Becoming more productive is something that many of us strive towards in our daily lives. Whether you’re hoping to become more productive as a student, an entrepreneur, a parent, or simply want to boost your productivity overall, there are many habits which you can start today that can help you to achieve this. We’ve listed some of the best simple, daily habits to take up this year that can significantly improve how productive you are in your work and personal lives.

Arrive Early

Setting your alarm for half an hour earlier in the morning may not seem like all that much, however, it can significantly improve your productivity. By waking up earlier in the morning, you will have a less stressful first few hours to your day and you’ll even be able to arrive at work before everybody else, giving you time to get settled in and started without worrying about running late. Plus, for those who commute, setting off earlier in the morning also allows you to miss the traffic.

Take Short Breaks

When you’re working towards a large or important project, you may feel that taking a lot of breaks is counterproductive to your final results. However, science has proven that taking short breaks whilst working can actually render us more productive. Rather than working flat out for hours on end, taking short, 5-10 minute breaks to get a change of scenery and stretch your legs if you’ve been sitting at a desk can help to keep your mind sharp and fresh, improving your productivity levels.

Have Clear Goals

It’s always easier to productively work towards a goal if we have a clear idea in mind of what it is that we’re working towards. Having clear, set goals to work towards can actually boost your motivation, which in turn can help you to become more productive and get better results. A good idea would be to write your main goals down and have them somewhere that you can easily see, for example on your fridge, notice board, desk or even saved on your smartphone or tablet.

Minimise Distractions

When you’re working, distractions can easily get in the way and cause your productivity to decline. Whether you’re working from home or in the office, keeping any distractions such as the television, your smartphone, or even other people to a minimum can help you to get the work done much quicker and even get better results.

Plan Your Day

If you wake up in the morning with no plan for the day ahead, then your chances of being productive are already at risk. Instead, planning each day the night before will help you keep you a timetable of the things that you need to do. You’ll also know exactly how much time you have to allocate to each task in order to make the most of the day.

Productivity is something that everybody tries hard to improve, whether it is their own or that of the people who work for them. These simple habits will help you to become more productive at work and elsewhere.