5 habits that will help you get more done in less time

1. Plan in the evenings

Some days we wake up completely absent-minded. It seems that we are always one step behind important things and have no control over time at all.

To stay focused, plan 3-4 important tasks the night before, no matter how tired you are. With this habit, you will be clear about your goals for the day and stop wasting time on exhausting choices of what to do.

2. Avoid clutter

He's distracting. Agree, it is difficult to concentrate on an important matter when a pile of papers lies in complete disarray or unwashed mugs pile up.

So keep organized by following these simple habits:

• Make your bed as soon as you wake up. Over time, you will begin to do this automatically.
• Keep your desktop tidy on a regular basis.
• Come up with a convenient system for organizing files and documents and simplify access to them.

All these actions will take you a few minutes now, but they will free up a huge amount of time in the future and help you focus on more important things.

3. Simplify your work

Completing tasks should not be a heavy burden, otherwise you will inevitably start making mistakes.

Try doing the following:

• Use your "best hour". When you plan to do something that will broaden your horizons, like reading a book or honing a new skill, choose a time when you feel most energized. It can be early morning or late evening, whichever is more convenient for you.
• Distribute energy. Each of us has a limited supply of it, so you should not spend reserves on “rough” tasks like checking email. Start with the most difficult projects, and leave the routine for later.
• Avoid indecisiveness. It robs us of time and energy. And to overcome it just the choice of tasks for the day in the evening of the previous one will help.
• Remove distractions. Turn off notifications on your phone, or better yet, put it aside altogether. So you are completely immersed in the work and do not waste a minute in vain.
• Give yourself time to dive into the stream. This is the state in which you are able to work efficiently at a faster pace. Sometimes you can get into the flow right away, and sometimes it takes time. And this is absolutely normal.

4. Exercise

Sports help to stay focused and concentrated. This is especially necessary if you are engaged in complex intellectual work.

On the other hand, finding time for physical activity can be difficult. Try these little hacks:

• Say to yourself, “I will only work out for 5 minutes.” Don't set ambitious goals right away. Most likely, they will scare you and you will not do anything. Start with a five-minute sports session, and then continue to exercise if you feel like it.
• Do sports every day. Otherwise, you will be tempted to constantly postpone your workout until tomorrow.
• Train in the morning. By the evening, you will be so tired that you just want to crawl under the covers and watch your favorite TV series.

5. Focus on what you can control

If you work in an office, you know how easy it is get distracted by conflicts and other people's problems. It is important to stop yourself in time and not waste energy on something that is beyond your control.

This tip is also useful when you need to master a large project. In cases like this, our first impulse is to hurry up and get it over with as soon as possible. But big things, like writing a book or building a business, take time. Divide large tasks into small ones and complete them every day. So you will slowly but surely move forward.