8 Productivity Hacks You Can Implement Today

These tried and tested productivity hacks will actually help you make the most out of your minutes.

I won’t lie — I get a lot done in a day.

I’m in the middle of completing a full-time Masters in Finance, which as you can guess involves a lot of work. I’ll research daily for my dissertation, I have my lectures and external studies to do, I have to teach myself coding. But I still fit in my hobbies like writing, working out, reading, painting. And then being the ‘young, single twenty-something-year-old’ that I am my social life can get pretty hectic.

This isn’t me trying to brag, though. I’m simply a busy person who has a tendency to take on a lot of commitments. However it’s because of this tendency that I’ve spent a lot of time practising time management — yes, I’m aware of the irony in that — which leads me on to the purpose of this article.

In learning time management I’ve become a bit of a self-proclaimed productivity hack connoisseur. I’ve researched, tried and tested so many of these hacks that I can say with confidence I’ve found the most effective ones. They’re the productivity hacks that I actually caused me to experience an instant improvement in my time management skills.

So — to save you the time that I spent testing these tips and tricks — here are the productivity hacks you can start implementing today and actually see results from.

1. Time Blocking

Time blocking’s a productivity hack that’s been around for years and has a rather reputable user-base, with the liked of Benjamin Franklin being known as one of its early adopters.

The technique basically involves splitting your day into blocks of time. Each block is given a specific task or group of tasks and for that period you only do things related to that task. So rather than a more open-ended approach to completing tasks, you follow a day with more structure.

For example, you might currently try to respond to your e-mails between meetings and in between that you’ll find moments that you can work on your side project. But with time blocking, you would only spend 9 a.m.-10.30 a.m. responding to e-mails, then 10.30 a.m.-3 p.m. in meetings and 3 p.m.-6 p.m. working on your side hustle. As a result, the overall time you spent doing a certain task throughout the day is reduced as the previous lack of structure can be the cause of delays and procrastination.

The issue, however, with time blocking is that you can’t always control when you have to complete certain tasks — conflicting schedules happen. However, you can still reap the benefits of time blocking by only applying it to the parts of your day that you can control.

You don’t need to adopt an all or nothing approach to time blocking — the same goes for any of these hacks. Time blocking can only be effective when you have the capabilities to put it into practice.

2. The Urgent-Important Matrix

Created on the basis of Eisenhower’s urgent-important principle, I first discovered the urgent-important matrix when reading Dr Stephen Covey’s book; The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

The matrix focuses on the effective prioritisation of daily tasks by categorising your to-do list into categories based on urgency and importance. The matrix consists of four sectors — sector 1 being what’s important and urgent, sector 2 is what’s important and not urgent, sector 3 consists of what’s not important and sector 4 being the not important and not urgent sector. And in order to boost productivity you do the tasks in sector 1 first, plan and schedule your sector 2 tasks, delegate or delay the tasks in sector 3 and delete the sector 4 tasks.

Prioritising your tasks this way allows you to limit time-wasting and spend your time effectively on what’s actually important. Personally, I’ll plan my matrix at the start of each week so that I can plan and schedule my sector 2 tasks effectively — but I do know people who prepare one at the start of each day.

It’s a matter of personal preference and the nature of your general to-do lists that determines how often you should write up your matrix. But whatever the case, it’s a quick and easy hack to implement that you’ll start benefitting from immediately.

3. Batching Your Tasks

Batching your tasks is the act of putting similar tasks together and doing them all at once rather than completing them sporadically throughout the day. You focus on one umbrella theme of tasks and give your attention solely to the tasks under that theme. Tasks that are outside of that theme can be batched under a different theme and performed at another time.

Task batching can often be mistaken for time blocking — however, they are in fact two different hacks. That being said, the can co-exist and complement each other quite well. Task batching takes a longer-term perspective of time management as opposed to time blocking which is focused on short-run task completion.

However, task batching enables you to improve your time blocking structure. The combination of two creates synergy, so I would recommend practising both hacks as opposed to only choosing one.

4. ‘Eat The Frog’

The term ‘eat the frog’ comes from a Mark Twain quote;

If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.

Basically, it means if you have a daunting task on your to-do list, get it done first thing in the morning so you won’t have to dwell on it throughout the day.

By getting the tasks you’re less enthusiastic about out of the way first, you’re less likely to procrastinate during the rest of the day as that dread isn’t looming over you. Not only that but completing a task first thing in the day can provide you with momentum and a sense of accomplishment early on which has been proven to boost your overall productivity.

So, ‘eat the frog’ and prioritise doing what you dread first — for me this is usually the nasty chore of taking out the bins. It may be hard to do because the task itself isn't something you want to do, but with a bit of willpower, you will be more productive because of it.

5. Create a Productive Environment

This hack may be a bit more general than the other hacks — however that doesn’t make it any less effective. If you set yourself up for procrastination and time-wasting, you’re more likely going to procrastinate and waste time.

Although there isn’t a set method for creating a more productive environment, there are some general tips that anyone can apply to their lives regardless of their specific conditions.

For example, you can start making use of a Google calendar and plan your events using it. Turning off notifications on your phone for ‘fun’ apps can also help so you have zero distractions — if you need to check your Twitter you have to physically open the app.

I also found setting out my daily intentions and priorities to be extremely helpful. In the morning while I have my breakfast, I’ll write out in a notebook something I’d like to achieve that day and it never fails to put me in the right mindset from the get-go.

6. Make a Wins List

A ‘wins list’ may sound like a bit of a contrived self-help hack but don’t disregard it before you try it.

During the day write down all the things you complete as you accomplish them — your ‘wins’. Each win you add to your list is a visual reminder of just how much you’re capable of doing and provides a sense of encouragement. That encouragement then motivates you to get even more done.

A wins list can make productivity feel like a game. It creates a sense of competition — self-improvement motivated, internal competition. Given the numerous studies that have shown the benefits of competition in boosting productivity, it’s human nature that adopting a wins list can help you achieve more.

7. The Deep Work State

I use this hack primarily for writing. In fact, I’m using it right now. I’ve given myself one hour and thirty minutes to focus solely on writing this article and nothing else. My phone is switched off, I don’t have any other tabs open, I’m not even listening to music — I am currently laser-focused on writing.

I’m in a state of deep work.

Coined by Professor Cal Newport of Georgetown University, he defines deep work as;

The ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It’s a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time.

Although this hack does require training — you have to build endurance to work without getting distracted — it can still make a difference if you can achieve the deep work state. That said, the more you try to reach that state of mind, the easier it will become and the longer you’ll be able to sustain it. Over-time you’ll retrain your brain to work more effectively and efficiently.

Deep work is a skill like any other — the more you practice, the better you become.

8. Follow a Consistent Sleep Schedule

A solid sleep schedule might not be a hack per se but sleep does play a major role in productivity. Simply put, if your tired your brain won’t function optimally — you won’t be able to concentrate or perform at your peak.

The daily recommended sleep for an adult is 7+ hours. I aim for 8 as I know that’s how much my body needs. You may need more or less — it can take some experimenting to see what works best for you — but the key is that you’re consistent.

Being consistent with your sleep schedule will trigger consistent productivity as your body and brain become more used to the daily patterns and sleep-wake cycle. It will learn to work during the wake phase and rest during bedtime.

So regardless of how many hours you sleep — although I do suggest you get what’s recommended — make sure your sleep schedule is consistent so that productivity becomes a habit.

Summary

If you’re in need of a quick productivity boost that you can also take with you well into the long-run, try implementing these productivity hacks;

1. Time blocking. Split your day into time blocks that focus on one task.
2. The urgent-important matrix. Do the important and urgent tasks on your to-do list first, plan for the important and not urgent ones, delay or delegate the urgent but not important tasks and delete the unimportant and not urgent tasks.
3. Batching your tasks. Theme your tasks and do them all of the tasks under one theme at one time.
4. ‘Eat the frog’. Get the stuff you dread over and done with first.
5. Creating a productive environment. Set yourself up for productivity by removing distractions and making it easier for yourself to accomplish tasks.
6. Making a wins list. Make being productive a game and motivate yourself to do more by writing down everything you accomplish.
7. The deep work state. Train your brain to focus solely on one task without any distraction for a period of time.
8. Following a consistent sleep schedule. Give your body and brain the best chance at being productive by letting it get enough rest to perform and get used to the times when it needs to get work done.

I’ve experienced major improvements in my productivity adopting these habits and I’m hopeful that you will too. Give them a go and see what you can achieve.