Do you want to increase productivity and focus better on your tasks?

1. Set goals for your day

One of the most important things you can do to be productive over time is to have a clear structure where you set goals for the day. It’s important that you try to have a set routine every morning where you set aside time to break down your day with your goals and actions for the day. Imagine a regular morning coffee routine. Here’s a list of benefits of having clear goals.

• When you have a clear overview of what you want to achieve during the day, it can help you focus and increase productivity. You will know what to do and it will be easier to get started on the work.
• It can also help you prioritize your tasks. If you know what’s most important for you to achieve, you can focus on that and avoid spending time on less important tasks.
• Setting goals can also give you a sense of progression and motivation as you reach your goals. It can be satisfying to check off tasks on your to-do list and see that you’re making progress on your work.
• Remember, your goals don’t have to be big or complicated. Even small goals, like answering your emails or completing a simple task, can help you get started and feel productive.
• Another good idea might be to set a deadline for your goals. This can help you stay motivated and focused, and it can also help you avoid being distracted by other things.
• Finally, remember that it’s important to be realistic when setting goals for your day. Don’t overwhelm yourself with too many tasks, and give yourself enough time to complete them. That way, you’ll feel more motivated and less stressed throughout the day.

2. Intermittent fasting and ketones

Intermittent fasting and low-carb diets can increase the production of ketones, which are a type of molecule that the brain can use as fuel. Ketones are a superfuel for the brain, and can contribute to increased cognitive function and better focus.

When your body is fasting or eating low carbohydrates, it starts to break down fat to produce energy. As a result of this process, your body produces ketones as a by-product. Ketones can then be used by the brain as an alternative source of glucose (sugar), which is normally the brain’s most commonly used fuel.

Research has shown that ketones can help improve cognitive function and focus. For example, ketones can increase the production of a type of neurotransmitter called GABA, which can help reduce stress and anxiety and increase feelings of wellbeing.

Low-carb diets and intermittent fasting can also help reduce inflammation, which in turn can lead to better cognitive function and focus. Inflammation in the brain can disrupt communication between brain cells and reduce cognitive function.

So both intermittent fasting and low-carb diets can increase the production of ketones, which in turn can provide superfuel for the brain and contribute to increased cognitive function and better focus.

Related article on ice bathing for better cognitive ability.

3. Create a to-do list

Writing down your tasks can be a simple but effective way to improve your productivity. Having a clear overview of what you need to do during the day can help you structure your workday and give you a sense of control.

Once you’ve written down your tasks, you’ll also be able to see your progress as you tick off tasks that have been completed. This can give you a sense of progression and motivation when you see that you’re making progress in your work.

Writing down your tasks can also help you prioritize your work. You can sort your tasks by priority and then focus on the most important tasks first. This can help you work more efficiently and avoid wasting time on less important tasks.

Finally, writing down your tasks can help you avoid forgetting important tasks or appointments. Once you have everything written down, you can relax in the knowledge that you haven’t forgotten anything important and instead focus on completing your tasks.

So writing down your tasks is a simple but effective way to improve your productivity and give you a sense of control and progression in your work.

4. Prioritize your tasks

Dividing your tasks into important and less important tasks can be an effective way to improve your productivity. When you have many tasks to do during the day, it can be overwhelming to think about everything at once. Therefore, breaking tasks into smaller parts can help you focus and work more efficiently.

By dividing your tasks into important and less important tasks, you can also prioritize your work. You can identify the most important tasks and then focus on those first, so you can make the most of your time. This can also help you avoid wasting time on less important tasks that don’t contribute as much to achieving your goals.

Most ToDo list apps and programs have a prioritization feature. It’s also important that you prioritize writing assignments as actual actions. An example of this is writing “Before car X” or “Finish the remaining vouchers” and not “Keep track of accounts”.

5. Use a timer

A deadline can also help you avoid being distracted by other things. When you have a clear timeframe to work within, it can make it easier to set boundaries and say no to other things that might prevent you from completing your tasks.

By working within a deadline, you can also learn to manage time better and be more aware of how much time you spend on each task. This can help you identify what takes up the most time and find ways to work more efficiently.

Finally, setting a deadline on your tasks can give you a sense of satisfaction when you complete the tasks within the given time frame. This can help boost motivation and inspire you to continue working effectively throughout the rest of the working day.

Personally, I use a program called Toggle and am very satisfied. I use it to stay focused, report on time spent and invoicing.

Ronny Bruknapp, New Baseline, 2023

6. Avoid distractions

Sitting in a quiet environment and removing distractions like your phone and social media can be an effective way to increase your productivity and focus. Working in a calm environment can help you reduce the stress and feelings of overwhelm that can hinder your workflow. This can allow you to focus on your tasks and work more efficiently.

By turning off your phone and avoiding social media, you can also reduce the distractions that can impede your workflow. Messages, notifications and access to social media can be tempting and distracting, causing you to lose focus and work less effectively. That’s why it’s a good idea to put your phone away and avoid social media while you’re working, so you can focus on your tasks and work more productively.

Benefits of putting your phone away

1. Reduced distraction: When you put your phone away and avoid social media, you can reduce the distractions that can hinder your workflow. You can focus on your tasks without being interrupted by messages and notifications on your phone.
2. Better concentration: When you reduce distractions, you can better concentrate on your tasks and increase your focus. This can help you work more efficiently and complete your tasks faster.
3. Less stress: When you’re not interrupted by your phone or social media, you can reduce your stress and feelings of being overwhelmed. This can give you a sense of control and make it easier to manage your workday.
4. Better sleep: Putting your phone away before bed can help you sleep better. The light from the screen affects your circadian rhythm and can make it harder to fall asleep.
5. More time: When you put your phone away, you can spend your time more efficiently on your tasks. This can give you more time to complete your tasks and maybe even give you time to do something else that you want.
6. Better mood: When you reduce distractions and increase your focus, you can feel more productive and satisfied with your work. This can give you a sense of satisfaction and joy, and improve your mood.
7. Better communication: When you put your phone away, you can focus more on face-to-face communication and give the person you’re talking to your full attention. This can lead to better relationships and more effective communication.

So putting your phone away and avoiding social media can have many benefits when it comes to improving your focus and increasing productivity. It can help you reduce distractions, increase concentration, reduce stress, improve sleep, give you more time, improve your mood and improve your communication.

7. Use technology to increase productivity

• Sitting in a quiet environment and removing distractions like your phone and social media can be an effective way to increase your productivity and focus. Working in a calm environment can help you reduce the stress and feelings of overwhelm that can hinder your workflow. This can allow you to focus on your tasks and work more efficiently.
• In today’s digital world, there are many apps and tools that can help you work more efficiently and organize your tasks better. These tools can be especially useful if you have a lot of tasks to do and need to keep track of everything in an efficient way.
• Some examples of tools that can help you organize your tasks are to-do list apps, calendars and project management tools. To-do list apps allow you to create and manage lists of tasks that you need to complete, giving you the ability to prioritize and plan your work better. Calendars allow you to plan and manage your time more efficiently, and give you the ability to set up meetings and appointments with ease. Project management tools allow you to manage larger projects and work with multiple people in a coordinated and efficient way.
• In addition, there are also tools that can help you focus better and avoid distractions while working. Examples of such tools include time management tools that can help you manage your time better, and blocking tools that can prevent you from accessing social media and other distractions while working.
• So if you want to work more efficiently and organize your tasks better, it might be a good idea to explore the many apps and tools available in today’s digital world. This can help you increase your productivity, focus better and work more efficiently.

8. Prioritize sleep and exercise

By taking care of your body, you can not only achieve better physical health, but also increase your concentration and get more done during the day. A healthy and active lifestyle can have many benefits for your brain, and can improve cognitive functions such as memory, attention and learning ability.

One of the best ways to take care of your body is by eating a healthy and balanced diet . Eating right can provide your body with all the necessary nutrients it needs to function optimally, including your brain. Foods rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals can help improve your concentration and memory, giving you more energy to tackle the day’s tasks.

Keeping your body in good shape through regular exercise and physical activity can also have many positive effects on your concentration. Regular exercise can increase blood flow to your brain, improve oxygen delivery and stimulate the production of growth factors that contribute to brain health and function. In addition, regular exercise can also reduce stress and increase your sense of wellbeing, which can help improve your concentration and increase your productivity. For a good all-round workout, see our article on calisthenics.

So by taking care of your body through healthy eating and regular exercise, you can not only improve physical health, but also increase your concentration and get more done during the day. Taking care of your body can help improve brain health and function, giving you more energy and motivation to tackle the tasks of the day.

9. Reward yourself

Giving yourself a reward after completing a difficult task can be an effective way to boost your motivation and productivity. A reward can give you a sense of achievement and enjoyment, which in turn can increase your motivation to continue working effectively.

Rewards can be anything from a good cup of coffee to a walk in the fresh air, or anything else you really want to appreciate. The important thing is that the reward should be something you look forward to and give you a sense of achievement.

Rewards can also help break up the monotony and stress of your workday, giving you an opportunity to relax and do something that brings you joy and energy. This can help improve your mood and boost your motivation to tackle the rest of the day.

So if you want to increase your productivity and motivation, it might be a good idea to give yourself rewards after completing difficult tasks. This can help you increase your sense of achievement and enjoyment, giving you the energy and motivation to keep working effectively.