Productivity is important because it relates to income and time. If we can be more productive during our working day, we can usually earn more money AND save more time! That time can be spent on anything you like, including making more money, but also it could be spent on doing more of what you love in your social life, with your family or as your hobby!

Unfortunately, there are many obstacles to productivity, such as a lack of focus resulting from Shiny Object Syndrome, a lack of intention, when you haven’t been clear with yourself as to what you actually WANT to happen, a lack of stamina or giving up too quickly, and too many distractions (social media, anyone?!) to name a few.

You can hack your brain and increase your productivity with these seven strategies (less painful than it sounds – honest!):

1. Set an intention.

Most people can’t focus because they’re not truly clear on what they want to focus on or for how long. Give yourself a fighting chance by choosing a specific task for a specific amount of time.

For example, you might decide you’re going to work on your tax return for 30 minutes. Set a timer and do your best for those 30 minutes. Even better if you actually schedule this time into your calendar in advance!

Your brain will do its best to give you what you want if you give it clear instructions from the outset.

2. Meditate.

Meditation helps to build focus and calm your mind. Meditation is incredibly popular right now, so there is plenty of free information on how to meditate effectively. Educate yourself and get started. It’s simple and effective.

If you’re not into the usual kind of “ooommmm” meditation (me, either) then do what constitutes meditation for you. I love walking. For me that’s more beneficial than trying to meditate. And, I can combine it with hack 3!

3. Take regular breaks.

Experiment with break frequency and duration. The best option for most people is either 25 minutes of work and a five-minute break, or 50 minutes of work and a 10-minute break. Discover what works best for you and then stick with it. Timers can be powerful tools.

Knowing that you only have to concentrate on one thing for a limited time is super helpful for resisting multi-tasking, watching TV, making countless cups of coffee or heading into the black hole of Facebook. Which leads us nicely to …

4. Avoid giving in to temptation.

Most of us give in to the temptation of distraction far too easily. It’s a very difficult habit to break. We quickly go from feeling bored or stressed to amused. It feels good to check email, read a text or check our notifications.

It’s truly a chemical reaction, where we get a rush of dopamine! And if you work on your own, as many of us do – we crave that contact and communication.

However, the most productive people are able to overcome the urge to break their attention from their work task.

It’s important to try avoid these distractions during your breaks, too. It’s too hard to get back on task, and your break-time magically extends from five minutes to 25. Learn how to say “no” to your urges.

5. Alternate high and low-focus tasks.

Many people report greater productivity when they alternate between cognitively intense activities and those that require less intellectual effort. It’s similar to interval training in the gym.

Lower-level activities might include routine work like returning calls and emails, or work you find easy. The lower-level activities give your brain a rest and the chance to recover. Soon, it’s ready for another round of more intense activity.

6. Drink plenty of water.

Most people are partially dehydrated. The solution is to drink plenty of water. That doesn’t mean you have to be chugging a litre of water every hour. But, 500ml of water every few hours would be beneficial to most.

So many metabolic processes require water and you’re not at your best if you’re dehydrated. And take it from me, I need reminding of this ALL. THE. TIME.

7. Develop a positive mindset.

A positive outlook on life makes you more productive. Studies show that mindset affects productivity. Work on having a positive outlook and you’ll accomplish more each day. You’ll also be a lot happier.

Productivity should be important to everyone. Time is your most valuable asset, so do what you can to maximise it. We can all be more productive, but it doesn’t happen by magic!

Working on this aspect of yourself and your business must be a priority if you want to see real results. Dedicate yourself to maximising your productivity using these brain hacks (which also, by the way have amazing knock-on effects for the rest of your life too!)