4 Unusual Productivity Tips that Really Work

Ah, productivity. It seems so simple, doesn’t it? Make a to-do list, prioritize it, then get to work! In reality, we all know this is much easier said than done. Thankfully, there are several surprisingly simple productivity tips and tricks that we can implement to make the most of our time. Check out the four productivity tips below.

1. Implement a Daily Drink and Think

Let’s kick off this list with a productivity tip that’s sure to sound counter-intuitive: Sit down and do nothing.

Yes, really!

One of the best things you can do for yourself is to take 10 minutes a day to just think. Sit down in the morning with your coffee or tea, or at night after a relaxing bath or tucking in the kids. Find somewhere relatively quiet where no one will bother you. Put away your devices. Ponder your day, think about what’s important, and pay attention to what rises to the surface. When you’re done, revise your to-do list as you see fit.

2. Empty your Brain

If you’ve ever watched a survivalist competition on TV, you’ve seen how important it is to conserve resources and be strategic about energy expenditure. Navigating through daily life is no different.

One of the best ways to conserve mental energy is to write everything down, rather than holding thoughts in the back of your mind. Did you just remember that a report is due at the end of the week? Add it to your calendar. Did a great idea just pop into your head? Jot it down. Doing so will make it easier to focus on the task in front of you, upping your productivity.

3. Set a Series of Timers

Depending on your style of working, this productivity tip has the potential to skyrocket your efficiency. This can be particularly effective when there’s an item on your to-do list that you’ve been dreading or if you’re a person who works best under pressure.

Start small. Set a timer for 20 minutes. Force yourself to use every millisecond of the time block to do focused work. Zero funny business allowed while the clock is ticking. Challenge yourself to see how much you can get done in this window. Then, when the timer goes off, set another one for 5 minutes. This time is your reward. Use it to grab a snack, check Instagram, text your mom, or do anything that will register in the pleasure center of your brain. Then repeat. Try playing around with longer working blocks.

4. Create a Must-Do List

Different from your to-do list, this should contain 3 to 5 items that absolutely, no matter what, need to be completed today. You can vary the length of the list based on the heft of the tasks, but the key is to identify which activities are non-negotiable. Tell yourself that you can’t leave work or even go to bed until they are done.

There are a few reasons this works so well. First, the commitment to yourself alone is very powerful. No one wants to let themselves down. Second, human nature is to avoid pain. If you don’t want to work all night, you’ll put the pressure on yourself to ramp up your productivity during the day. Your Must-Do list will serve as an anchor to stay focused on your priorities when you’re tempted to stray.

How do you make the most out of your day? Share your favorite productivity tips with Cydcor in the comments below!

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We are Cydcor, the recognized leader in outsourced sales and marketing services located in Agoura Hills, California. From our humble beginnings as an independent sales company to garnering a reputation for consistently exceeding client expectations and driving outstanding revenue growth, Cydcor has been helping Fortune 500 and emerging companies achieve their customer acquisition, retention, and business goals since 1994. Cydcor takes pride in the unique combination of in-person sales, call center, and digital marketing services we offer to provide our clients with proven sales and marketing strategies that get results.