What comes to mind when the word Productivity appears? Most of us will visualise a single task. Some of us might visualise a completed list of things to do or get into a workflow where time passes, and we tend to hustle through the day with our responsibilities. Whatever productivity means to you can be achieved as it is rather a state of mind than a course of action. A discussion paper in 2014 from Germany entitled “Do Personality Traits Affect Productivity? Evidence from the Lab” quoted that productivity is correlated with the trait called conscientiousness, a constant personality trait. But there is also sufficient research that contradicts this and says that we can push our boundaries. We can change the way our brain functions! How do we change our brains? This is by mimicking some conscientiousness habits, and through those habits, we can rewire our brain to increase our productivity.
- Solid morning routine
Sunlight dictates to our brains we to rise and when it is time to wind down. Setting the alarm clock as the sun rises, specifically a little earlier, gives us time to get things done earlier. When we sleep, our bodies move through different cycles, and if by chance we wake up at the wrong time, we might feel tired and lethargic throughout the entire morning. Simple ways to combat this is by wearing a smartwatch or downloading an app like Sleep Cycle. By setting the alarm on the watch/app, it will ring during the exact moment when the body had ample rest and feels refreshed
- Fair, segmented schedule
Upon waking up early, we still need to rewire our brains to think by the hours of the clock. This is done by setting ample time for each project/task. Recommended setting a schedule ahead of time to fit in all the planned tasks. The program needs to include relaxing activities, a reward system and occasional breaks to boost motivation and keep you on track with focus without derailing due to distractions. A schedule ought to be a helpful tool, not a confining jail. The Pomodoro Technique is a method to schedule two (2) work hours with small and long breaks in between. It is the most proven and effective way to focus on a task at hand with just the right amount of time. This widely popularised time management technique was developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s to break down work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. Each interval is known as a Pomodoro, from the Italian word ‘tomato.’
- Productive Awareness
Lack of awareness is the number one killer of all products, but it is easy to control and use to your advantage. Understanding requires recognising where we are and what are we doing in the present moment. It is similar to meditation, taking time to be aware of the surroundings, what parts of the body are in contact with items, or what clothing is worn. It breaks down into smaller components: what do you see, what do you hear, what do you smell, have you been reading and digesting the words in front of you or have you been distracted by lingering thoughts. If you have trouble staying aware of the present moment, meditation is highly recommended or taking a workshop based on mindfulness. Wondering thoughts can be controlled by finding a suitable distraction-free workspace to decrease distractions and increase productivity
- Be accountable
Schedules only work if ideas are penned, and the goal to pursue is evident as they provide us appropriate paces to either ramp up focus or allows slacking. Becoming constantly productive requires us to find the most suitable rate which works best. This can be observed and achieved by taking note of distraction patterns and avoiding them throughout the day to boost our productivity
- Positive validation
This technique trains our brains to chase anything, including productive habits and a laser beam focus. Basic conditioning is applied to reward yourself, retreating from pain and training your brain to experience pleasure upon achieving tasks. Hence, over time our brains will crave productivity and look for accomplishments. Affirmations and positive validations direct our brains to complete our daily tasks productively. Thus, after a long, productive day; it is only reasonable to have a fun night
- Manifest productivity
Our minds are fascinating, and our brain is an influential tool. Thus rewiring our thoughts help boost productivity effortlessly. This can be achieved by removing doubts or memories of lazy days instead of visualising yourself as productive. The easiest and best way to stay motivated is to think of that trait as part of your identity. A positive affirmation or a mantra could be done constantly to remind ourselves until we believe it. The sooner you start to think you are productive, the easier it will be to schedule daily tasks and perform them all.
When the above steps have been implemented in rewiring your brain, boosting productivity comes almost naturally. Try to resist the temptation of putting in longer hours or packing more into your tight, already-full calendar. Instead, take a step back, and think about ways you can work smarter, not harder. Many of the above-listed techniques might seem counterintuitive—but tonnes of research validates that happy and engaged employees are the most efficient.