This document provides 10 tips for improving productivity: 1) Stop multitasking and focus on one task at a time; 2) Set small, achievable goals to make large tasks feel less intimidating; 3) Take regular breaks to reduce stress and increase focus; 4) Use the five-minute rule to start tasks by committing to only 5 minutes; 5) Implement time blocking by scheduling specific time periods for certain tasks; 6) Delegate tasks to others who are better suited to complete them; 7) Limit distractions from phones, notifications, and apps. The document also discusses productivity versus time management and the potential negative effects of toxic productivity.

1. How to be more productive: 10
productivity tips
Struggling to feel productive? Check out our top 10 tips and tricks on how
to improve your productivity levels.
Does it sometimes feel like you have a lot to do and very little time to do it?
If you’re interested in how to be more productive, read on to discover
valuable strategies to help you manage your time more effectively.
Top Videos At: https://linktr.ee/johnwpowelljr1985
Table of Contents
 What is productivity?
o What is toxic productivity?
 How to be more productive at work
 10 tips for improving productivity
o 1. Stop multitasking
o 2. Set small goals
o 3. Take a break
o 4. The five-minute rule
o 5. Time blocking
o 6. Delegate
o 7. Limit distractions
o 8. Do the hardest thing first
o 9. Set boundaries
o 10. Identify when you’re most productive
 Final thoughts
What is productivity?
Productivity is a term often used in business settings, though it can actually
apply to all areas of life. In a business context, productivity may be
measured by the number of sales calls made or a factory line’s output. In an

2. academic situation, productivity could be measured by the number of
questions answered or words written.
In its most basic form, productivity is output measured by input. However,
quantifying productivity isn’t always straightforward if the results aren’t
immediately tangible. Some projects and industries require a lot of self-
motivation. For example, in service provider industries, when trying to get a
promotion or attempting a creative project such as writing a book. For these
types of work, productivity can’t always be measured in terms of immediate
results or output.
When considering how to be more productive, many turn to time
management techniques. Although interconnected, productivity and time
management are two different things and not all productive people are
particularly good at time management.
Time management is a range of skills and tools that promote the effective
use of a person’s time. Productivity is about the results that are achieved
within a certain length of time. Sometimes the most productive results don’t
come from effectively managing a list of tasks – productivity is more
concerned with the outcome. Top Videos At: Top Productivity Videos
What is toxic productivity?
Toxic productivity is essentially the drive to be productive at all times, at the
expense of all other pursuits. At its core, toxic productivity is simply a new
term for ‘workaholic’ with a fresh modern spin.
Some examples of this are the social media trends #girlboss and #ThatGirl,
where young women are encouraged to ‘have it all’ by working and having a
side hustle, whilst also finding time to work out, look their best at all times,
fund multiple holidays a year, cook healthy meals and maintain an active
social life.

3. Although these points may appear positive and aspirational, they also
represent a toxic level of productivity coupled with the need to always
achieve more. This can lead to long-term effects, impacting our ability to
value ourselves beyond what we are “doing”.
During COVID-19 and the rise of remote working, the lines between home
life and work/study became significantly more blurred. Even as people
return to the office or places of study, a potentially unhealthy need to be
constantly productive and to ‘go the extra mile’, has become something of
its own epidemic.
But isn’t productivity a good thing? In times of high stress – like a pandemic
– toxic productivity and the need to constantly be seen as busy only masks
stress and anxiety. This can eventually lead to burnout. The University of
Manchester discusses workplace stress and its adverse effects on
productivity in their course: Workplace Wellbeing: Stress and Productivity at
Work. https://linktr.ee/johnwpowelljr1985
 Luleå University of TechnologyWorkplace Wellbeing: How to Build Confidence and
Manage Stress
 ATC TrainingWorkplace Training: Training Evaluation and Measuring Effectiveness
How to be more productive at work Top Productivity Videos
Although being productive is important in all aspects of life where outcomes
are required or when people want to achieve goals, it is probably considered
most important within the work environment.
As the modern workplace has developed and shifted to combinations of in-
person, remote, and hybrid over recent years, the traditional 9-5 has given
way to more flexible ways of working. Some of these changes have

4. encouraged people to work more effectively, but for others, these new
dynamics present challenges in productivity, both for the employee and the
employer, who must develop new ways of tracking efficiency and motivating
their workforce.
Making some simple adjustments to your workday schedule creates
possibilities to see an incremental boost in your productivity, whatever your
industry. We’ve listed some of these adjustments below.
 Habit stacking – You can’t expect to transform all of your productivity
habits overnight. Focus on making small, incremental changes to see
what works – and what doesn’t.
 Time management – A series of skills focused on helping you make
the most of your time. In order to be productive, time spent on
activities must also generate results. Check out some time
management strategies to see what can help you.
 Accountability – If you want to increase your work productivity,
having someone holding you accountable can really help. Find a
colleague who is interested in boosting their own productivity and
hold weekly, mutual check-ins, or create a personal diary system to
hold yourself accountable to regularly updated goals — keeping you
on track.
If you’re interested in learning more about how we form habits or can
change behaviour, check out UCL’s course on change intervention:
Behaviour Change Interventions: Introductory Principles and Practice.
10 tips for improving productivity
https://linktr.ee/johnwpowelljr1985

5. Try incorporating some of these productivity tips into your daily schedule.
Monitor what does and doesn’t work for you so you can build a lasting plan
to improve your productivity.
1. Stop multitasking
It’s often tempting to try and multitask, juggling numerous workday tasks at
any one time. While this may feel productive, it rarely produces the best
results. By focusing on just one task at a time, you will complete it to a
higher standard and in less time, enabling you to move seamlessly on to the
next task.
2. Set small goals
Large tasks or projects can feel intimidating and we often overestimate how
long they will take to complete. You can create forward momentum by
breaking tasks down into manageable, bite-sized milestones, which build
until your project is complete. For example, clearing your inbox by
answering four emails at a time throughout the day.
3. Take a break
It may seem strange to suggest taking breaks when talking about being
productive at work, but regular breaks actually help decrease stress and
increase productivity. Monash University’s course, Mindfulness for
Wellbeing and Peak Performance, discusses how to improve performance by
reducing stress in the workplace.
Many workplaces ensure employees take regular breaks. However, if you
work from home or in an office that doesn’t monitor your activity, consider
scheduling frequent short breaks of 10/15 minutes. Use this time to step
away from your work, enabling your mind to have a rest and return with
renewed motivation and potentially new ideas.
4. The five-minute rule
If procrastination is a big challenge for you, try the five-minute rule. By
promising yourself that you will spend just five minutes on an outstanding
task, you eliminate many of the excuses that stop you from starting. Almost

6. anyone can dedicate just five minutes to writing an email, researching a
topic, completing some filing or outlining a new task.
Often, once the five minutes are finished, the motivation to continue
remains. Even if you move on to another productive task, the small jobs
completed within the five minutes still represent an important contribution
to your overall output. As ever, it is these small tasks that we put off the
most.
5. Time blocking
Using time blocks is an established and well-known productivity strategy. By
creating time block frames in your workday schedule, you make the
conscious decision to dedicate a ‘block’ of time to a certain task.
Time blocks are usually divided into 60 or 90-minute sections. You may like
to print the schedule out or colour code your tasks, as one of the benefits of
time blocking is that once completed, it creates a visual guide for your
workday.
 Manchester Metropolitan UniversityMental Skills Training for Sport and Health
 University of LeedsSkills to Succeed in the Digital Workplace
6. Delegate
If you work as part of a team, look at your daily tasks and consider if any can
be delegated to other team members. Often, we take on work that is
outside our remit or can be done far quicker by others. Top Productivity
Videos https://linktr.ee/johnwpowelljr1985
Delegation isn’t about offloading work you don’t want to do. Instead, it’s
about ensuring everyone is working on the tasks best suited to their skills
and availability. If you’re interested in learning more about managing and
delegating within a team, the Open University’s course Business
Fundamentals: Project Management explores this topic further.

7. Entrepreneurs tend to try and juggle all of their business tasks. Delegating to
new employees or using freelancers for things like social media content can
mean more time is available for higher priority tasks.
7. Limit distractions
Becoming distracted is very normal, and focus doesn’t always come
naturally. However, it is a skill that can be developed. Turn your notifications
off, switch your phone to aeroplane mode, or use a productivity app like
Freedom.
The Pomodoro technique is commonly used to prevent distractions and
complete tasks. Users set a timer, removing all distractions from their
vicinity (social media, emails, etc.) and work in timed sprints of 20-30
minutes. Knowing that you only have to focus for a short period is an
excellent way of ability to focus for more extended periods.
8. Do the hardest thing first
It can be tempting to avoid difficult or time-consuming tasks and instead
focus on quick wins. However, by taking on your most difficult projects first,
you can increase your motivation and focus for the rest of the day. Consider
prioritising these bigger tasks first in the day, or when you feel most
productive.
9. Set boundaries
As we discussed in the section on delegation, employees often find
themselves taking on work that is beyond the scope of their role. While it is
considered a good thing to be flexible and take opportunities for career
development, it is also important to set boundaries on your time.
To complete your tasks effectively and be productive, you must be able to
complete them within a reasonable timeframe. Setting boundaries stop you
from becoming overwhelmed. If you are interested in learning more about
resilience at work and maintaining boundaries, look into Deakin University’s
course Professional Resilience: Building Skills to Thrive at Work.

8. 10. Identify when you’re most productive
With the advent of covid and remote working, the traditional 9-5 is
becoming increasingly less common. Flexible and hybrid working has
promoted the concept of working in more productive ways. Everyone is
individual. Some employees work best in the morning, while others hit their
productive stride after lunch. Identifying when you are most productive and
then organising your daily schedule to make the most of these peak times is
an excellent way to increase productivity.
Final thoughts Top Productivity Videos https://linktr.ee/johnwpowelljr1985
We have discussed some of the key aspects of increasing productivity both
in the workplace and in our day to day lives. Focusing on trying one of two
of these productivity tips at a time makes it possible for anyone to develop
skills in this area, reducing stress and maximising our professional and
personal goals. Top Productivity Videos
 UCL (University College London)Behaviour Change Interventions: Introductory Principles
and Practice
 Deakin UniversityProfessional Resilience: Building Skills to Thrive at Work