We all want to be productive at some point of our lives, but most of the time we just end slacking and wasting a lot of our times, making us feel guilty when something is due or when we realized time flies too quickly. However, there is a way to avoid all those from happening in the future. All you need to do is a little adjustment in your life and you will feel more productive and proud of yourself.

1, Get rid of distractions.

一，去除所有的干扰。

We are all curious and we get a little too caught up with things that are more interesting than the actual important stuff that we should be working on. One of the unhealthiest distraction that we always have around us is our phones. Whether you are on social media, or you are checking your emails, or perhaps you are busy playing games, these can all be done with a small portable device that is always near you. So the next time you are doing your work, put your phone far away from you. Make sure that if you want to reach them, they require a lot of energy to get them.

2, Work on your own. 

二，自己做事。

Other distractions that can be found around us when we are working would be other people. Although many people reported to be more productive when they are around people, in the end, they would end up getting distracted by the people they are with, and ended up wasting everyone’s time. The next time you are doing something important, try doing them on your own. You might feel uncomfortable in the beginning, but as time pass you will get used to it, and then you’ll realize how much more work you can do without anyone beside you.

3, Complete the easy tasks first.

三，完成容易的事务。

There is a quote that goes like “if it can be done in less than 2 minutes, do it now.” Of course, this doesn’t just limit to things that are really under 2 minutes, give it a range that is short enough to be done quickly. Analyse your tasks for the day, if anything can be done in say, 5 minutes, then get them done as fast as possible, don’t let the little things get in your way. For example, if you need to clean up your table that can be done in 4 minutes, then get them done on the spot, don’t give yourself excuses and procrastinate.

4, Get up early.

四，早起身。

The most productive things always seem like the most difficult thing to do. Waking up early is probably one of the hardest “task” to many people, all because your bed is too comfortable for you to even leave isn’t it? However, you can totally make it a habit to wake up early. You can train to make yourself wake up as soon as the sun is rising. The earlier you wake up, the more things you can do. Sure, you need to compensate it by sleeping early, but there is no harm in doing so too. Sleeping early and waking up early is a healthy habit that everyone should adopt.

5, Plan ahead.

五，预早计划。

Often times we forget about our tasks and ended up wasting our time either trying to think of them or getting stressed out at how we should’ve remembered things better. This can all be avoided if we plan ahead. Having a planner or a calendar where you can write down all your tasks, events, due dates and payments and all will help you save time as you can plan things ahead and manage your time in a day well. Having things written down in advance will definitely increase your productivity by helping you save more time in a day to do more important things.

6, Give yourself a time limit.

六，给自己时间限定。

When we are running out of time on our work and stuff, the last thing we need to is to waste all our time on it and neglecting other things. The best way to deal with it is to use a timer and set a time limit for yourself. Spending all your time doing one particular thing will definitely not help with all the responsibilities you are having, so for whatever you’re doing, always set yourself a time limit. The lesser time you have for something, the more you will utilize the time to the things that matter the most, and thus you can be more productive. 

7, Have breaks in between tasks.

七，在工作之间有休息时间。

Sometimes, doing something isn’t just all about work and work and work. We are not robots, our brain needs time to relax and refresh, especially after long hours of work. But at the same time, try to keep your break time short as well. Say if you’re working on your school stuff, set a timer and work for 40 minutes, then have a 10 minutes break. If you break up your time like this, your brain will definitely get a good rest from all the functioning and by the time you get back to your work, your brain will be ready for the next 40 minutes. Plus, it does keep you motivated as the duration is short and sweet.

8, Don’t get too comfortable.

八，环境不要太过舒服。

A problem we all have encountered while working on our tasks would be getting too comfortable. Say when you are studying for an exam while lying down on your bed, chances are you will fall asleep without even realizing, and waking up only to regret choosing the wrong location to do so. For your working environment, don’t make it so relaxing that you can actually sleep in it, but also try not to make it too uncomfortable too. Just make it right for a working or studying environment and that nothing in your surrounding can distract you.

9, Give yourself rewards after tasks.

九，工作完成后给自己奖励。

If you lack the motivation to do your work, and no other kinds of motivation work for you, perhaps you could try to give yourself a reward. Say you have a huge project to work on for the whole week, maybe tell yourself that after that week of exhaustion and hell, you will give yourself a break and go on a short vacation, or maybe buy yourself something you’ve always wanted. Think of it as something that you are working towards rather than a chore. Using this as a motivation is more effective than you think.

10, Get enough sleep.

十，有足够的睡眠。

One huge reason that makes people unproductive that not many realize are their energy level. Sleep is important not just for our body and health. They affect our life largely in many places, especially our brain. If you are not getting enough sleep and is constantly tired, then your brain would keep wanting to shut down and rest until you regain the energy and sleep you deprived. No matter what, make yourself sleep early and get enough sleep every single day. Get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every day and you’ll realize how much that would affect your life.

Sometimes, being unproductive is just simply inevitable, due to our surroundings, motivation and even most importantly our health. This is why the best way to keep your productivity level is to take good care of your health first, and then work on other parts of your life that can be improved to increase your productivity. Time is not going to slow down, so make full use of your time every single day.

"For a long time it seemed to be that real life was about to begin, but there was always some obstacle in the way. Something had to be got through first, some unfinished business; time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last, it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."