Give your productivity a boost

If you feel like you aren’t making the most of your time, all you need are a few tweaks to give your productivity a boost. Here are 10 things you can start on immediately.
Start making lists – Checklists, to-do lists, tasks lists, you can call it whatever you want, but maintaining a list of what needs to be done is absolutely critical. On one hand, it’ll make sure you don’t miss out on anything, and on the other, it’s strangely satisfying to strike/check things off the list.
Set time brackets – If you have a little bit of an OCD (like me) or are a perfectionist, you’re most likely going to be stuck with more-than-necessary revisions. Allocate deadlines for each task so you can move on to the next once your time is up. (And fine, you can add a little buffer if it’s really important.)
Know your ‘downtimes’ – Basically, those hours in a day when you are least inspired to work. Let’s face it, the hour just after lunch is lazy for most. Try scheduling tasks that don’t require much thought for these hours. You could keep that time to organise your files, check your daily accounts or research something you enjoy.
De-clutter – Having a workspace that is conducive for work is vital. Start with getting rid of stuff you don’t need, or at least put them away in a drawer. The more things that are around, the more overwhelmed you are likely to feel. Follow the rule of minimalism here.
Reflect – Think about why you lost out on good time earlier. Take a few moments to figure out your problem areas, reasons you weren’t able to meet a deadline or what hampers your productive mood. Then find ways to combat them.
Identify ‘time-nabbers’ – These are things that steal your productive hours. Distractions like TV, social media and other phone notifications are said to make up most of the percentage.
Apply the 80/20 rules to prioritise tasks – According to research, it is said that only 20% of your daily tasks fetch you real results. Knowing what is not reaping you adequate benefits will help you prioritise your tasks, if not filter the unnecessary out completely.
Cut down on meetings – You know those people who always want to have a ‘quick meeting’. Well, their meetings aren’t always quick, and most of the time, they really don’t generate any results. Now, we aren’t saying all meetings are pointless, but if it can be communicated through a simple email or call, avoid wasting time running for a meeting.
Learn to say ‘no’ – If you have too much on your plate, and can’t take on an additional favour, be bold enough to refuse. Just have a good reason ready if you find it hard to refuse.
Reward – If you’ve planned a productive day and get through all your tasks, make sure to reward yourself. Having something to look forward to is a great motivation to keep you going.

Antara Bose is a model turned fashion and beauty consultant. A popular blogger, anchor, and voice over artist, she maintains a deep connection with the local fashion industry and is passionate about discovering and celebrating aspiring talent as well as promoting animal rights. For fashion updates with a side of humour and sarcasm follow Antara on instagram
@antarabose and on Facebook: Antara Bose.