Come on, now. Who doesn’t want to become more productive? Who doesn’t want to achieve their goals?
Certainly not anyone reading this article. You’re part of the group that wants to be high-performing, productive, and goal-setting machines.
Am I right?
But, if you’re like me, you can struggle to be productive, achieve goals, or even set goals. I struggle with that last one, for sure.
I have good news for you and me. There are habits we can form that will help us get to the place we want to be. We just have to be willing to work on these habits.
In this article, I will share five habits to make you more productive and reach your goals.
Are you with me? I hope so!
Photo by Content Pixie on Unsplash
5 Simple Habits to Boost Your Productivity and Achieve Your Goals
Habit 1: Plan Your Day the Night Before
Do you have a plan for what you’re going to do tomorrow? Have you ever thought about the productivity boost you could gain from doing so?
If not, it’s time to consider planning your day before you go to bed.
Here are a few things you could do:
- Create a to-do list (these are items that you believe will make tomorrow successful)
- Prioritize the list (figure out what tasks are most important. Place those at the top of the list)
- Visualize yourself completing the list
By planning ahead, you get yourself in the mindset of accomplishing tomorrow’s goals. If you do this before you go to bed, your mind subconsciously begins to think about the issues you’re facing. You may even dream of new solutions.
Create the productivity habit of planning your day the day before. You’ll have a clear path before you when you wake up in the morning.
Habit 2: Take Regular Breaks
I firmly believe that all work and no play makes Jack (or Joe or Jill or Brent or whomever) a dull boy. We’ve been trained that the best, most successful people are machines. They’re on 24/7. Breaks are for the weak.
Wrong
Breaks are for the strong. The best leaders among us know that their batteries become drained. The more on they are, the more they have to recharge.
This is where breaks come into play.
Find ways to make breaks a part of your day. You can do this by:
- Creating a break schedule. Every 25 minutes of work, you take 5 minutes to rest
- Going for a walk outside. If you can’t do that, walk through your offices or production area.
- Shutting the door to your office and take a 5-minute power nap
Find the break methods that work for you. Some people love getting outdoors for a few minutes; others want to take that beauty nap, still, others will throw on a pair of headphones and listen to their favorite music.
Breaks will help you recharge and get back into the productivity game.
Habit 3: Eliminate Distractions
Ding, buzz, beep… We’re constantly inundated with distractions from our mobile devices. We get notified when someone likes a Facebook post, sends us a text message, or calls our phones.
It’s a world of constant distraction. However, that’s not the only type of distraction we’ll face throughout the day.
You may have a barrage of people coming to your office door to chit-chat or share a minor gripe. You might find yourself slipping over to Facebook without a notification (I mean, someone had to have liked that photo of Lok and me running, right?!?).
You will have to find a way to eliminate the distractions in your life. Here are some real-world examples:
- Set your phone to silent or vibrate. Check your phone once every hour or two.
- Turn off notifications from your social media channels
- Use a website block such as Freedom App to block distracting websites.
Your productivity will skyrocket when you find yourself focused and free from distractions. You’ll discover yourself achieving those goals you set but never achieved.
Habit 4: Practice Mindfulness
Do you ever get overwhelmed? All of us do. However, when we get overwhelmed, our productivity drops drastically.
That’s where mindfulness comes into play.
You can direct your mind back to the tasks at hand using mindfulness practices. You’ll find yourself constantly guiding yourself back to where you need to be, which is a great thing!
What can you do to practice mindfulness? Consider the following:
- Meditate on the Bible. God’s word is holy and will guide you in the right direction
- Practice breathing exercises. Controlling your breathing will bring your mind under control
- Use an app to clear your mind. There are many out there, depending on the type of device you’re using
Practicing mindfulness doesn’t have to be woo-woo. It can be a religious practice, something you do to calm yourself, or even exercise.
By practicing mindfulness, you’ll learn to redirect your thoughts and anxiousness. You’ll find yourself calmer and more focused.
Habit 5: Set Realistic Goals and Celebrate Progress
Why do people fail to set goals or reach them? Because they don’t set realistic goals.
Sure, Jim Collins told us to set Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs) in his book Built To Last. However, many people took this to mean setting goals so far out there that you’ll never be able to achieve them. In doing so, these people set themselves up for failure. And despair.
I believe realistic goals are better. They are something we can put down on paper and achieve. Instead of a vague goal such as “I want to get in shape,” think about setting the goal “I will run a 5K in the next 3 months.” This is a specific goal with a timeline. It’s also achievable. The goal may stretch you or make you feel uncomfortable, yet it is realistic.
Once you’ve accomplished the goal you’ve set, celebrate your success. Celebrating your achievements lets you know that you’ve done something good, something worth rejoicing over.
Maybe you reward yourself with a new pair of running shoes or a dinner out at your favorite restaurant. The rewards are almost as important as your realistic goal.
Create Those Habits
Reading this post about habits and productivity won’t do you any good unless you begin to create the habits in your life. Use the suggestions I’ve given you to lay the groundwork for creating your own healthy habits.
These habits will change your life. You’ll discover you’re reaching goals and being more productive than you have in the last five years of your life.
