9 Ways to Stay More Productive (Backed by Science)

1. Don’t work overtime – Studies show if you lower your daily work hours from 10 to 8 and work 5 days instead of 6, your productivity increases.
2. Stop multi-tasking – When we try to complete several tasks at once, we do them all more slowly and we make more mistakes.
3. Try to get natural light – Office workers who sit near windows are less likely to suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, and have lower rates of absenteeism.
4. Learn to say no – Instead of working harder, we should focus on the tasks that produce the most results and forget about the rest.
5. Don’t be a perfectionist – According to research, there is a direct correlation between increased perfectionism and decreased productivity.
6. Take time to think – Down time helps the brain process information, be more creative and form more stable memories.
7. Go for a walk – Walking has been shown to increase people’s problem-solving skills and creativity.
8. Take a nap – Lots of evidence shows that a short nap can make you feel sharper when you wake up.
9. Work in sprints – Work for 90 minutes, followed by 20-minute breaks allow us to be more focused and have more energy.

Work smarter, not harder.

BuzzFeed.com