Being productive isn’t just about making plans; it’s about following through. And that’s where things often go wrong. Procrastination and distractions sneak in, throwing us off track.
Let’s be real - nobody wants to end their day feeling like it’s been wasted. Luckily, there are plenty of productivity tools, strategies, and planners available online to help. To save you time, we’ve narrowed it down to three research-backed steps that can help you make the most of your day and get more done.
Proven Productivity Methods that Actually Work
Proven Productivity Methods that Actually Work
The internet is packed with new productivity hacks every day. Every other podcast promises the “one life-changing strategy” that will finally make you unstoppable. But instead of chasing every new trend, that may or may not work, let’s revisit two tried-and-true methods that have consistently delivered results.
1. The Eisenhower Matrix
When Dwight D. Eisenhower, a former U.S. President and five-star general, said, 'What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important,' he wasn’t just making a clever statement. He was laying the foundation for a powerful time-management tool.
The Eisenhower Matrix splits your tasks into four categories:
Important and urgent – Do it now.
Important but not urgent – Schedule it.
Urgent but not important – Delegate it.
Not urgent, not important – Eliminate it.
2. The Wim Hof Method
While not traditionally labelled as a productivity technique, the Wim Hof Method has become a staple for those aiming to boost focus and energy, which potentially leads to becoming more productive. It involves cold exposure (like cold showers), controlled breathing, and commitment to mental resilience. How does it help productivity? It trains your mind to embrace discomfort.
Getting into a cold shower each morning isn’t just about waking up; it’s about choosing to tackle the hard stuff first. This simple habit builds mental toughness, sharpens focus, and energises your body - all of which help you stay disciplined and push through challenging tasks.
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Why Most People Fail
Why Most People Fail:
You’ve planned your day down to the minute. You’ve got your bullet journal, calendar blocks, and productivity apps ready. But somehow, by evening, half the things on your list remain undone. What happened? It’s not that you’re lazy or a bad planner, or just so much worse at this than everyone else - you’re stuck between planning and execution.
What’s that? It’s the space between knowing what to do and actually doing it. The reasons this gap exists are more psychological than practical:
Hack your Mind
Instead of focusing on what you gain by completing a task, think about the pain of leaving it unfinished. Visualise the consequences of procrastination. Missed deadlines? Lost opportunities? Mounting stress? Imagining these outcomes can kick your brain into action faster than daydreaming about success.
Make your Brain Love Starting
Tell yourself you’ll spend just two minutes on the dreaded task. Seriously, just two minutes. The trick? Once you start, inertia works in your favour. Momentum builds as you go, and before you know it, you’re halfway through.
Pomodoro Method, but Make It Personal
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the mountain of tasks waiting to be tackled, you’re in good company. The Pomodoro Technique has earned its reputation as one of the simplest and most effective strategies for staying productive without hitting burnout. It’s been a popular go-to for years, so chances are you’ve heard of it, but if you need a refresher, here’s how it works:
The idea is short bursts of focused work, followed by brief rests, can significantly enhance concentration and stave off mental fatigue. The timer creates a sense of urgency, pushing you to stay on task rather than letting your mind wander.
This works for our brain for a very specific reason – our attention spans aren’t limitless. Research shows that most people struggle to maintain focus for long periods of time. By breaking your work into smaller, manageable chunks, you’re giving your brain enough breaks for it to refresh and return stronger.
This also helps in procrastinating less. Knowing you only have to work for 25 minutes can make even the most daunting task feel more doable. Plus, it builds momentum. The sense of accomplishment after finishing each Pomodoro fuels motivation to keep going.
While the standard 25/5-minute split works for many, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Here are some creative ways to tweak the technique to suit your personal style:
The bottom line? One size doesn’t fit all. If you find that 35-minute focus sessions with a quick 5-minute break work better for you, go for it. On the opposing end if 25 minutes feels like too much? Start with 15. Shorter sprints can also still deliver serious wins.
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Productivity is about more than clever tools, multitasking and perfect plans. It’s about understanding your mind’s quirks and patterns, and working with them, not against them. Whether you’re using the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritise, embracing discomfort with the Wim Hof Method, or finally closing the planning-execution gap with emotional hacks, small changes can lead to big results.
It’s time to stop overthinking and start doing – one small action at a time.
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