Productivity is the ability to use your time and effort efficiently and effectively. It is a measure of how much you can accomplish in any given period.

There is one super-important thing to remember when it comes to productivity. It is as much about mind management as it is about using techniques. Embrace both.

Tip 1 - Learn to say “No” more often

Learning to say no more often is the number one thing which will help you be more productive.

Saying “yes” all the time will only lead to more work, stress, and over-commitment. Nobody benefits. It’s not easy to say no, but it is necessary if you want to be productive and sustainable.

There are many ways to say no. You can use a straightforward yet assertive “no” or “I can’t do that right now.” You can also use more specific assertive phrases. For example, “I have no resource capacity for this right now” or “I'm not engaging in this type of project at the moment."

If you need to be more productive, then be more selective and learn to say no.

Tip 2 - Write down the one, two or three most important tasks for the day and then complete them

This is a simple enough tip and an effective one.

Create a very short list of key priority tasks. One is ideal and I recommend not having more than three. List them in order of importance and urgency. Using all your favourite productivity techniques and focusing skills, complete the list. That's it.

Tip 3 - Avoid multitasking

It is tempting to try and do two or more tasks at once. We call it multitasking. Unfortunately, nobody improves their productivity this way. In fact, they make it worse.

There is a small mental latency, or lag, when you switch back and forth between tasks. You may not even notice it, but it's there. All those teeny-tiny lags add up to one big drag. Not only does it take longer but there will be an effect on your ability to focus, accuracy and quality of work. It will also tire you out.

Monotasking is the secret to less distraction and more output.

Stick to one task at a time and your productivity will rise.

Tip 4 - Work in short bursts using the Pomodoro Technique

Humans can struggle to focus for long periods of time. Work within the limits of human capacity to become more productive.

The Pomodoro technique is a time management method. It was developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s.

The technique uses a timer to break down work into intervals. The intervals are often 25 minutes in length. A short 5 to 10-minute break is used to separate the intervals. Here is the timer I use: