The new year is the best time to regroup and focus on your goals. However, even with the best intentions, it can be easy to fall behind on your resolutions. If you want to stay on track with your goals in 2023, you should work on your productivity before all else.
Making productivity your priority set you up for success with all of your other goals. Here are 10 New Year’s resolutions to boost your productivity and make 2023 a success.
1. Limit Social Media
Social media is constantly at the tips of your fingers. Screen time can get in the way of chores or work, limiting productivity and causing stress from not getting things. Although social media can be helpful in some contexts, excessive use can take time away from other important activities.
Social media is highly addictive since it causes a dopamine high, a feeling of pleasantness and euphoria. It is a form of instant gratification, which is why people turn to it when they feel stressed or need a distraction from unpleasant activities.
You can start by tracking how much time you spend a day. Set a goal to decrease your use gradually. Start small, like taking off five minutes daily or aiming for less than 30 minutes each week. Setting goals that are too difficult to achieve will make them harder to maintain.
2. Don’t Multitask
It sounds like a great idea to do a couple of things at once to get them all done. Unfortunately, it is less effective than it sounds.
When you multitask, you are not doing multiple things simultaneously. You are switching focus between everything you are working on and need to refocus whenever you change your task. It takes longer to do this than finishing one thing at a time.
3. Bring Nature Into Your Space
You may have heard that green reduces stress and increases focus. Adding a plant or any natural element to your home or workspace has numerous health benefits, like feeling happier and stress-free.
Nature can help creativity and well-being flourish. Caring for plants in your surroundings lets you enjoy the benefits of being productive and calm.
4. Keep a Consistent Sleep Schedule
Keeping a sleep schedule is essential to your productivity, whether you are a morning person or not. Inconsistent schedules can disrupt your circadian rhythm, leading to a lack of focus and grogginess during the day.
Consider when you are most productive and your work schedule when setting this resolution. Once you decide on regular sleep and wake-up times, find ways to relax to ensure you can fall asleep. Your body will naturally get tired and wake you up at those times. Even on days you do not have to follow it, stick to the plan.
5. Focus Your Morning on Yourself
Your first moments awake can set the tone for your day. Avoid grabbing your phone since your mood can be affected by whatever information you absorb.
Instead, take extra steps to benefit you and start your day on a good note. Whether getting up to make your morning coffee or preparing a warm shower, do something that makes you feel ready for the day.
6. Make To-Do Lists
To-do lists are a great way to keep track of everything you need to accomplish that day. You may do this already, but there are ways to you can improve your scheduling habits to really ensure you complete your list.
When you put something on your to-do list, make sure it’s an actionable task. Break up bigger projects into smaller tasks to make it more achievable. Every task should have a time estimate to make sure you are on track to finish everything and you’re not overscheduling your day.
7. Take Strategic Breaks
Taking breaks is nothing to feel guilty about. Your energy levels come in waves throughout the day, so planning breaks during low points can help you avoid wasting time. Start to pay attention when you think your daily crash is coming. Be gentle and give yourself a break during those times to come back energized and refreshed.
8. Turn Off Notifications
It is tempting to be in the know all day. A buzzing phone can distract you from what you’re doing. Avoid this by putting your cellphone on do not disturb. It may seem harmless to spend 30 seconds replying to a text, but it adds up throughout the day.
Every text or email you check chips away at your focus, making it harder to return to the task at hand. If you don’t need your phone to do your job, try hiding it in a drawer while you work on your most important tasks. Close out your email from your computer to cut out the temptation to check new messages.
9. Set Timelines
Setting timelines and deadlines can motivate you to complete things on time. You can split a project into concrete sections or set a deadline for when it must be done. This helps tasks become more manageable.
If you tell yourself there’s no rush to complete something, you’ll find it harder to get started on it. Even if there’s no set deadline, try to give yourself one. Even if it’s weeks away, having a completion date in mind will give you the motivation to get it done.
10. Reward Yourself Here and There
Treat yourself when you hit milestones. Rewards are good ways to motivate you to accomplish tasks. Don’t go overboard, but don’t sell yourself short when something is worth celebrating.
Boost Your Productivity This Year
Mastering productivity is a great way to take control of your time. If you find yourself dropping your New Year’s resolutions by February, you may want to work on your productivity first. Try one of these New Year’s resolutions to increase your potential to get things done.
Author Bio: Cora Gold is the Editor-in-Chief of women’s lifestyle magazine, Revivalist, where she writes about life, adventure, and wellness. Follow Cora on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
