6 quick productivity exercises that will give you back hours of your day

In 2024, the world has never been filled with more noise, distractions and reasons to live in a perpetually overwhelmed state,, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Productivity expert Lara Nercessian shares six tips to clear the overwhelm away.

So,, if you really want to achieve your goals you need an unrelenting commitment to tune out the noise, focus in on work that actually matters, and turn your attention from everything that doesn’t serve you.

Here are six quick productivity exercises that will give you back valuable hours of your day:

1. Implement a Planning Methodology:

Allocate one hour each week, to plan your priorities and commitments for the upcoming week. As part of my proven planning methodology The Boss Planning Method, allocate time each week to:

• Identify your 2-3 highest priority actions for the week
• Schedule in outcome-based tasks into your calendar
• Utilise your time blocking in your calendar to capture all other meetings, commitments and priorities – including time to go to the gym and for self-care

By dedicating one hour each week to plan effectively and intentionally, it can create significantly greater levels of productivity, increase effectiveness and give you back hours of your day.

2. Utilise The Pomodoro Technique:

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management in which you do focused work for 25 minute intervals, prior to taking a 5 minute break. The key steps of The Pomodoro Technique are:

• Identify a task that you would like to complete
• Set a timer for 25 minutes
• Work on the task until the timer rings
• Take a 5 minute break
• After every 4 intervals, take a longer break

3. Master the Art of Focus:

Mastering the art of focus is a skill that requires discipline. However, just like any other skill, it is something that can be learned. Practice the art of focus on a daily basis, by:

• Identifying and being clear on what it is you wish to focus on
• Restricting checking emails, messages and social media at certain times of the day
• Focusing on being in work mode during allocated working hours, and enjoying a clean break outside of those allocated hours

4. Eliminate Distractions:

Identify and eliminate unnecessary distractions in your day, by:

• Placing your phone on ‘do not disturb’ mode during periods of deep work
• Closing all web browsers that are not relevant to the task at hand
• Minimising distractions, by identifying where your valuable time and energy goes (e.g. prolonged meetings, unexpected requests that are not urgent etc) and putting personal policies in place to protect your time and focus

5. Schedule Regular Breaks:

Whilst it may seem counter-intuitive, research shows that taking a break from work increases focus when returning to work, thus improving personal productivity. Additionally, taking regular breaks reduces cortisol levels, resulting in greater levels of mental health and wellbeing.

6. Avoid Multi-Tasking

According to Oxford University, multi-tasking leads to suboptimal decision making and decreased performance. Instead, try focusing on a single task at a time and seeing that through to completion, prior to moving onto the next.

Productivity Exercises

 By incorporating some of these exercises into your day, you will begin to experience greater levels of focus, a reduction in procrastination, and increased productivity.  Focusing on the integration of such practices can help gain valuable hours in your day and ultimately support in achieving success with a level of spaciousness.

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