In today’s digital era, it’s all too easy to lose track of time. One moment you’re checking notifications, and the next, hours have vanished. Many of us spend considerable chunks of our lives endlessly scrolling through social media, only to be left feeling unproductive and full of regret afterwards.
In this article, we’ll share practical tips, clever hacks, and simple strategies to help you pump up your productivity, stay focused, and take back control of your time.
Create Routines
We are, like it or not, creatures of habit, and this means that we thrive off routine. We sleep better, eat better and feel better when we keep our activities regular.
Consider creating a timetable, with blocks of time in which you work, or exercise, or see your friends. Whatever you need to fit into your days, it’s much easier with a structured routine. Most of us find that this structure helps us to get a great deal more out of each day.
Begin by ensuring that you set an alarm clock for the same time every day. Meal times should form the cornerstones of your day’s routine. From there, you can fill in the time blocks with the tasks that you need to get done. Aim to be in bed and asleep by a similar time each day too.
It’s okay to deviate from routine here and there, but maintaining one for most of the time can really help to keep you focused and efficient.
Monitor Your Work-Life Balance
We lead busy lives, and we often become absorbed in our work to an unhealthy extent. It’s worth considering how many hours of the day you spend working, compared to the time you spend with your friends and family. Both are important, of course, but the main thing is finding a sustainable and healthy balance.
Here are a few questions that you can ask yourself when examining your work-life balance:
- Am I meeting my daily goals?
- Am I too committed to my work?
- Does my home and family life suffer?
- Do I think about work when at home?
- Am I constantly behind on deadlines?
- Am I professionally satisfied?
Once you know the answers to these questions, you can begin to see where your work-life balance requires improvement. Some of us don’t give enough to work, whereas others give too much. There’s likely to be a bit of fine-tuning involved for everyone.
Determine Time Limits
Time management is all about discipline, which means setting a few restrictions.
Social media can be useful, so it’s not always practical to completely avoid it. However, sticking to time limits can be beneficial for getting the most out of your days.
Consider putting restrictions on how long you spend scrolling. You might find it helpful to leave phones out of your bedroom (traditional alarm clocks still exist!).
You might find it beneficial to put your phone away after a certain time in the evening. Reading a book is a much better way for the mind to unwind.
Other limits you can set might refer to video games, streaming, email checking and any other digital endeavours. Examine your own habits and identify areas for improvement.
Set Goals & Remove Distractions
Work-oriented goals are a great way to keep yourself focused and on track. Consider writing a to-do list each morning, and prioritising items on it.
Removing distractions will help to keep you focused. Switch off your laptop notifications. Put your phone on silent. Resist the urge to check your phone every two minutes!
Simple tricks like putting distracting devices on the other side of the room can be practical and helpful. Setting specific times for email checking is also a good way to avoid distractions.
Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t achieve all of your goals every day – just keep working to improve. Knowing what your goals are is half the battle, so define them clearly to yourself.
Take a Break
Taking some time off occasionally is important. We need to relax and enjoy the fruits of our labour. This way, we can recharge and return to our work refreshed. This break should involve some digital detoxing, too.
This doesn’t have to mean literally booking a holiday. You might find it beneficial to simply set aside an hour or two a day for you to relax without technological distractions. Doing this can help to make the hours when you’re actually working more productive. It also gives your mind a valuable opportunity to unwind.
If you find that you benefit from a bit of quiet time, you might also want to consider practising mindfulness. This is a simple form of meditation that helps you unwind and think more clearly throughout the day. Various helpful apps and video channels can guide you through this.
Don’t Neglect Your Health
A healthy body = a healthy mind. Don’t overlook the importance of things like getting a good night’s sleep or eating a balanced diet. Eating or sleeping poorly can cause us to feel sluggish and de-energised, making us less efficient and more easily distracted.
Here’s an overview of some health-related factors that you should consider:
| Factor | Explanation |
| Sleep | Some of us find it much easier to sleep than others, but getting a good night’s sleep is crucial to having a productive day. Things like regular exercise, not eating too late, and avoiding screens in the evenings can help the quality of your sleep. Aim for eight hours. |
| Diet | There’s a lot of misinformation about what we should and shouldn’t be eating, but the reality is that most of it’s common sense. You should be eating a variety of foods, and avoiding the things that we know to be harmful. |
| Hydration | The body needs water to run properly. Aim to drink plenty of water, and remember that some liquids can actually dehydrate you, such as those which are caffeinated or alcoholic. |
| Lifestyle | Things like caffeine and alcohol can also have adverse effects on our productivity, sleep, and overall well-being. Consider cutting down on these or removing them from your diet altogether. |
| Exercise | Regular exercise is great for the brain, as well as the rest of the body. It has been shown to be massively beneficial to mental health too. |
Benefits & Summary
There are many methods that you can use to help you avoid digital distractions and manage your time more effectively. Some benefits of doing so include:
- Improved work-life balance and a happier home life
- Better mental and physical health
- More productive working hours
Time is precious, so we’d highly recommend taking on board the tips we’ve discussed above, and perhaps choosing one or two to integrate into your personal routine. We’re sure you’ll feel the benefit!