{"id":3046,"date":"2023-08-04T14:08:30","date_gmt":"2023-08-04T14:08:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/project.co\/?p=3046"},"modified":"2024-12-05T15:08:28","modified_gmt":"2024-12-05T15:08:28","slug":"productivity-hacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/project.co\/productivity-hacks\/","title":{"rendered":"15 of the Best Productivity Hacks for 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"
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From clever ways to structure your schedule to apps that keep distractions at bay, the 15 tips we share in this article will help you operate at peak productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine having the structure and focus to churn through your daily to-do list with ease. No more wasted time or stressing about unfinished tasks! With these simple but powerful productivity boosters, you’ll be unstoppable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, let’s not waste another second and just jump straight into it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Get rid of distractions <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Humans have a complicated relationship with notifications. Some people get powerful hits of dopamine every time they hear a ping or a buzz from their device. Other people feel stress and anxiety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However you feel about them, most of us are now so affected by our notifications that we don\u2019t even need to have one in order to be distracted! Simply the anticipation <\/em>of a notification is enough to disrupt our productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n <\/i>Statistic\n<\/div>\n
\n People check their emails around 15 times a day<\/strong>, equal to every 37 minutes.\u00a0\n
\n Source: <\/strong>Harvard Business Review<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

If you want to improve productivity, you need to remove these distractions. There are a couple of ways you could do this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You could block out specific windows of time<\/a> throughout the day to check your notifications. For example, first thing in the morning, before lunch, and an hour before your working day ends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the rest of the day you could keep your emails tab (or the site you\u2019re prone to checking) closed, so that you\u2019re not tempted to check it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also set reminders via a calendar app, such as Google Calendar, to ensure you don\u2019t accidentally forget to check your notifications! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Google<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Another – perhaps stronger – way to eliminate these distractions is to block certain apps and websites on your computer. For example, if you check Reddit every ten minutes then you can temporarily block the site on your computer to avoid the temptation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A quick and simple way to do this is by installing the free Chrome extension, Stay Focusd<\/a>. After installing to your browser you simply visit the site you want to block and click \u201cBlock this entire site\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From there, you have ten minutes remaining until the site is blocked:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Stay<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When you try to visit your blocked sites you\u2019ll receive this message: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Stay<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This is a great way to manage your time on social media and boost your productivity. It\u2019s easy to unblock your sites later by heading to the Settings tab: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2. Use a project management system<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Why struggle trying to manage productivity on your own when there are great tools out there to help you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using a project management system, like Project.co<\/a>, is a great way to keep all of your projects in one place and ensure they remain on schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our discussions tab is perfect for keeping all of your project communications in one clear, centralised place:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So no more time wasted digging through endless emails! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, our tasks tab can also boost your productivity by keeping your to-do list in one, easy-to-manage place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s easy to add tasks, and you can assign dates and team members in seconds:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tasks can also be ticked off instantly when completed, so you can quickly move on to the next one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Implement the 2 minute rule <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The two minute rule is simple: <\/p>\n\n\n

\n If a task can be done in 2 minutes, do it immediately<\/strong>. If it\u2019s going to take longer than 2 minutes, schedule it for later<\/strong>.\u00a0\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

This not only outlines a clear process for how to prioritise your tasks, it also reduces the possibility of wasting time re-reading things. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, if a colleague emails you with a question that you can quickly answer then you should respond immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Otherwise, you\u2019re probably going to waste more than 2 minutes by re-reading the email later! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s another 2 minute rule that\u2019s worth mentioning here, too. This is the 2 minute rule for building healthy habits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea is that if you have a task you\u2019re dreading and avoiding, simply commit to doing it for 2 minutes. You\u2019ll probably find yourself doing it for a lot longer, and this can help you to build up a habit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This rule is championed by James Clear, author of the New York Times bestseller, Atomic Habits. Here he is explaining it (coincidentally, in roughly 2 minutes!<\/em>):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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