How to boost your productivity and get more done in a day

In a world of distractions, where everything seems to be designed to keep our attention for as long as possible and attention has become a metric, being able to focus and stay productive is increasingly challenging.

On your smartphone, most of your apps are designed to keep you in them for long periods of time, whether it’s social media, email, a shopping app, or video and music streaming apps. At home, if you turn on the TV, it’s the same thing. Attention is becoming sparse and becoming a commodity of modern-day life, jeopardizing our ability to focus and stay productive.

But the good news is productivity and attention training is a skill. You can take action to avoid getting distracted by everyday things and train your brain to focus on getting your important tasks done without time-consuming distractions. Whether at work, while job-searching, taking care of home or your studies, here are a few practical ways you can do to increase your productivity in multiple facets of your life.

10 Ways to Increase Your Productivity

1 – Plan Your Day the Night Before

One of the most effective ways to boost productivity is to start your day with a plan already in place. Before going to bed, take five to ten minutes to list your top priorities for the next day.

Whenever there’s a big project at work, errands you need to run, or just managing your daily schedule, having a simple to-do list ready when you wake up can help you hit the ground running. It also reduces the time you spend in the morning trying to figure out what to do first—minimizing the chance of getting sidetracked by emails, newsfeeds, or endless scrolling.

If you tend to wake up feeling rushed or overwhelmed, this pre-planning method will offer a sense of calm and structure from the start. It’s the perfect way to mentally prepare yourself for the day ahead, ensuring that you’re already focused on what’s most important as soon as you open your eyes.

2 – Turn Off Notifications

Most of the apps we use today are constantly competing for our attention—and they’re really good at it. A ping here, a notification there, and suddenly you’re pulled out of deep focus to check something that probably isn’t urgent but could take you away for long periods of time.

To stay productive, silence unnecessary notifications. That includes social media, shopping apps, even some emails. Set specific times to check your messages or updates, and give yourself blocks of quiet time where your phone and apps aren’t pulling you away from what really matters.

It’s also helpful to uninstall unnecessary apps, which can be just as distracting as notifications. A clean, uncluttered phone screen will allow you to stay more focused and intentional about how you spend your time.

3 – Stay Focused on One Task with the Pomodoro Technique

One effective strategy for improving productivity is to adopt the mindset that it’s not about multitasking. Switching between tasks can cause cognitive fatigue and reduce overall productivity, while focusing on one task at a time allows you to give your full attention to the matter at hand, leading to higher quality and faster work.

The Pomodoro Technique can help you stay focused on one thing at a time.

It proposes you work in short, focused sprints—usually 25 minutes long—followed by a timed 5-minute break. After four cycles, take a longer break.

This keeps your mind fresh, helps fight burnout, and encourages you to stay on track. You can use a timer app or just set a timer on your phone. It’s a great way to bring structure to your day and stop procrastination in its tracks.

This technique also works as a way to create urgency. Knowing that you only have 25 minutes to work on a task can encourage you to stop procrastinating and dive into the task with more focus and energy. After your break, you’ll likely find it easier to dive back into the work.

4 – Make Your Environment Work for You

Your workspace has a big impact on your focus. A cluttered or noisy environment can make it harder to concentrate. If you’re working from home, create a dedicated spot that’s clean, comfortable, and free of distractions. If your place is a bit messy, take some time to organize it before getting to work - it’ll sure help you focus more as you won’t get distracted by yet another task.

If you’re at an office, noise-canceling headphones and a tidy desk setup can make a big difference. Even small things, like good lighting or a bit of greenery, can help boost your mental clarity and motivation.

Incorporating items that inspire you, such as artwork or a vision board, can also improve your motivation and creativity. By surrounding yourself with positive elements, you help create an environment that reinforces your productivity goals.

5 – Take Real Breaks

When you're trying to be productive, it might seem like powering through without stopping is the way to go. But taking intentional, quality breaks actually helps you recharge and stay sharp longer.

Step away from your screen, stretch, go for a walk, or do something completely unrelated to your work. These mini-breaks can help clear mental fog, reset your attention, and make it easier to get back into focus mode when you return.

Don't feel guilty about taking breaks. Studies have shown that the brain works most efficiently when given time to rest and recover. Breaks not only help you stay productive but can also foster more creativity and problem-solving skills when you return to your task.

6 – Set Clear Boundaries With Your Time

Time boundaries are especially important in the digital age, where distractions are everywhere. In addition to protecting your physical space, it’s just as crucial to protect your mental space by blocking off time for deep work and ensuring you’re not constantly checking your phone or email.

If you’re someone who’s working from home, job-searching, or juggling multiple responsibilities at the office, setting boundaries is essential. Let others know your focused hours and stick to them—whether that means silencing your phone, closing the door, or setting yourself as “Do Not Disturb” on chat apps. Respecting your own time (and helping others respect it, too) is key to getting things done without feeling pulled in a hundred different directions.

7 – Prioritize Ruthlessly

It’s not about having enough time — it’s about having the right priorities. Everyone has the same 24 hours in the day. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you’re “busy” all day without actually accomplishing what matters.

That’s where prioritization comes in. Ask yourself: what’s truly important today? What’s urgent vs. what can wait? Start with the most high-impact task and build from there. If you get that one thing done, the day’s already a win.

The Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule) suggests that 80% of your results come from just 20% of your efforts. Identifying and focusing on that crucial 20% is a great way to work smarter, not harder, and drastically increase your overall productivity.

8 – Use the Right Tools

There are plenty of productivity tools and apps out there—but the trick is to use them as support, not distractions. A calendar app can help you organize your meetings and your working hours.

A task manager like Todoist or Google Tasks or Monday.com can help you stay on track of your progress, while a time tracker like Toggl can make it easier to keep deadlines. For your notifications, use texts.com as it combines all of them in one place (WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Slack, Telegram, Instagram).

But remember! Be selective with the tools you incorporate into your workflow. While it’s tempting to try every new productivity app, having too many tools can become overwhelming and make you confused. Stick to the ones that truly make you more efficient.

9 – Learn to Say No

Being productive isn’t just about what you do — it’s also about what you don’t do. If you’re constantly saying yes to every request, meeting, or new task, you’re spreading yourself thin. It’s okay to decline things that don’t align with your goals or to ask for more time when your plate is already full.

Protecting your time and energy is part of being efficient and effective, and communicating your needs is the best way to do it. Being upfront about what you can and can’t commit to is better than overcommitting and sacrificing the quality of your existing responsibilities.

10 – Reflect and Adjust

No system is perfect, and what works for someone else might not work for you. That’s why it’s helpful to check in with yourself regularly. At the end of each week, take a few minutes to reflect: What went well? What threw you off? What can you do better for next time? Productivity is personal, and treating it like a flexible, evolving skill will help you get better with time.

Also, remember productivity is not always constant. On some days you’ll be more productive than others and that is totally normal. What matters the most is that you stay consistent while working towards your goals and get something done every day, even if just a little bit.

It’s also important to recognize that productivity is not a one-size-fits-all concept. The strategies that work for you may not necessarily be the best for another person. So it’s best if you try these methods yourself and find what aligns with your natural rhythm and preferences.

Also, remember that the ultimate goal is not just to be busy, but to be effectively productive—prioritizing quality and results over quantity.