1. Start the day before
Reduce tomorrow's stress by preparing yourself for tomorrow
Things you can do:
Set out your clothes for the next day
Mentally take yourself through the day
If you need to study, think about the times during the day you will dedicate to each topic
Set goals for the major things you want to accomplish the next day
Set aside items for breakfast (e.g. set up your coffee machine)
2. Sleep
Aim to get 7-8 hours of sleep every night
A Harvard study estimated that sleep deprivation costs American companies $63.2 billion a year in lost productivity
3. Create limited to-do lists
Before starting work, list out all of the major things you want to get done that day (be realistic)
List the time slots you want to allocate to each item
Tip: keep a small notebook to record things you need to do in a day, what you achieved that day, and things you need to carry over to the next day
4. Do the most important things first
Doing the most important things ensures that you can end the day feeling like you've accomplished a significant task
It also allows you to fit in more during your day
5. Don't multitask
Finish one task before beginning another
An American study reported from The Journal of Experimental Psychology found that it took students far longer to solve complicated math problems when they had to switch to other tasks - in fact, they were up to 40% slower
Switching tasks can make it more difficult to tune out distractions
6. Designate time to handle emails
Try checking your email before work and reply only to those that are urgent and need an immediate response
Allocate 15 minutes around midday and 15 minutes at the end of the day to respond to other emails
7. Disconnect
The internet provides a constant stream of new distractions. Try working away from the computer and the internet whenever you can
Place your phone and laptop in a separate room or in your bag
If you need to use the computer or your phone, download an app that blocks certain sites at certain times of the day
