How To Increase Productivity – 7 Tips

Today I’m sharing another post from my friends over at MadeByHemp. Since it’s Monday and the start of a brand new week, what better way to start than to share some tips on how you can increase productivity? No, it’s not about recipes, but you will learn how you can use food, drink, and some other tips to help increase your productivity today and every day.

This article originally appeared on MadeByHemp.com

We’ve all had those days when we feel like we are not accomplishing anything no matter how hard we work. Looming deadlines, increasing workloads, multitasking, and stress could all disrupt our productivity. The motto “work smarter, not harder” is renowned in today’s workforce, and there is great merit in this statement. Sometimes, when we wear too many hats, and take on too much work, instead of becoming more productive, our productivity decreases. So, how can we increase our productivity?

1. Have a healthy breakfast… or skip it!

There is some confusion about whether to eat breakfast or to skip it. There are studies showing that skipping the most important meal of the day may provide some benefit for brain functions. Intermittent fasting (often skipping breakfast) has been gaining popularity lately, and there are scientific studies to back up its effectiveness. However, if you want to give intermittent fasting a try, it is best to first ask your doctor or a nutritionist for guidance. For anything to work, one has to have the know-how and the right motivation. On the other hand, if you are a huge fan of breakfast and could not possibly start a day without it, by all means, eat! Fuel your body with the right food. Make healthy choices.

2. Take that coffee break

Though it might be tempting to just keep plugging away at work and skip your breaks to meet your deadlines, it would not be a very good idea. You need to relax and take a breather. This will give your brain a much-needed break and you a chance to walk around and enjoy a nice cup of joe, maybe even socialize with your other harried co-workers.

3. CBD Oil

Adderall has been making the rounds around colleges and even workplaces. However, if you prefer a more natural approach to boost your concentration and productivity, why not give CBD oil a try. It has been known to increase alertness, help calm nerves, and boost your mood. So when you find yourself stressed with your head all over the place, why not try popping a CBD gummy, a flavored tincture, or even straight-up CBD oil to help ease your stress and calm your nerves. Unlike its addictive cousin, THC, CBD will not get you high.

4. Don’t multitask

The human brain is not built for multitasking and trying to do it has been proven to cause loss of productivity. Doing too many things at once will take away the concentration necessary to do the crucial things that need doing. Trying to do several things at once will make your work prone to errors and cost you time that you were trying to save by multitasking in the first place. Do one thing at a time before moving on to the next task. This way you can ensure each task is properly accomplished. Try doing the tasks that take the least amount of time to accomplish first before moving on to more difficult items. This will get these tasks out of the way and allow you to focus on the more complicated ones.

5. Take exercise breaks

Isn’t it ironic that a post about being productive is talking about breaks a lot? That’s because taking breaks in between tasks is a good way to reset your brain and prepare it for new tasks ahead. Exercising will send a rush of much-needed oxygen to your brain and will help loosen your muscles that might have tensed up from getting the previous task done. Taking a brief walk, or a short stretch will allow your brain to stop thinking about work and “breathe.” This will help bring your focus back to where it is supposed to be – your looming tasks.

6. Use tools

Using online tools or apps to track your work and tasks for the day is one easy way of getting your day organized. When you have your day organized, you won’t need to spend extra time trying to remember what to do next; you would already have it laid out for you. Most of these tools are free and can be linked to your personal or work email. Just make sure that the apps abide by your company’s rules and risk profile.

7. Say no to meetings

Meetings take time, and a lot of the time, these meetings are not even really necessary. If you have a lot of work to do, and someone schedules a meeting, try to find out if your presence is necessary. Another option is to find out if agenda items on the agenda could be better addressed via email. You only get so many hours in a day after all, it’s best to spend them being productive.

So what do you do to increase productivity? Share with us in the comments!