Do you think that by now you ought to have succeeded more than you have? You work hard and make many sacrifices, yet you are making little progress towards success.

Having a poor work schedule can cut back your productivity significantly.  For example, if you work more than 50 hours each week, then you’re more likely to be less productive.

It doesn’t have to be this way; you have the option of changing your strategy to fast-track your success. Most of the successful people around you have productivity-focused work schedules. You can join their league and achieve even greater success.

Keep reading to find out how you can create a work schedule that maximizes your productivity.

1. Get Enough Sleep

To be productive in anything you do, you need your mind and body to be in their best state possible. This means getting enough sleep, and it starts with you adopting a good sleep schedule.

Try to consistently sleep and wake up at a specific time every day. Six to eight hours of sleep should be okay. If you are doing strenuous work, sleep for eight hours as your body needs more time to heal.

Do you wake up feeling more tired? This is a sign that you are not getting enough sleep. Check out these sleep supplements, which will help you sleep better.

2. Start With the Most Important Tasks

Many people choose to start their day with the most manageable tasks. Thus, they assume they have done more when they fail to complete the bigger tasks by evening. Maximizing your productivity is not about the number of tasks you do, but their impact.

You will have been more productive if you finish one task that brings you ten steps closer to your success over many tasks that have little impact. So, you must start with the most important tasks every morning.

Try creating a priority to-do list for the tasks you are to do the next day before going to bed. This gives your mind a good time to prepare to tackle the task. If you have a team, also plan how you will delegate some of the tasks on your to-do list.

3. Avoid Distractions

Distractions eat up time that you would have been productive. Thus, if you are handling a task and get distracted, it will take you longer to complete it. This means that you will be less productive.

Today, working from home is becoming a trend. Unlike in an office environment, there can be many distractions to your work schedule if you work from home. Thus, you will find yourself achieving very little.

Here are some tips for working from home:

• Set up a dedicated office space where you will also keep everything that you need for work
• Have separate devices for work and personal use
• Create ground rules for interacting with people around your home when working
• Schedule some time for breaks and take the breaks in their entirety
• Develop an end-of-work routine, and it can be as simple as preparing for the next workday
• Go for a walk outside the house after you finish work to decompress and get some fresh air

Whether you are working from home or at the office, avoid online distractions. These are usually very addictive and can steal away all the progress you have made.

4. Leverage Productivity Tools

You should be leveraging the productivity tools of modern technology to boost your productivity. All over the internet, there are productivity tools designed to help you make the most out of your workday.

What about the cost? Everything good has a price, and to make money, you also have to spend money. So, do not shy from spending some money to get productivity tools.

Suppose you are on a tight budget; you can opt for the basic versions of the productivity tools you need. Basic versions of productivity software are free but lack many useful features. Some offer an entry-level package, which is more affordable and has more useful features.

5. Stick to Your Work Schedule

Procrastinating is the enemy of success. If you have a task now, why would you want to do it later? You had put together a work schedule; stick to it.

Suppose you feel like procrastinating a task because you fear that it might be challenging. Doing this will mess up your work schedule and your productivity.

Moreover, you can never know if you will accomplish the challenging task if you don’t try. Thus, there is no reason to fear and failure because they’re part of the journey to success.

6. Strive to Do Better Each Day

Assess your accomplishments at the end of each day. Can you do better tomorrow? Yes, you can, and you should think about how you can achieve that.

Look for inefficiencies in your work process and cut them. Maybe it took you too long to complete a particular task because you did not have all the necessities. Next time prepare everything you need so that you do not have to waste time like that again.

If you strive to do better every day, you will increase your productivity and sustain it.

7. Take Good Care of Yourself

As you strive to do more every day and be more productive, how well are you taking care of yourself? How many friends do you have? Do you have anyone to talk to when you are feeling defeated and almost giving up?

You should make friends and have good friends you can talk to about your ups and downs.

Your mental and physical health is essential, so eat healthy foods and exercise regularly. You should also maintain top personal hygiene standards. Take a shower, do your hair, and dress to impress. This will make you feel good about yourself, boost your self-esteem to be more productive.

Take Care of Your Work Schedule

If you want to be a happier and productive human being, you need to take care of your calendar. Plan your work schedule, and you’ll find yourself less stressed and less overwhelmed by work.

Would you love to learn more productivity tips? Check out our other posts.