The Best Productivity Hacks for 2018

The Best Productivity Hacks for 2018

Productivity doesn’t come easily to most people. That’s why it’s one of the top New Year’s resolutions on professional’s lists – to work more efficiently and accomplish more in the New Year.

There are many productivity hacks out there. If you’ve tried them all before and still struggle, here are a few fresh new ideas to get you out of your slump.

Increase Storage Space on Your Phone

Most productivity gurus will urge you to put your phone on silent, or on airplane mode. Many will tell you to silence notifications, so you can focus on the task at hand. While that’s true, there is productivity value in having your phone closeby and stocked up with a handful of apps.

The apps you choose are up to you. They depend on how you plan to work. The key is to use those apps to get your work done faster and better. For example, if you use an online scheduling app, you can manage incoming requests for time off better and save yourself hours of scrambling to fill vacancies in your schedule when you get to work each day.

Clear your phone of unnecessary music or pictures, so you can have the apps that’ll keep you productive on and off the job.

Take a Pet to Work

This might sound like a very new age, Millennial concept, and it might be. But research backs the concept that taking your pet to work can actually make you more productive on-the-job.

Having your dog with you at work can reduce your stress and help you enjoy the fruits of your labor. The Virginia Commonwealth University dug deeper on this concept and found that those who brought their dogs to work had lower perceived stress when their dog was present over when they were absent.

This relatively low-cost wellness initiative could be just the ticket to making your office a more positive place to work, and thus reduce absenteeism while increasing on-the-job productivity.

There’s no shortage of media to consume, including podcasts. Pr

Listen to Podcasts Strategically

ofessionals love listening to podcasts to spark new ideas and refuel their tank while at work. Still, listening to these in the office can drain people of time they could be spent creating something new (instead of dreaming up something new).

Although podcasts can inspire you to be productive, to maximize your efficiency at the office, it’s a good idea to listen strategically to your favorite episodes. For example, listen on your morning commute to get you energized with new ideas from the minute you walk in the office. Or, listen on your lunch break to help you break free from the afternoon slump.

Follow the Two-Minute Rule

The two-minute rule in business states that if you can complete a task in under two minutes, you should do it without waiting. That means not adding it to your to-do list. That means not putting it off until later. Do it now, so it’s out of sight and out of mind.

This productivity hack is ideal for people who are notorious for procrastinating on tedious tasks. Over time, these tasks can add up to a long list of to-dos, which can feel overwhelming. Instead, practice getting the little things out of the way, so you can free yourself up to focus on the more meaningful jobs ahead of you.

Are You Productive?

If you struggle with productivity, let these new hacks get you going on the right foot in 2018. Whether you bring your pet with you to work, download a new app, listen to a new podcast away from the office, or simply vow to check off simple tasks quickly, you’ll win by incorporating one of these into your workday.

How are you planning to be more productive in 2018? Let us know in the comments below.

Author Profile Jon Forknell is the Vice President and General Manager of Atlas Business Solutions, Inc., a software marketing company specializing in employee scheduling software, including ScheduleBase employee scheduling software, and other business software solutions. In the past, Jon has been recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Atlas Business Solutions was named as one of Software Magazine’s Top 500 Software Companies in 2004 through 2007 and again in 2010, 2013 and 2014.