By Leo Babauta
You can find a million productivity tips on the Internet, but trying so many of them would actually cut into your productive time. So I’ve narrowed my tips down to one.
So here it is, my Single Best Productivity Tip: Simplify.
How does simplifying make you more productive? If you’ve been reading this site for long, you’ll probably know the answer. But let me list the ways anyway:
- Simplify your to-do list. If you have less to do, and you focus on the Most Important Things (MITs), you will actually accomplish more with less effort and time. Get rid of all the less important stuff on your list — or delegate it.
- Simplify your surroundings. If you can git rid of the clutter on your desk and computer, the distractions and notifications and interruptions, you will be able to focus more and get more done. Interruptions slow you down.
- Simplify your work process. Single task, not multi-task, and your productivity will shoot through the roof. Multi-tasking is an inefficient way to work (on a smaller level — on a larger level, such as during the course of a month, it’s better to work on several projects at once rather than just one). So focus on one task at a time, get it done, and move on to the next one.