An Introductory Guide to a More Productive Lifestyle

In a world where worth is measured by productivity, getting the most out of every waking hour has become an imperative. This productivity can come in many forms, but is usually determined by the amount of tasks achieved in a space of time, leading people to cram more and more into their waking hours. In this post I will run you through some basic suggestions for ways in which you can decrease unproductive time or organise the time you do have a little better. Of course, hustle culture can be as dangerous as it can be successful. One of the most important parts of a healthy lifestyle is to take breaks and have enough sleep, so please do not jeopardise these in the belief that they will make you more efficient because the exact opposite is in fact true. Balance is the key to all things and certainly the key to avoiding burnout in favour of a comfortable working environment.

Identify your Distractions

Every day we are surrounded by countless distractions and each one eats into our time – whether it is for seconds or minutes. These moments add up, thus identifying them can be the first step towards a more productive day. Distractions can come in many forms; whether that be the notifications on your phone, a television playing in the background, or even a beautiful view out of your window. Once you have identified what your distractions are, you can create strategies with which to combat them.

Make a List

I have found that lists are an invaluable tool in the world of productivity. A big long list of everything that you have got to do may seem like a daunting and horrifying prospect, but there is fun to be found in the ticking off of the tasks as they are completed. A list ensures that nothing is forgotten and helps to organise the size of tasks, thus enabling you to prioritise. Personally, I have two to-do lists: one for absolutely everything and one for the day ahead, which makes things feel a lot more manageable. There  is a multitude of beautiful list pads to be found, each with a different style and pattern depending on what you like and what suits your working style best.

Timetable

Some people like their time neatly organised and some cannot stand the idea. Depending on which type of person you are, you may or may not like this idea; however, I would recommend at least giving it a try. A timetable can help to remove those moments of distraction and to organise your time in such a way as to make it most efficient. These days you can buy diaries that enable you to plan your hours, which can be helpful. Alternatively, you could create your own timetable. Spend a few days getting to know how long each task takes you so that you can allocate a good amount of time – there is nothing more disheartening than feeling like you are not quick enough or not living up to the expectations that you have set yourself!

Find out when you work best

Everyone has a time of day that they work best and once your discover yours, you will be able to plan your day around this time. Your most productive hours may be at 3am or midday or even at 6am and, if you are a student, this is the time that I recommend that you write your essays. Choose the easy tasks for times of day when you feel more tired or less engaged and do the more challenging tasks when your brain is completely switched on. When your day is organised around some external factor this can be a challenge; however, try your best and try not to fall back on caffeine too often to get you through those challenging moments.

Work out how long you can work for

Some of us can sit for hours before a laptop and work with not a thought of the outside world, while other struggle to work for more than an hour without distraction. However long you work for it is not something to be ashamed of. When you feel your concentration slipping, take a break. This can be a two
minute walk to get yourself a cup of tea or a longer break that enables you to relax and reset before carrying on. It could be helpful to do some exercise during this time or read a chapter of a book – if you are a yoga person I recommend a couple of sun salutations.

Prioritise

This may seem like an obvious one, but it is important to remember all the same. Some tasks are more urgent than others, some larger. Prioritise the things with the soonest deadlines; however, also consider the tasks that will take you longest to complete. It may seem counter intuitive to not do all of your small tasks first, yet ultimately it is the lengthier tasks which are most anxiety inducing.

Rest

You should always have some time to rest and decompress every day. I understand that when you have a lot on this is always the first things to be neglected (along with exercise), but that does not mean that it should be. You must give your brain time to switch off every day. The average person should work eight hours every day, but as an Oxford student I am well aware that that is not usually the case. Therefore, even if you do not feel that you ought to, give yourself time off at least take half an hour to unwind and make sure to sleep enough.

These are just some very basic suggestions to improve your productivity. Some of these may work for you while others may not, yet it is worth giving them all a go. I hope that they help you, whether in study or the working world, and if you find that they do please drop me a like or comment. If you would like more posts like this (with deeper dives into study tips, productivity and more), please do let me know!