The Science of Productivity Says 3 Things Will Help You Get More Done in Less Time

Being productive is a big deal and a real challenge in today's world. We're bombarded with tips and apps that promise to make us super efficient. But what if we've been thinking about productivity all wrong? What if the real key to reaching our full potential isn't about squeezing every drop of efficiency from our schedules but about having the right habits and mindset for sustainable, meaningful output?

Science and productivity experts have something to say about how we can conquer the day by getting more done in less time. Here are three attainable tips to consider:

1. Get some exercise

Chances are, you're a busy professional juggling multiple priorities, and you're probably looking for a competitive edge to keep you going. Well, exercise works wonders for your productivity. According to research published in Brain Science, regular exercise releases neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, which increase blood flow and improve focus, reasoning abilities, memory, and cognitive performance. Not only that, but it improves mood, motivation, and learning abilities. 

Even if regular exercise is not your thing, don't worry. Research suggests that walking roughly 6 to 9 miles per week can do the trick in reaping the same benefits of getting oxygen-rich blood pumping to the brain.

2. Get into your flow

Have you ever had a few hours go by when you were so absorbed in your work that it felt like minutes? We hear about it often, but do we know what it means and how to achieve a state of "flow"?

The integral work of renowned positive psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who came up with the concept and practice, suggests that we can maximize productivity while rewarding ourselves with pleasure and meaning. 

When we experience flow, we benefit from peak experience and peak performance. In other words, we both encounter pleasure and perform at our best. 

It's the old adage of "being in the zone." You're distraction-free, utterly focused on the activity at hand, but with future benefit--you learn, grow, improve, and perform at your insanely best. 

To get into a state of flow, you need to create the right conditions. Here are four key steps:

1. Set clear goals for what you want to accomplish during the activity. Having a specific purpose will help you focus.

2. Eliminate distractions by finding a quiet environment, turning off notifications, and closing unnecessary apps/tabs. Distractions will pull you out of flow.

3. Identify your peak productive times of day and schedule the challenging activity during those periods when you're most alert and focused.

4. Find the sweet spot where the challenge slightly exceeds your skill level to create just the right amount of stretching.

The key is creating conditions that allow you to become completely absorbed in the present moment and the task at hand, losing self-consciousness and sense of time. With practice, you can learn to induce this optimal mental state.

3. Take frequent breaks

One productivity mistake so many of us make is working for hours at a time, sometimes right through the lunch hour, and neglecting to take frequent breaks. Tony Schwartz, CEO of the Energy Project and author of The Way We're Working Isn't Working, writes in Harvard Business Review:

Our bodies send us clear signals when we need a break, including fidgetiness, hunger, drowsiness and loss of focus. But mostly, we override them. Instead, we find artificial ways to pump up our energy: caffeine, foods high in sugar and simple carbohydrates, and our body's own stress hormones.