5 Best Productivity Hacks To Get More Done in 2021

And one bonus suggestion to get you started

5. Try the POMODORO technique

Francesco Cirillo developed the POMODORO technique in late 1980s. The Pomodoro technique breaks down a task into 25 minutes time intervals. Each task is then separated by short breaks of 5 minutes.

For example, when I want to write in Medium, I take 25 minutes to research titles, subtitles and make a featured image. Then I take a 5-minute break and come back for researching and writing. If it’s a longer article, I spend a POMODORO session on researching.

How to use the POMODORO technique?

Firstly, understand what you want to get done. Let's assume you are making a 10-slide presentation. Divide the presentation making into 3-4 groups of work. Dedicate first session on creating the skeleton. Then after 5 minute break, take a session to work on first 5 slides. Repeat the same in third session. Lastly, use the final session for revision and beautification.

4. Practice Habit Stacking

I learned this trick from James Clear’s Atomic Habits. He picked this up from Stanford Professor BJ Fogg.

All of us have some habits. For example, I wake up and brush my teeth. Habit stacking is the process of adding a new habit to an existing one. I can say that after I brush my teeth, I will clean my face and use moisturizer. That way, I can tag a new habit of taking care of my facial skin to my existing habit.

How to include Habit Stacking in your life?

Take one habit that is part of you. It can be as simple as brushing your teeth, having your morning coffee, going to sleep or making your bed. Let's imagine that your goal is to read more this year. You can stack that with coffee. If you keep a book besides the place where you make coffee, you can finish making coffee, take the book and enjoy both.

Make it easy for you to create new habits!

3. Create a to-do list with quantifiable targets

I’d love to write more today. That’s not a target you’d want to set.

Instead, add more details to your daily targets. I’ll run for 30 minutes today or I’ll write in the morning for 1 hour. That way you can hold yourself accountable.

How to set quantifiable targets?

Whatever you want to do, you should devote sometime to it. You want to learn french? "I'll study french for 20 minutes in the evening". It's as simple as that. It's even better if you specify when.

2. Add when and where to your to-do list

Planning out when and where you will do an activity can work as a trigger. If you set these triggers, your mind will signal you that this is the time and place for the activity. Then executing that plan will become easier.

Otherwise, if you keep it open, you have to decide during the day. That’s an extra activity that works as a barrier. Should I go to the gym today? The answer can be yes or no. But if you say to yourself, I will go to the gym in my neighborhood tomorrow at 8 AM. Then there’s no decision to take. Your mind is freer and can focus on executing this plan.

How to add when and where to your list?

Take locations and times where you have control. For example, you want to practice singing. Can you ask yourself to practice singing in a public transport at 12PM? That's unlikely. So, choose a location that is suitable to the activity. Then choose a time when you will have time to do the practice

1. Set a timer for your social media

In 2020, an average user used to spend 2 hours 24 minutes on social media. COVID impacted the world has surely increased that number. It’s time to force those apps to stop.

Most phones have options where you can set timers for the apps. I have set 25 minutes for Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin. For Medium, I don’t have a timer yet but I might set one.

How to set a timer for your social media?

The settings vary from phone to phone. You have an iPhone, do the following-
1. Go to settings > screen time
2. Tap Turn On Screen Time > Tap Continue > Tap This is My iPhone
3. Tap App Limits > Tap Add Limits
4. Select one or more app categories
5. To set limits for individual apps, tap the category name to see all apps. Then select the ones you want to limit. 
6. Tap Next > Set the amount of time allowed
You can customize by day as well.

If you are using other phones, try to search in your settings. That should reveal how it's done. You can leave a comment by mentioning your phone brand. I will then add how it should be done. Also, you can google the solution.

Bonus Tip: Wake up sooner!

You’ve heard this before. It’s a cliche. And for the right reasons.

Last year, when work from home hit us for the first time, I struggled to maintain discipline. I even woke up at 9.30, stuffed in some breakfast, and then joined meetings. It led to an unhealthy lifestyle. My skin and hair quality deteriorated. I gained weight. I kept on feeling tired throughout the day.

This year, I gradually brought my waking time to 6.30 AM. In the first days, I was targeting 8, then 7.30, 7, and now I am at 6.30.

How to convince yourself to wake up early?

There are three reasons I wake up early.

Give yourself a compelling reason or a set of reasons. I have set up an extensive routine for myself. After waking up, I pray, exercise for an hour, take care of my teeth and face. Somedays I read a book or I write an article for Medium. Because I have so much to do, I have reasons to wake up!

Let’s Summarize —

To keep things interesting, I didn’t follow a chronological order in the article. But let’s do that here —

1. Wake up early
2. Set a timer for your social media. It’s best to do it once and forget about it
3. Create a to-do list with quantifiable tasks
4. Add time and location to your task list
5. Try POMODORO technique
6. To make all of these a habit, practice habit stacking

Let me know in the comments if you find these useful.

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