3 Underrated Habits That Can Help You Get More Done in a Day Than Most People Do in a Week
By: Thomas Oppong
Tags: Productivity, Creativity, Self, Work

3 Underrated Habits That Can Help You Get More Done in a Day Than Most People Do in a Week

It pays to completely clear your mind and begin again

Your time is limited and precious.

If you want to get more things done, do your best work every day and crush your work and life goals, you have to make time for habits that may seem like lazy but actually help you get more work done.

Everyone aspires to get things done in the fastest, smartest ways possible. No one wants to waste time on low-value tasks.

Super productive people want to get the results or outcome they want with less time and effort. They want to be able to achieve their goals and still have time to spend on other things that matter to them.

Doing your best work, making good art, getting things done and crushing your goals require a rewarding investment of time and resources.

But some habits cannot be compromised — actually, they should be prioritised. Life is a long game, and taking care of your mind and body is a good investment that pays for a very long time.

Vincent Van Gogh once said, “I put my heart and my soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process.” Van Gogh led a difficult life plagued by psychological suffering that ultimately resulted in his death in 1890 at the age of 37.

Your life and career commitments can take a toll on your mind and body. You already know this — guard yourself against this threat.

Want your body and brain to support your long-term goals? Prioritise three habits below — and invest quality time in them.

Sleeping better for your brain

Sleep is the best meditation.” — Dalai Lama

Mounting evidence suggests that quality sleep seriously boosts productivity.

One study of U.S. workers found “significantly worse productivity, performance, and safety outcomes” among those who slept less.

Sleep disturbances contribute to decreased productivity. So many of us are not getting enough sleep because we underrate good sleep and its contribution to our productivity.

“I definitely believe there is a sleep crisis in our culture,” says Matthew Carter, PhD, a sleep specialist at Williams College.

“Most people equate losing sleep with having more time to enjoy the day or getting things done. Ironically, when they are sleep deprived, they enjoy the day less and are so unfocused that they are much slower in getting things done,” he adds.

Good sleep consolidates memory, enhance cognition and improve your mood — the consequences of poor sleep can be disastrous. If you are not working as efficiently as you expect, start prioritising quality sleep.

Some people believe in a solid eight hours, while others say they’re fine with five or six. “In reality, most people need somewhere between six and eight hours,” says Carter. Aim for six to eight hours of quality sleep to maximize productivity.

You are much more productive and can achieve a lot more if you get enough sleep. Proper rest sets you up for your peak performance.

If you haven’t slept well lately, do yourself a favour: stop taking stimulants (coffee/alcohol) at least four to six hours before you go to sleep, limit exposure to screens, and set the right conditions in your bedroom.

Taking good breaks often

“In this game, everyone needs a break to refuel, recharge, and jump back in full throttle.”― Helen Edwards

In our hyper-connected, always-on, 100% hustle, productivity at all costs world, it’s hard to justify taking good breaks often during the workday.

People often take breaks based on intuition, without any sort of regard for how long they need to recuperate, recover from a busy day or deep work.

Taking a much-needed break is essential if you want to perform at your best every day. It pays to take short breaks often, rather than longer ones less often.

For example, 5 to 10 minutes every hour is better than 20 minutes every 2 hours. Ideally, you should be able to choose when to take breaks, if you can.

Taking good breaks often can prevent burning out. Breaks also give us much needed time to rest our eyes, move around, stretch our stiff muscles, get more blood and oxygen flowing to our brain, to unwind and obtain a fresh outlook on current work problems.

But there is just one problem — we often forget to take them. Most people end up working for 4–5 hours straight until their body offers them a painful reminder.

The only make sure your body gets the break it needs is to plan them or better still, schedule them between deep works in the day.

“A new and growing body of multidisciplinary research shows that strategic renewal — including daytime workouts, short afternoon naps, longer sleep hours, more time away from the office and longer, more frequent vacations — boosts productivity, job performance and, of course, health,” writes Tony Schwartz of The New York Times.

Taking a break is good for your productivity. Good breaks reduce mental fatigue, boost brain function, help us stay focused and make better decisions. Taking short breaks help you re-focus on your big-picture goals.

Taking a walk on purpose

Seneca said,“We should take wandering outdoor walks, so that the mind might be nourished and refreshed by the open air and deep breathing.”

Most people devalue time spent just walking or thinking. In truth, taking a walk just to think is one of the most productive things you can do. Walking is a low impact cardio exercise, which means that it’s suitable for everyone.

Movement is one of the best things you can do for your brain and body. You already know the countless benefits of exercising.

Long walks can help your brain recover from hours of focused work. It can also boost your mood. Whatever you do during the day, make time for a good walk, you’re guaranteed to have a more productive day and a better mood.

Taking regular walks can be seen as lazy or unproductive. But when done correctly and periodically, long walks are actually the ultimate productivity hack that can restore brainpower.

“…30–45 minutes of brisk walking, three times a week, can help fend off the mental wear and tear and delay the onset of dementia,” says Ben Martynoga, a neuroscientist and science writer. A few minutes stroll can increase blood flow to the brain, which can boost creative thought.

Charles Darwin took long walks around London. Dickens wrote his novels between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. After that, he would go out for a long walk. He once said, “If I couldn’t walk fast and far, I should just explode and perish.”

Albert Einstein did much of his thinking in long walks. Walking is one of the best ways to increase your productivity. Frederick Nietzsche said, “It is only ideas gained from walking that have any worth.”