It seems like our lives just keep getting faster and faster. We’ve all heard the phrase “time is money”, but once you look at how hard it can be to get everything you want done during the day, it really starts to make more sense. The problem is that while there are a lot of benefits to our ever-changing world, one of the disadvantages is how many distractions are in front of us every day. If you’ve found yourself unable to stay focused and productive, check out some of these tips to help you do so.

Cover the Basics

What are the basics? Getting a good night’s sleep and waking up early. People often underestimate the amount of time they waste by sleeping in, and even if you manage to pull yourself out of bed after a late night, your brain will not be as capable as if you had a great night’s sleep.

Set Goals

One of the tough parts about trying to be productive is keeping track of how well you’ve done. A great way to do this is by setting goals the night before and checking to see how many of them you completed. Your days will most likely vary in how much free time you have to do what you want, so setting goals for yourself is a good way to establish what you need to do to be sufficiently productive.

Take Breaks

This might seem counterproductive, but taking breaks will actually help you stay motivated. Your brain needs to rest and taking a short break every hour or so will help you stay focused on the task at hand.

Productivity might seem hard to achieve, but don’t be too hard on yourself. As long as you keep trying and taking responsibility for your time, you’ll begin to see improvements.