As is often the case, Pareto’s Law holds true: 80% of your productivity comes from 20% of your time. Trying to be productive 100% of the time isn’t realistic. You’re not a machine. The key is to determine what you’re doing in that 20% so that you can capitalize on it with greater frequency.

Each person has his own unique style and conditions suitable for productive work, but here are certain guidelines everyone can benefit from:

• Eliminate distractions like email and phone calls when you’re focusing on a project. According to a TIME magazine survey*, office workers are interrupted about seven times an hour.  Interruptions fragment the mind and keep you from channeling your energy into the task at hand.
• Stay alert. Maintain a high level of energy for high productivity. Watch your posture while in front of your computer; slouching collapses your diaphragm thereby restricting oxygen flow to your lungs. Consciously breathe diaphragmatically (from your belly) and drink water throughout the day.
• Find your flow. Easier said than done, right? Try relaxing into your work. Allow your thoughts to flow effortlessly instead of trying to push them out.
• Be mindful. Know when your brain is “switched on.” If you’re feeling foggy and overwhelmed, sitting down to work isn’t the best idea. Go for a quick walk or have an energy bar—anything to help give you a quick energy boost and clear your mind.
• Throttle up. Know when to take a break, but also learn when to push yourself through the “wall.” Do you need to call it a day and give your mind a rest or can you push yourself into a highly productive state for 30 minutes?
• Allow for down time. Incubation is the precursor of creative inspiration. Our gotta-keep-working culture doesn’t support the notion of wandering, but it’s critical for productivity. Staring at a computer monitor or attending meetings all day is the surest way to limit your productivity.
• Master time. Productivity calls for a more conscious use of your time. Learn to use creative time blocks and you’ll undoubtedly quadruple your creative output.

Addressing any of these elements will help increase your level of productivity. To increase your productivity by a factor of four, master them all.

*Wendy Cole, TIME magazine, 10/11/2004 as quoted here.

Related posts:

1. Effectiveness, Productivity, and the Elimination of Distraction
2. Value Productivity More Than Time
3. Breaking Your Work Patterns