By: Emily Tran
There’s always a person who seems to do everything at once, whether it’s that secretary who finishes all of their paperwork in one sitting or that kid in class who finishes all of their homework before school ends. It’s hard to finish all of your work when you see people working much faster than you. That’s when you hit a wall. You’ve lost all of your motivation and you can’t stop thinking of the work instead of actually doing the work.
Here are eight tips to become more productive:
1. Divide your big task into smaller tasks.
When you see this complicated task, it’s natural to not want to do it. But remember that any complex task can be separated into many simple tasks. Try to focus your time on one simple task, and when you’re finished with one task, move on to the next. Don’t overwhelm yourself with trying to do the whole task at once.
2. Create a list.
How would you keep track of all the simple tasks you need to do? By keeping an organized and detailed list. A list helps with remembering what tasks you need to do right now and what tasks you can afford to do later. Using Google Calendar or an app that keeps track of these things really helps with recognizing priorities. It might seem too much work right now to rearrange your work, school, and personal needs. But this method puts urgency on certain tasks and will help you focus more.
3. Do not overexert yourself.
While making a list of what you need to do, only include 4-5 things. Do not write up a long list because that could burn yourself out unconsciously. Set small goals and try not to put too much on your plate. Instead of chores you drag out to the last minute, think of completing tasks as small accomplishments.
4. Form a new habit and attach it to your old habit.
This method works extremely well when you find yourself not wanting to start a project or a task. For example, if you’re having problems with wanting to do your homework, make it a habit to do it right away after you eat something. If you want a new workout routine, but you can’t find the motivation to exercise; do cardio for fifteen minutes right after you brush your teeth. If you form a new habit and continue doing it for a month, you’ll feel compelled to do it for the rest of your life.
5. Think about why you should do the task.
List out all of the reasons in your mind about why you should do that task. If the task is important enough, the benefits will outweigh the cons. For example, you want to do your homework, but you don’t want to start it because of its difficulty. What are the benefits of starting your homework right now? Getting it done earlier in the day, the luxury of not finishing it within the last minute, and having a higher chance of getting a good grade on it the next day. What are the cons of starting your homework? Having to get up and pick up a pencil to do your homework. If it’s an urgent task, there will be more benefits starting the task early.
Being productive isn’t an impossible task. Use these tactics to become more efficient and finally complete that task you’ve been dragging out for so long. If you’re struggling with your work, don’t be ashamed to ask for help. No one can do everything at once and it’s always helpful to learn a few tips here and there.
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