{"id":6603,"date":"2018-11-02T08:16:35","date_gmt":"2018-11-02T15:16:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.knowledgecity.com\/blog\/?p=6603"},"modified":"2024-05-17T13:52:39","modified_gmt":"2024-05-17T20:52:39","slug":"improve-productivity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.knowledgecity.com\/blog\/improve-productivity\/","title":{"rendered":"Improve Productivity in 5 Easy Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

If you’re like the average American, you probably believe you\u2019re firing on all cylinders all the time (at least compared to your peers), but the truth is you\u2019re not the best judge of your own productivity. In fact, on average, American workers estimate their own personal productivity to be approximately 11 percentage points<\/a> higher than their colleagues. However, we can\u2019t all be more productive than everyone around us, so there is obviously a disconnect in our perception and the reality of our own productivity. Luckily, there are several tried and true methods to tangibly improve productivity with real world results that you can take to the bank. Here are just a few of the easiest to implement.

\"Smiling<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

1. Schedule Your Morning Coffee<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This is probably the simplest tip of all – make sure you drink your coffee before or after your cortisol levels drop. Why? According to an article on CNBC.com<\/a><\/em>, your body naturally produces lots of the hormone cortisol when you wake up to help get you going. And, when cortisol is high, caffeine is less effective.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

For most people, cortisol levels are at their highest between 8 am and 9 am. So, you should either down your Starbucks before or after that peak if you want to achieve a maximum buzz before diving into that to-do list.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

2. Try the Pomodoro Technique<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Need to get a task\u2014or a full list of to-dos\u2014done immediately? Set a productivity timer for 20 or 30 minutes. (You can even find some fun options online). Then, either focus on completing one task, or as many smaller tasks as you can, before the timer runs out. You can even\u00a0scale up this technique<\/a> for team use.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

3. Shut Down Distractions<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Today, social media and messaging accounts for about one in every three minutes<\/a> we spend online. That\u2019s a lot of distraction. When you need to buckle down and get to work, try web blocking tools, like Freedom<\/a>, to cut yourself off from social sites, or any other sites where you find yourself wasting precious productivity time. You can also use these methods to narrow your focus:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n