Are you an epic procrastinator? Do you feel like you’re juggling too many tasks, always busy yet not quite productive? If you’re nodding along, you’re not alone – and, more importantly, there’s hope. Next week, we have the privilege of hosting Mark Channon, one of the UK’s leading productivity coaches. Mark has worked with individuals from all walks of life, helping them transform their work habits to achieve both productivity and impact.
To give you a head start on your journey to improved focus and productivity, here are some of Mark’s top productivity hacks to help you break free from the cycle of endless activity without real progress.
1. Shift your perspective on time
Instead of viewing yourself as time-poor, recognise that you’re actually time-rich. Each day presents a new opportunity to choose how you spend your time. Begin your mornings by acknowledging the potential in the hours ahead – whether for the day, week, month or year. This shift in mindset can profoundly change how you approach your tasks and goals.
Practical tip: Start each day with a brief gratitude and intention-setting practice. Spend just five minutes appreciating the gift of time and setting clear intentions for how you want to use it.
2. Replace your to-do list with an impact list
Go beyond a simple to-do list by creating an “impact list”. Focus on tasks that truly make a difference or move you closer to your professional or personal goals. Prioritising high-impact activities ensures that your efforts are aligned with what really matters to you.
Practical tip: At the end of each week, review your completed tasks and rate them on an impact scale of 1-10. Use this insight to better prioritise in the coming week.
3. Cultivate a flow state
Being in a flow state can do wonders for your productivity. To get there:
- Start by defining what you want to accomplish in the next 30 minutes.
- Understand why you want to achieve it, tapping into your deeper motivation.
- Adjust the difficulty of the task – make it easier if you’re struggling to start or more challenging if it feels too simple.
Practical tip: Create a “flow trigger” routine – a set of actions that signals to your brain it’s time to focus. This could be putting on specific music, clearing your desk or doing a quick breathing exercise.
4. Master the art of deep work
In addition to flow states, practising “deep work” can significantly boost your productivity. Deep work involves focusing without distraction on a cognitively demanding task.
Practical tip: Schedule specific blocks of time for deep work. During these periods, eliminate all distractions – turn off notifications, find a quiet space and commit to working on one important task.
5. Embrace the power of breaks
Counterintuitively, taking regular breaks can improve your focus and productivity. The human brain isn’t designed for extended periods of intense concentration.
Practical tip: Try the Pomodoro Technique: work for 25 minutes, then take a five-minute break. After four cycles, take a longer 15-30 minute break.
6. Optimise your environment
Your physical environment plays a crucial role in your ability to focus. A cluttered, distracting environment can significantly hamper your productivity.
Practical tip: Create a dedicated workspace that’s free from distractions. Ensure good lighting, comfortable seating and have all necessary tools within reach.
7. Harness the power of technology mindfully
While technology can be a major source of distraction, when used mindfully it can also be a powerful ally in improving focus and productivity.
Practical tip: Turn on the greyscale setting on your phone to make it less appealing to your brain. Use apps like Forest or Freedom to block distracting websites during your work sessions. Project management tools like Trello or Asana can keep your impact list organised and visible.
