Learn what the latest research shows about being Super Productive. 7 Time hacks you wished you knew when you were 20.

Your willpower depletes over time so we need something else.

When faced with a large project we procrastinate. We have the urge to do small mindless tasks like check our e-mail or organise our desk!

Just getting the ball rolling is often the hardest part.

7 time tactics of super Achievers you wish you knew when you were 20!

Your body works in 90 minute cycles.

so work in 90 minute cycles followed by intermittent breaks.

Anders Ericcson studied some of the best violinists in the world and found that they had 90 minute intense practise followed by 15 minute breaks.

Break your pattern by moving your body.

Deep breathing relaxes you and rejuvenates you during breaks.

Try the 1:4:2 technique where for every count you breathe in, you hold your breath for 4 times the counts and then exhale for twice as long as you breathe in.

For example if you breathe in for 7 counts, hold for 28 and exhale for 14. Try that for 3 repetitions.

When you are oxygenated your concentration improves.

Drink a large glass of room temperature water. It will improve your concentration for the next cycle of work.

Recent research shows that work environments that play music are 65% more productive than ones that don't. Soft classical instrumental music can be very beneficial.

Set an evening planning ritual. The research shows its more productive than planning in the morning when the work day starts.

Set the same time every evening in a quiet place.

Drug addicts were given a task to complete a short essay with 5 paragraphs. Those that had written down when and where they were going to do their task had a 90% chance of completing their task!

is to know the first step. This gets the ball rolling. We experience dissonance if we don't complete taks.

When we start something we need to finish it or we experience dissonance. So know the first step and start with it then use the zeigarnik effect to help you finish.

Dieters that rigorously monitor their food in take, exercise schedule and weight are more successful then those that don't

On a plain piece of paper divide into 2 columns. The first column write down your time span and in the second on the right, write down what work you have done.

Do not write down your breaks.

This will improve your accountability and self discipline according to researcher, Dr. Kentaro Fujita.

Researcher, Zhen Weng said that its less productive, but emotionally satisfying thats why we indulge in it.

What's your poison? What distracts you the most?
1. Checking e-mail.
2. Checking the news
3. Surfing the web
4. Office drop ins
etc.

Never check first thing in the morning. Train yourself to check at 12 noon and at 4pm.

Tim Ferris talks about this in his 4 Hour Work Week.

Try this out for a week and see your productivity blast through the ceiling!

Turn off your e-mail client or webmail until those times.

Put the answering machine on and have set times when you will return calls unless you are a doctor!