How to improve long-term productivity: 8 useful tips

8 useful tips to help you improve your long-term productivity and better manage your time

8 useful tips to help you improve your long-term productivity and better manage your time both in the office and at home

Whether it’s achieving a goal, getting a promotion, working on a project, or simply learning to manage your time is crucial to improving your productivity and reducing daily stress.

With the aim of helping you work smarter, we at the Beetroot team have put together this list of 8 useful tips to learn how to manage your time and make your day more productive.

1. Focus on one task at a time

Distractions are always around the corner, and the digital world doesn’t help: checking notifications on your phone, reading the latest news, listening to podcasts, and scrolling through social media are all common distractions that keep us from fully focusing on the task at hand.

Focusing on just one task at a time is a good way to avoid these distractions and helps you dedicate all your attention to completing that one task. If that’s not enough, you can always lock your phone in a drawer and mute all notifications!

Initially, it’s normal to find it difficult and to constantly remind yourself to focus on one task or another: we’re all too accustomed to constant digital distractions. But once you get into the rhythm and find your method, you’ll see how time will fly by and so will your to-do list.

2. Set a time limit for each task

Procrastinators may get short-term benefits, but in the long run they face negative consequences like stress, poor performance, minimal results, and reduced psychological well-being as deadlines approach.

Setting a specific amount of time for each task is a great way to stay accountable and complete everything: for example, you could set an alarm to read all your emails by 10 a.m. or spend no more than two hours creating a presentation. Plus, setting a timer can boost your adrenaline, which helps you be more productive when facing tight deadlines.

3. Give each task the right priority

Without good organization, you won’t get far: poor prioritization can make you waste time on less important tasks and prevent you from giving your work the attention it deserves.

The “Most Important Tasks” (MIT) method helps you intentionally set your daily priorities. This time management process involves creating a list of two or three MITs every morning: tasks that will make the biggest difference and deliver the best results. Your MIT list should be separate from your regular to-do list and should take top priority. Make sure to plan your day to work on those MITs during your most productive hours.

To figure out your MIT list, ask yourself: what are the most important tasks I can accomplish today? Which of these will have the biggest impact on reaching my final goal?

4. Learn to delegate more and say no more often

If you’re trying to impress the bosses or launch a startup, it’s easy to take on too many responsibilities. Knowing when to say no is essential for managing your time effectively: if you’re doing too much, your stress will increase and productivity will drop.

For our CEO and founder of Beetroot, Marco Traina, whose operational headquarters is here at Beetcommunity in Palermo, saying no more often has been the key to growing the business.

“It’s about process, efficiency, methodology. We’re moving away from selling every service at any price,” Marco always says, and now our motto is “less is better.” “We’ll make fewer deals, but bigger ones, because quality will always be superior.” That’s our goal and our secret to success.

5. Don’t get caught up in the details

To build momentum and improve your productivity, keep a high-level perspective as you move through tasks. Getting stuck in minor details can lead to unnecessary roadblocks, distracting you with tasks that won’t have a significant impact on the final result.

Instead, consider jotting down your thoughts or making notes alongside your to-do list to avoid forgetting anything, but at the same time clear your mind and come back to the details when the time is right.

This is especially helpful when launching a product, rethinking services, or crafting a big strategy—moments when obsessing over details can slow real progress. “Get your product to market as quickly as possible,” says Dr. Daniela Ciraulo, Director of the grants office at Rimed, who recently gave an interview to introduce our virtual Beetcommunity. “It won’t be the final result or exactly what you had in mind, but you need to reflect and process ideas to reach your goal.”

6. Understand your working rhythm

There are countless books and articles exploring how creating a good morning routine is essential for success. People have different chronotypes (or wakefulness rhythms) and these habits typically change with age. Understanding your body and its rhythms is a key step to learning how to manage your time and increase productivity.

It’s a good idea to identify the times of day when you work best and plan your day accordingly. Sleep, exercise, and diet can all be adjusted to help you feel good throughout the day, ensuring you’re productive.

7. Sleep eight hours every night

Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, the importance of getting good sleep doesn’t change. Several studies show a direct link between lack of sleep and reduced productivity.

To boost productivity and employee satisfaction, many companies are investing in wellness programs that include sleep optimization. The professional services firm Ernst & Young, for example, offers sleep therapy for its employees, while the London PR agency Forster Communications provides its staff with toolkits to monitor sleep and recovery.

8. Take breaks and recharge

Even though it might seem counterintuitive, knowing when to stop is crucial for long-term productivity. Whether it’s a coffee break, a weekend, or a vacation, giving yourself time to rest will help you come back to work faster and more focused.

A recent survey found that company leaders with more paid vacation days are able to stay more focused throughout the year. Researchers attribute this to time management: having less time at your desk forces you to waste less time.

For Carolina Benanti, our Art Director and a member of the Beetcommunity in Palermo, taking breaks at the end of the week is also a way to avoid burnout. “There will always be too many things on your to-do list,” says Carolina. “Decide what really matters and give your best all week. When Friday comes, stop and recharge.”

Whether it’s refining your focus, getting up early, writing to-do lists, or catching up on sleep, these time management tips will help you improve productivity. The time it takes to develop these new habits varies from person to person, but if you stay diligent in the early weeks, it’s very likely these tips will become automatic processes—helping you manage your time and improve your long-term productivity both at home and at work.