10 quick & easy ways to boost your productivity

Apart from leading a healthy lifestyle and loving what you do, there are other ways to stay productive and motivated; some of them might come as a surprise.

• Although it's true that Internet notifications, phones ringing and children screaming in the next room might be bad for your concentration, not all distractions will kill your focus.
• Some -- and they're different for everyone -- can actually help you get where you're going faster.
• If you want to listen to music while you work or look out your window and watch people walk by, go for it.
• Making the work atmosphere pleasurable encourages you to go back to it sooner.

• Any form of exercise, from a brisk walk around the neighbourhood to a dance class or a swimming session, can greatly increase your productivity.
• Try to take regular exercise breaks; not only can they make you work twice as effectively afterwards, but they can also help improve your mood and keep you feeling energized all day long.

• It's natural not to feel motivated all the time.
• However, this does not have to mean that you can't work at all, nor that you can pressure yourself to feel great.
• Embrace your negativity, your insecurities and lack of motivation and work with it.
• Express yourself in a different way; start working and see what comes out of it.

• Contrary to common belief, working more is not going to make you more productive.
• Wasting your energy without enjoying anything outside of work makes you exhausted and unenthusiastic about everything.
• Start spending more time doing a lot of different things, go back to your hobbies, learn a new language, and remind yourself of life outside of work.
• When you get back to it, you can approach it from a fresher and more productive angle.

• Although you may think that four to five hours are enough to offer you the rest you need, the truth is that they're not nearly enough to boost your productivity.
• The more hours you sleep at night, the more you can make great use of your waking hours, not just at work but in everything you like to do.

• Making good use of your time and energy often means learning how to say "no" when something is difficult for you.
• Whether it's a friend asking for a favour or your boss loading an extra assignment on you, refuse politely.
• "Yes" may be easy to say, but it can be hard to follow through, and having too many things on your plate causes you stress and decreases your productivity.

• To get everything done and still keep a smile on your face, you need to decorate your working space in a way that makes you happy.
• Your office or studio should be inviting for you to want to go back to it.
• Make it interesting and fun, organize your materials, and let your workspace reflect your personality and love for what you do.

• Believe it or not, having a dog companion greatly increases productivity.
• Pets, and especially dogs, help put things into perspective and reduce stress; keep you playful and active; and offer you love, companionship and affection.
• They also teach you trust and intimacy and keep you energized.

• If you choose to share your projects and goals with other people, you won't be able to change your mind and quit.
• This can put unnecessary stress on you, make you resent your project, force you to hold yourself accountable for failures, and keep you working whether you are still interested in it or not.
• If you keep silent, you can take your time and give up if you lose interest.
• Not all the plans you make are worth carrying through.

• Researching and tracking down information fast is essential to saving time.
• Waiting for a page to load will not only cost you valuable minutes, but it will also frustrate and anger you, making you lose motivation and pushing you to give up.
• Fast broadband, however, will greatly assist your drive and efficiency.
• Remember to keep asking yourself whether you're making the most of your time.
• A question as simple as this can ensure that you stay productive.