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This article adds additional details to the topics presented in the videos-- i.e. maximizing productivity. I chose the article for this very reason. While there are some repeated tips-- for instance, "Take advantage of your commute"-- the article mentions further, more general techniques for maximizing productivity.

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There are only so many hours in the day, so making the most of your time is critical. There are two ways increase your output--either put in more hours or work smarter. I don't know about you, but I prefer the latter.

Being more productive at work isn't rocket science, but it does require being more deliberate about how you manage your time. This post will walk you through 15 simple but effective strategies for increasing your productivity at work.

1. Track and limit how much time you're spending on tasks.

You may think you're pretty good at gauging how much time you're spending on various tasks. However, some research suggests only around 17 percent of people are able to accurately estimate the passage of time. A tool like Rescue Time can help by letting you know exactly how much time you spend on daily tasks, including social media, email, word processing, and apps.

2. Take regular breaks.

It sounds counterintuitive, but taking scheduled breaks can actually help improve concentration. Some research has shown that taking short breaks during long tasks helps you to maintain a constant level of performance; while working at a task without breaks leads to a steady decline in performance.

3. Set self-imposed deadlines.

While we usually think of a stress as a bad thing, a manageable level of self-imposed stress can actually be helpful in terms of giving us focus and helping us meet our goals. For open-ended tasks or projects, try giving yourself a deadline, and then stick to it. You may be surprised to discover just how focused and productive you can be when you're watching the clock.

4. Follow the "two-minute rule."

Entrepreneur Steve Olenski recommends implementing the "two-minute rule" to make the most of small windows of time that you have at work. The idea is this: If you see a task or action that you know can be done in two minutes or less, do it immediately. According to Olenski, completing the task right away actually takes less time than having to get back to it later. Implementing this has made him one of the most influential content strategists online.

5. Just say no to meetings.

Meetings are one of the biggest time-sucks around, yet somehow we continue to unquestioningly book them, attend them and, inevitably, complain about them. According to Atlassian, the average office worker spends over 31 hours each month in unproductive meetings. Before booking your next meeting, ask yourself whether you can accomplish the same goals or tasks via email, phone, or Web-based meeting (which may be slightly more productive).

6. Hold standing meetings.

If you absolutely must have a meeting, there's some evidence that standing meetings (they're just what they sound like--everyone stands) can result in increased group arousal, decreased territoriality, and improved group performance. For those times when meetings are unavoidable, you may want to check out these 12 unusual ways to spur creativity during meetings.

7. Quit multitasking.

While we tend to think of the ability to multitask as an important skill for increasing efficiency, the opposite may in fact be true. Psychologists have found attempting to do several tasks at once can result in lost time and productivity. Instead, make a habit of committing to a single task before moving on to your next project.

8. Take advantage of your commute.

This goes for any unexpected "bonus" time you may find on your hands suggests author Miranda Marquit. Instead of Candy-Crushing or Facebooking, use that time to pound out some emails, create your daily to-do list, or do some brainstorming.

9. Give up on the illusion of perfection.

It's common for entrepreneurs to get hung up on attempting to perfect a task--the reality is nothing is ever perfect. Rather than wasting time chasing after this illusion, bang out your task to the best of your ability and move on. It's better to complete the task and move it off your plate; if need be, you can always come back and adjust or improve it later.

10. Take exercise breaks.

Using work time to exercise may actually help improve productivity, according to a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. If possible, build in set times during the week for taking a walk or going to the gym. Getting your blood pumping could be just what's needed to clear your head and get your focus back.

11. Be proactive, not reactive.

Allowing incoming phone calls and emails to dictate how you spend your day will mean you do a great job of putting out fires--but that may be all you get accomplished. My friend and business partner Peter Daisyme from free hosting company Hostt says, "Set aside time for responding to emails, but don't let them determine what your day is going to look like. Have a plan of attack at the start of each day, and then do your best to stick to it."

12. Turn off notifications.

No one can be expected to resist the allure of an email, voicemail, or text notification. During work hours, turn off your notifications, and instead build in time to check email and messages. This is all part of being proactive rather than reactive (see number 11).

13. Work in 90-minute intervals.

Researchers at Florida State University have found elite performers (athletes, chess players, musicians, etc.) who work in intervals of no more than 90 minutes are more productive than those who work 90 minutes-plus. They also found that top performing subjects tend to work no more than 4.5 hours per day. Sounds good to me!

14. Give yourself something nice to look at.

It may sound unlikely, but some research shows outfitting an office with aesthetically pleasing elements--like plants--can increase productivity by up to 15 percent. Jazz up your office space with pictures, candles, flowers, or anything else that puts a smile on your face. For other ideas on increasing your happiness quotient at work, see my post 15 Proven Tips to Be Happy at Work.

15. Minimize interruptions (to the best of your ability).

Having a colleague pop her head into your office to chat may seem innocuous, but even brief interruptions appear to produce a change in work pattern and a corresponding drop in productivity. Minimizing interruptions may mean setting office hours, keeping your door closed, or working from home for time-sensitive projects.

If you feel the need to increase your productivity at work, resist the temptation put in longer hours or pack more into your already-full calendar. Instead, take a step back, and think about ways you can work smarter, not harder.

Looking for more productivity tips? Check out my posts 7 Productivity Hacks Every Busy Entrepreneur Should Try and 5 Things Productive Entrepreneurs Do Each Day.
What are your best work-related productivity tips? Have you found the secret to maximizing your own productivity in the office? Share below!

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15 Ways to Increase Productivity at Work

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There are only so many hours in the day, so making the most of your time is critical. There are two ways increase your output--either put in more hours or work smarter. I don't know about you, but I prefer the latter.

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I chose this article because it summarizes and expounds on the topics Thomas Frank explained. These videos are all on using your time wisely whilst maximizing productivity, and this article touches on the same topic. For instance, both the article and "How to Finish Homework FAST" recommend completing more difficult assignments first.

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At the end of your work day, do you ever feel like you could've done more?

Maybe written more words. Completed more tasks. Or simply just did more work.

And does it leave you feeling a little... incomplete? Like you've wasted your day?

...Sound familiar?

Well, it doesn't have to be this way.

You can leave work feeling satisfied and fulfilled with what you've accomplished, and all it'll take are a few "productivity hacks" to get you there.
You don't know the "hacks" for success.
You probably know a productivity tip or two, am I right? Sure you do, we all learn enough to get by in life, because as long as something works we're willing to use it.

But this also means we restrict ourselves to old tactics, even if they turn out to be sub-optimal.
You never cared to upgrade your methods.
And since we usually stick with the same old tactics, we stop the search for better ones. We don't modify or seek improvement, because what we already do is "good enough."
Improve your productivity with these 15 hacks.
But I'm guessing you want to do more than just "get by," right? You want feel like you've actually accomplished something each day. You want to feel "complete."

Well this is where you can learn how.

Use these 15 productivity hacks and you'll elevate your ability to get things done starting TODAY.

1. Pomodoro technique

I'm sure many of you have heard of this productivity hack, but how exactly does it supercharge your productivity?

The magic happens after repeated usage. Once this hack becomes habit, your ability to focus during the duration of the timer is 10x better. That's why this tactic is so powerful, it uses conditioning to put you in the zone instantly.

And since concentration is half of the productivity battle (the other half being actually starting to work), this tool is an incredibly powerful hack to add to your arsenal.

You can find everything you need to know about the technique here.

2. Write down three of the most important tasks every morning

You don't want any ambiguity in your work days, it's a productivity killer.

Each morning you should take the time to prioritize the top three tasks for the day. Be clear with what you write and use more than a three word description.

For instance, "research hotels" is bad. Instead, use "review and compare prices of hotels x, y, & z." This will prevent you from drifting to semi-related tasks that don't actually accomplish anything.

3. Set specific times to check email

It's easy to waste time shuffling through dozens of emails.

All it takes is one email notification and, before you know it, you've wasted 20-30 minutes organizing and responding to multiple emails.

What you should do is choose two times a day to do emails. I recommend once before lunch and once more before finishing up your work day, that way it doesn't accidentally seep into your work time.

4. Learn to say "no"

For some people saying no is hard, but if you really want to elevate your productivity levels then you can't let people order you around all the time.

(Of course the exception would be your boss, but I'll show you how to handle them in a bit).

For most people, a firm "no, I'm busy right now. I'll let you know if I'm available later" should suffice.

But if it's your boss who's taking up your time, here's what you should do:

1. Let them ask you to do a new task

2. Say "I'd love to handle that, but could you please look at this?"

3. Show them your task list

4. Say "which of these tasks would you like to delay to make time for this one?"

5. Wait for their response

This is about as close to "no" as you're going to get with your boss, but what's great is that it keeps a professional air about you as you do it, and it shows your boss that they can't just drop new tasks on you without hurting another.

James Altucher explains this concept in detail in his wonderful book, " The Power of NO "

5. The two minute rule - If a task can be done in two minutes, do it.

It's inevitable that small tasks will pop-up throughout your day, but you don't want to waste time contemplating whether or not you should do them.

Instead, just ask yourself if you can complete the task in less than two minutes.

If the answer is yes, do it. You've only lost two minutes of your day.

If the answer is no, add the task to your to-do list (below your top three tasks for the day) and take care of it later.

6. Use site blockers

There's a lot of distracting websites out there that - while entertaining - ruin productivity for each of us.

Start using site blockers so that you can work without the constant threat of distracting websites. Just go to Google and type "your browser" and "site blocker," you'll easily find a great one to use.

7. Listen to music

Music is a great way to maintain focus and stay productive.

However, everybody is different so it may take some experimentation to find music that helps you focus. A good tool for this is Focus At Will, it uses music scientifically driven to improve your concentration.

You could also use general background noise to improve your focus. Coffitivity emulates the chatter of a coffee shop, which has been shown to actually improve focus.

8. Use templates (email templates, article-writing templates, etc.)

A template is a "fill-in-the-blank" type document, and they're great for assignments that are created the same way every time.

Do you send email updates regularly? Create a template to save some time. The same thing applies if you give presentations or make spreadsheets a lot, find or create a template to work with and it'll save you a ton in prep time.

You can find some online by simply typing "template" and "whatever you're working on" into Google. You'll get a ton of options to work with, just pick your favorite and get to work.

9. Batch similar tasks

Batching tasks works because you're maintaining the same frame of mind for all the tasks involved.

An example is cooking, batch other tasks like cleaning dishes or wiping the counters down with it. Another example is by batching your "social tasks" together, like emails, text messages, and voice-mails together.

Always batch similar tasks together when planning your day, it'll definitely make your work process flow more smoothly.

10. Use the important/urgent task matrix

Do you often find yourself working tons only to find you didn't get any "real" work done?

Then you should give this tip a try.

Separate your tasks into one of four categories:

1. Important & urgent (e.g. presentation due tomorrow)

2. Important & not urgent (e.g. exercise, working on a presentation two-weeks in advance)

3. Not important & urgent (e.g. social media updates, phone calls)

4. Not important & not urgent (e.g. surfing the web)

Important tasks are ones that contribute to your immediate livelihood & long-term goals, while urgent tasks are ones that require immediate action or have incoming deadlines.

The idea is to focus on tasks in category #2 (important & not urgent), because by doing so you:

1. Contribute to your immediate and long-term success

2. Prevent yourself from dipping into category #1 (important AND urgent tasks)

Doing this will keep you focused on only the most important tasks. It also minimizes the chances of your tasks going "critical," preventing burnout by trying to catch up on an important task.

11. Start your day tough, or start your day small (do either the hardest task first to get it out of the way, or do something easy to build momentum).

What you do at the beginning of the day will dictate the flow for the rest of the day.

The way I see it, you have two options:

1. Do the hardest task first so everything else feels easier

2. Do the easiest task first to build up some momentum

The first option will immediately pay off as your remaining tasks will feel easy by comparison. But the second option will help ease you into the work process, lowering the chances of procrastination.

Which option sounds better to you? Give both methods a shot and see which works best. Everybody is different, so experimentation is key.

12. Use the one and done rule (as soon as a new task arises, schedule a time to handle it. Don't "wait till later" to deal with it.)

Have you ever said "I'll take care of it later" before? Probably, right?

...But do you actually do it later? I'm guessing no, and it's not because you're lazy either.

These situations happen time and time again because we don't bother adding them to our to-do lists, we assume that we'll remember to it later.

This most often occurs with low-level tasks (e.g. get milk, take out the garbage), but if it happens enough then you've got a big problem on your hands.

Avoid this by simply adding each new task to a to-do list. You don't even need to think about it, just quickly jot it down and you won't run the risk of forgetting to "take care of it later." The next tip will help you with this.

13. Keep a pen and pad (don't rely on memory, write everything down instead)

Memories are notoriously unreliable.

If you try and remember everything you need to do, you're going to end up with a lot of unfinished tasks. Don't take the risk, write down everything you need to remember.

Keeping a pen and pad works just fine, but feel free to use an app on your smartphone to do this. It's really your preference.

14. Use a password manager

If you use the internet, then you have passwords to memorize.

But if you actually memorize your passwords, then you're wasting your mental energy on something that can be handled by an internet tool.

Download a password manager so that you don't waste all your time and energy remembering or searching for login passwords. A great one is Lastpass, and it works with both Firefox and Google Chrome.

15. Work near natural light

A neat productivity hack is simply working near natural light more often (i.e. sun light). Studies show that exposure to sun light improves sleep, thereby improving your well-being and in turn your productivity levels. So if you can, try and sit near a window (an open one would be most ideal). You'll get the benefit of improved productivity and better sleep as a result.

Over to you...

What other productivity hacks do you know? Leave a comment below with your answer because I'd love to add them to my own repertoire as well. 🙂

Productivity Hacks Infographic Source: Course Finder Au.

Then share the below image on your favorite social media website (like Pinterest)!

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15 Smart Hacks for Maximizing Productivity

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At the end of your work day, do you ever feel like you could've done more? Maybe written more words. Completed more tasks. Or simply just did more work. And does it leave you feeling a little... incomplete? Like you've wasted your day? ...Sound familiar? Well, it doesn't have to be this way.

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As they head into their junior year, the responsibilities of a student multiply. This is when college tours, sorting out extracurriculars, maintaining a good GPA, being able to drive, getting a job-- well, everything begins to come into play. You find yourself pressed for time-- and what time you do have, it's essential to maximize productivity. I chose "How to Finish Homework FAST" because it explains tips and tricks that one can use to save time, while maintaining or even increasing the quality of their work. This is not only a helpful skill, but is quickly becoming an essential one, as well.

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I chose this video because it's about retaining more subject matter whilst spending less time on the subject matter itself. This fits in with the theme of maximizing productivity perfectly. Learning to study better in less time means your overall study output will increase. If you spend an hour studying with a basic method, you can memorize a few pages of the textbook. In that same amount of time, you can comprehend the subject, while learning more. This technique is powerful and especially helpful when you have a busy schedule.

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I chose this video in particular because the Feynman technique is a wonderful example of learning smarter, not harder. The Feynman technique, while time-consuming, focuses on comprehending the subject matter clearly-- not just memorizing it. This will make learning in the future easier and more intuitive. Two of the best proven techniques for learning a subject include repeating what you've learned in your own words, and teaching this to someone else. With the Feynman technique you get the most bang for your buck. You get a deeper understanding of the subject matter, without having to make a billion flashcards.

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The first 500 people to use this link will get a free 2-month trial with unlimited learning on Skillshare: http://skl.sh/thomasfrank3 Homework assignments usually take forever... but they don't have to. Today, we'll explore a completely harmless technique that involves using time travel to steal completed homework from your future self.

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The Most Powerful Way to Remember What You Study

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How to Learn Faster with the Feynman Technique (Example Included)