you, but somewhere between 25 -40 minutes usually works well.
Limit Distractions
It’s easy to get distracted by all the things around us that compete for attention. It’s tempting to quickly check that message or research that one fact. And before you know it, you’ve spent a good hour scrolling social media, replying to irrelevant emails or getting sucked down an internet rabbit hole!
Our brains are not wired to multi-task, but are designed to focus on one thing at a time.
So put distractions out of sight!
Put the phone on airplane mode, turn off email notifications, turn off the TV and use an app or plug-in to block distracting websites.
Plan your day
Make a plan for your day. Think about what tasks need to be completed and schedule time for them. You could use a paper day planner or an online calendar for this.
Think about structuring your day so that you can work on the most demanding tasks at the time of day when you feel most alert - perhaps that means first thing in the morning or perhaps right after your coffee break!
To tackle procrastination head on, try scheduling your least favourite tasks first. This strategy works to get them out of the way and to boost momentum for the rest of the day!
Take Breaks
It may sound counter-intuitive but taking planned breaks can improve productivity by helping you focus and maintain momentum. Set clearly defined breaks to give your brain and body a chance to rest and to avoid the unproductive trap of unfocussed “sort of working”.
You might decide to take breaks after completing specific tasks or after completing a particular time interval of focused work.
To give your brain a proper rest, take a “screen free” break. Make a cup of tea or coffee, take the dog for a walk or even do a short workout.
Break tasks down into steps
There’s nothing more overwhelming than being faced with a big complex task or project. And it can be difficult to know where to begin.
For many of us, being faced with a big project is so daunting that we fall into the trap of procrastination.
Instead, take some time to break the task down into smaller more manageable steps. Then focus on completing one step at a time.
If you want to learn more or find that you are struggling with maintaining your attention and productivity, then get in touch with us.
contact@tmneuropsych.com.au
(02)7813 0223
