3 Productivity Hacks To Make The Most Out Of 2024

As seen on Forbes.

Life and work will continue to be demanding in 2024, and we have to take charge of our own productivity. The Task Management Trends Report showed that only 53.5% of planned tasks are completed by employees every week, with employees reporting that they are interrupted an average of 32 times per day out of their focused work.

With so many books and tips on how to be productive in the market, are they all really effective? As a full-time content creator and experience running a multiple six-figure coaching business with my team at Workhap, these are 3 productivity hacks that have worked for me throughout my career.

Do A Brain Dump First

The hardest part of completing a task is starting it, so before working on a big task that needs to be accomplished by end-of-day, take 15 to 30 minutes to transfer everything in your brain on a piece of paper. Include all work-related and personal tasks on that list so you can have an overview of everything that needs to get done. Once you have that, strategically create a plan of action. You might even notice that some things on that list don’t need to be done at all, saving you time in the process.

When you have a more organized list, prioritize the tasks that need the most attention and make sure to finish one task at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed with simultaneous activities. 

Another thing you can develop from the organized list is a time-blocking schedule on your calendar. Some research suggests that it is a great way to increase productivity for your day-to-day activities and avoid procrastination. 

Own Your Morning, Own The Rest Of Your Day

It’s tempting to check your phone first thing in the morning when you wake up and start scrolling through social media like Instagram and TikTok (admittedly, I do the same). But this habit could be setting you up for failure. Instead, develop a morning habit that will make you feel good to start the day, like going for a walk, drinking a glass of water, or reading for a couple of minutes. Use this momentum to get you started to complete the tasks you have throughout the day. 

A study by Sveshnikov and other fellow researchers shows that only 13% of people identify as early birds but they are also generally more proactive and productive. So, capitalize on these quiet and undisturbed morning hours to do focused work without distractions. Avoiding the rush and chaos of last-minute morning activities can help you approach the day at a calmer pace. 

Focus On Consistency Not Speed 

You might have heard that “it takes 21 days to form a habit,” but that is a fairly arbitrary number. However, you can still definitely start building a routine that works for you and keep following it until you reach your ideal state. Don’t be scared of experimenting with different routines at first to figure out which suits you best. Remember, the routine itself doesn’t have to be perfect, but what matters more than that is you’re consistently practicing it. 

By having a routine, it will take less mental effort for you to accomplish tasks and increase the quality of your work when you’ve mastered the skills needed to complete them. While speed can be erratic and short-lived, consistency provides a foundation for long-term stability. It builds reliability in you delivering good results which enhances your professional reputation in the long run. 

BONUS TIP: Build an identity toward the person who you want to become. It’s one thing to go to the gym once and feel like you did a good workout, but it’s another to think in your head that you are someone who consistently works out. If you can shift your identity into being somebody who is productive instead of just someone who does a productive thing, then you will have an easier time picking up habits that this productive person does. Rooting for you!