YOU GET IT! 

As a business owner, you know what it’s like to pour bloody, sweat and tears into a business.

But are you using your time as efficiently as possible – and seeing the results you deserve?

If you want to get more done this year, without sacrificing your sanity, here are 8 ways to power you up and be more productive:

1 – Get into good sleeping habits

When you’re up against it at work, it can be tempting to sleep less – thereby freeing up more time to tackle that to-do list, right?

Don’t do it!

Research by RAND Europe found that sleep deprivation leads to lower productivity levels.

Those sleeping less than 6 hours a night on average have a 13% higher mortality risk that those getting 7 – 9 hours kip.

That’s a significant difference! (And it’s not like you’ll get any work done if you’re dead)

In fact, MORE sleep could be the solution.

A NASA study found that pilots who took a 26-minute nap (while someone else flew, don’t worry…) improved performance by 34% and alertness by 54%.

So if you’re working from home, or can find a quiet spot in your office, a short snooze might actually be beneficial for your business.

2 – Elevate your work environment

An office full of clutter or dingy decor isn’t going to motivate anyone!

So make it your mission for 2024 to clear out the junk, invest in a decent desk and comfortable chair, and turn your workspace into somewhere you feel inspired and productive.

It could be worth adding some greenery too!

Researchers from Cardiff, Exeter,  the Netherlands and Australia found that enriching a ‘lean’ office with plants could boost productivity by 15%.

3 – Dial down the distractions

It’s easier than ever to get sidetracked by a breaking news story or that funny meme you mate sent over. 

So, if you know you’ve got an important project to finish, try switching your phone to silent, close any browser windows you’re not using and limit yourself to only checking your emails at occasional intervals.

The internet isn’t going to implode if you don’t glance at it every 5 minutes!

4 – Aim for challenging – but achievable – goals

Regularly setting yourself an utterly unrealistic workload will only leave you feeling demoralised when you inevitably can’t do it all in time.

Over the next few weeks, pay attention to how long typical tasks take – are you allowing 10 minutes for a meeting that really lasts an hour?

Are you factoring in time for a lunch break? (You still need to eat after all!)

By setting manageable daily targets for yourself, you’re more likely to be able to complete them, which in turn will boost your confidence.

5 – Do the hardest job first

Also known as the ‘Eat That Frog’ approach, for reasons Brian Tracy explains in his international bestseller, this is a surprisingly simple yet highly effective method to ensure that your most important tasks get completed.

Face up to your greatest challenge first, while your brain is fresh, then things can only get easier for the rest of the day.

You might even be able to fit in that power nap…

6 – Make time for break time

Wherever you work, it’s important to step away from your desk at regular intervals, and ideally get some fresh air.

A 2023 study by researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University found that taking a few short breaks outside while working from home helped to increase both wellbeing and productivity.

7 – Stop being a perfectionist

This one is hard to do!

Especially when it’s your business and you want everything to be just right, down to the last teeny detail.

Trouble is, while you’re faffing around with the wording for your new website – trying to take it from 95% ‘great’ to 100% ‘perfect’ – your competitors are already seeing the sales come in.

Now of course, there are times when things need to be spot-on (like your accounts, for example), but there are others when ‘good enough’ will suffice.

Learn the difference and don’t spend all day sweating the small stuff!

8 – Bring on a business consultant

If you really want to turbocharge and be super productive this year, why not consider hiring a professional business consultant?

Not only can they act as a mentor and sounding board, but they can also help you to identify any hurdles currently holding you back and give you shortcuts to get around them (see my blog post here).

So there you have it

8 ways to power up your productivity

P.S. For more tips, don’t forget to download my FREE guide, 8 Secrets To Success (scroll to the bottom of the page) – and to discuss working with me, get in touch today.

I hope that 2024 will be your most productive – and profitable – year ever!