How many times did wish you could work smarter not harder? However, every time you attempt this, it just seems to be easier said than done. That might be because you are using the wrong tools. If this is the case, here are some brilliant productivity tips that will truly make you work smarter not harder.

Work Smarter Not Harder: 4 Productivity Tips

1. Remove All Interruptions

During a typical work day, you get interrupted many times. Your colleagues and your boss always seem to want something from you, not to mention your clients or your family. This situation evidently messes with your timetable and your workflow.

One way in which you can work smarter not harder is to take some bigger or smaller chunks of time and simply don’t allow any interruptions during those time slots. Turn off your phone, log off of your email accounts, and sign out of Skype. If anyone asks, politely tell them you do not wish to be interrupted unless something vital is happening.

2. Remove All Distractions

Interruptions are not the only things which keep you from working smart not hard. Distractions play a huge part as well. Turn off all your social media accounts, such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, and ask your loved ones not to call you during work hours unless they absolutely have to do it.

The same goes for your pet, which should be removed from your working environment, music, movies, and anything else that distracts you from your daily tasks.

3. Prioritize All Your Tasks and Stick to That Plan

Every morning before you start working, make a plan of what you need to do that day. Arrange all your tasks according to priority and make sure you stick to that plan. In fact, you need to understand that sticking to that plan is crucial. If you receive any new tasks during the day, don’t get started on them. Continue with your morning program.

Only after you have finished what you needed to do should you start on something new, otherwise your productivity will be shot.

4. Go Back to Pen and Paper

You may think pen and paper are obsolete these days when it comes to planning. They might be, but not when it comes to productivity. Take a couple of minutes every day and simply sit down and write all you need to do by hand. It will help you to understand your tasks better, as well as to remember them. You can also write the solutions to all your projects and watch how your productivity goes through the roof.

Bonus round – when it comes to ideas on how to work smart not hard, you should always take care of the hardest tasks first. Simply get them out of the way as soon as possible and you’ll be on your way to maximum productivity.