Seven tips to increase your productivity

We’re all guilty of poor time management every so often, and with it being estimated that we would need a 27-hour day* to complete all of our tasks, it’s hardly surprising that improving productivity is something many of us aspire to. Human behaviour expert Dr Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic has compiled a list of surprising tips to help people in the UK to get the most out of their day:

• Listen to 90 seconds of loud rock music at 11.30 am. When the mid-morning slump hits, a short, sharp burst of external stimulation can be a great way to keep going until lunchtime. Similarly, eating a piece of fruit at 3pm can help to combat the afternoon slump with a healthy sugar top-up.
• Sleep on the wrong side of the bed. Breaking with a regular routine gives a fresh perspective on problems.
• Have a five-minute Facebook break. Spending five minutes of every hour on social media sites provides an entertaining break, allowing us to return to tasks refreshed and focused.
• Mix up your colours and fonts. Even small changes such as writing in a different colour to usual can help you to break free from your routine. However, avoid the colour red – it has been linked with higher stress and anxiety levels.
• Start your New Year’s resolutions in July. With the dark evenings, cold weather, and end of the Christmas festivities, January is a challenging enough time for our willpower. By starting resolutions in a sunnier month, we use less energy battling the winter blues, so are more likely to be successful in making bigger life changes.
• Re-read your favourite childhood book. It will fire up your imagination – perfect for when there’s a creative project that needs some work.

Dr Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic was hired by insurance company Direct Line (directline.com) to advise UK workers on how to use their time more productively. * Opinium Research   

Click here to read our tips for increasing your creativity at work

More inspiration:

Sign up for our Life Labs Practical Wisdom online course How to Achieve Your Goals here. You can also try a free taster of the course here