12.10.2023
SUCCESS TECHNIQUES
THREE DAILY RITUALS FOR BETTER CONCENTRATION AND PRODUCTIVITY
Effective time management is a difficult task for many entrepreneurs. It's easy to get caught up in big projects and neglect other tasks or making time for yourself. Here are a few things company founders and experts advise you to do to improve your focus and productivity:
Plan breaks throughout the day
One productivity mistake many of us make is working long hours and neglecting to take frequent breaks.
“Our bodies send us clear signals when we need rest, including nervousness, hunger, sleepiness and loss of focus. But we mostly ignore them. Instead, we find artificial ways to fuel ourselves: caffeine, foods high in sugar and simple carbohydrates, and our body's own stress hormones," writes Harvard Business Review Tony Schwartz, CEO of The Energy Project and author of "The Way We're Working Isn't Working".
To achieve high performance, according to Schwartz, you need to work the way sprinters in track and field train. This means working with full focus and intensity during the morning hours, for 90-minute "sprints" (but no more) before taking a break. In other words, focus solely on the most challenging and important task for 90 minutes at a time, then give your brain a break and let it recharge. That way, you'll be able to work more efficiently when you return to your desk.
Plan your to-do list items
It's important to take some time in the morning to plan what you need to do for the day. Cal Newport, a professor of computer science at Georgetown University and author of Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, says that planning items on your to-do list can help you be more realistic about what you can achieve. Otherwise, it's just a wish list, not goals you can actually achieve.
“The schedule forces you to face the reality of how much time you actually have and how long things will take. Now, when you look at the whole picture, you can get something productive out of every spare hour you have in your workday,” adds Newport.
Turn off notifications
Managing too many notifications can be overwhelming and distract you from important tasks. Instead of wasting time trying to empty your inbox, focus your attention on one or two pressing issues each day and set aside continuous time to strategically concentrate on them.
To avoid interruptions from email, text messages, and social media notifications, consider turning off these notifications during work hours you've allocated to the important task. This will help you stay in the zone and achieve more.
According to a study conducted by Dscout, the average person touches their phone 2,617 times a day. Turning off notifications is a proven way to minimize distractions and be more productive.
