How to Be More Productive
如何提高工作效率

By Kendra Cherry
肯德拉·妾瑞 

Productivity isn’t about working long hours or frantically typing away at your computer for hours and hours each day. It is all about being smart about how you spend your time to use it in the best way possible.
效率不等于工作很长时间，也不等于每天一连几个小时疯狂敲电脑。它意味着你要明智地利用自己的时间，要找到最佳时间利用方式。

There are a lot of things you can do to be more productive. You can set goals, create a plan, and use tools and techniques to help you get the most out of your work. You can also learn to manage distractions and stay focused on what’s important. And if you want to be productive, you need to know how to take care of yourself physically and mentally.
你可以采取诸多举措提高自己的工作效率，比如设定目标、制定计划、使用一些工具和技巧来帮助你充分利用工作时间。你也可以学习如何管控分神时间，专心于要事之上。如果你想要更高效，你需要知道如何保证自己身心健康。

Learn how to be more productive and how using your time efficiently can benefit your well-being.
我们一起看看如何提高效率以及高效利用时间对身心的益处吧。

How to Be More Productive
如何提高效率

Being more productive isn’t something that happens overnight. While some people might make it look effortless, their ability to plan and utilize their time effectively often has more to do with well-established habits that contribute to higher productivity over time.
提高效率不是一朝一夕的事情。一些人看上去轻轻松松就变得更高效了，但是他们做计划和高效利用时间的能力离不开一些已经养成的好习惯。这些生活习惯逐渐帮助他们成为行事高效的人。

There are a number of things you can do to be more productive.
你可以尝试以下几种办法来提高效率。

Create a Plan
制定计划

One of the most important is to set goals and create a plan. If you have a specific goal in mind, you’ll be more likely to work towards it. And if you have a plan of what you need to do, you’ll be more likely to stay on track.
最重要的事情之一就是设定目标和制定计划。如果脑中有一个具体的目标，你就会向着目标努力。制定计划列出你需要做的事情有助于你按部就班地行事。

Planning what you need to get done and writing down a plan to accomplish it can improve productivity. Researchers have found that planning activities and utilizing to-do lists help reduce the brain’s executive burden of worrying about unfinished tasks, freeing up resources to focus more on other projects, a phenomenon known as the Zeigarnik effect. 

计划需要完成的事情并写下来有助于提高效率。研究人员发现，做计划并利用计划清单可以减轻大脑的额外负担，不必去担心未竟之事。这样以来，放在其他任务上的精力会得以释放，这种现象也称作蔡格尼克记忆效应。

Find Tools That Will Help
找到有帮助的工具

You can also use tools and techniques to help you get the most out of your work. For example, you can break down your goals into smaller tasks, and use a timer to keep yourself focused. You can also take short breaks to refresh your mind and come back stronger than before.
你也可以利用工具和技巧帮助你最大程度利用工作时间。比如，你可以将目标细分为小任务，利用计时器让自己保持注意力。你也可以在工作间隙稍作休息，歇歇脑子，你会发现自己精力会更充沛。

Take Care of Yourself
照顾好自己

And if you want to be productive, taking care of yourself physically and mentally is essential. Make sure you get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, and take time for yourself daily. This will help you stay energized and focused throughout the day.
如果你想要提高效率，要好好照顾自己，保持身心健康。保证充足的睡眠，饮食健康，给自己留点时间。这样你就会保持精力充沛的状态，一整天注意力都会集中。

Part of caring for yourself also involves knowing when to take breaks. You can’t be productive 24/7, so create a realistic schedule that includes a healthy balance of work, leisure time, and rest. 
照顾自己也包括知道何时休息。你不可能一周七天、一天24小时保持高效，所以要制定一个切实可行的日程安排，保证工作、休息和娱乐时间的平衡。

Find Ways to Fight Procrastination
想办法克服拖延症

Procrastinating until the last minute is a bad habit that can take a toll on your ability to be productive. This tendency is often linked to problems with self-control and time management, but there are strategies you can utilize to help keep you on task.
拖到最后一分钟不是个好习惯，会影响你的工作效率。拖延症这个毛病一般和自控能力和时间管理能力差有关，但是你可以运用一些方法帮助自己及时完成任务。

The first step is figuring out why you keep procrastinating. Some people put things off because they don’t know where to begin, while others do it because they have a low tolerance for boredom.

第一步就是要找到你为什么会有拖延症。一些人习惯拖延是因为不知道从何处下手，一些人是因为自己忍受不了无聊的事情。

Ask for Help When You Need It
若有需要，可向他人寻求帮助

You can also maximize your productivity by knowing how and when to ask for help. Delegating some responsibilities can free you up to focus your time on the things that are really going to help you accomplish your goals.
如果你知道如何以及何时寻求帮助的话，你的工作效率就会最大化。适当下放一些权责可以让自己时间放在真正有助于自己达成目标的事情上。

Learn How to Say “No”

学会说“不”

In addition to planning what you need to do, you also need to find a way to eliminate unnecessary drains on your time and energy. For many people, this involves learning how to say “no” to distractions and demands.
除了计划自己需要做的事情，你也需要找到方法，摆脱一些耗时耗力但不必要的事情。很多人需要学习如何摆脱使人分心的事情和要求。

This isn’t always easy, but prioritizing your goals can help you better determine which activities to keep and which ones need to be eliminated.
虽然有些艰难，但分清轻重缓急有助于帮助你确定哪些活动可以继续，哪些需要停止。

Characteristics of Productive People
效率高的人的特点

There are many different factors that contribute to a person’s productivity levels, including their motivation, personality, and energy levels. People who are productive tend to have a few key characteristics in common. 
人的效率和很多不同的因素有关，包括动机、性格和精力水平。但是，高效的人有一些共有的关键特征。

If you want to be more productive, try to emulate these characteristics. Goal-orientation, organization, focus, self-care, and distraction management are all essential skills for anyone looking to get the most out of their time.
如果你想要更高效，要尽力拥有这些特征。目标性、组织能力、专注、自理能力和管理分心事物的能力是任何想要最大程度利用时间的人的必备技能。

Benefits of Being Productive
高效的益处

Being more productive comes with many benefits, which is why there are so many self-help materials focused on improving productivity. When you’re productive, you can get more done in less time. You’re also more efficient and effective with your work. This means you can accomplish more goals and achieve more success.
行事高效益处颇多，这也能解释为什么很多自我提升类的书籍都关注提升效率。一旦你效率提高，你可以事半功倍，工作效率更高。这也意味着你可以实现更多目标，收获更多成功。

People who are healthy and happy also tend to be more productive. They get more sleep, eat healthier foods, and take time for themselves regularly. This helps them stay energized and focused throughout the day. And when you’re healthy and happy, you can achieve even more.
健康和开心的人往往效率更高。他们睡眠更充足，饮食更健康，经常给自己留些时间。这有助于他们整日保持活力和注意力。当你身体健康，心情愉悦，能做成的事情也就越多。

Potential Pitfalls of Being Less Productive
效率低下可能带来的弊端

If you tend to feel unproductive, you might worry about the potential impact it might have on your life. The most obvious problem is that being less productive means getting less done. This can lead to missed opportunities and decreased success.
如果你总觉得自己效率低下，你可能会担心它给生活带来的潜在影响。最显而易见的影响就是你能做成的事情变少。这也就意味着你会错失机遇，成功的可能性降低。

Feeling as if you are not productive can also affect your self-esteem. If you feel like you’re not accomplishing the things you need to in life, you might be left questioning your value and self-worth.
自觉效率低下也可能影响自尊心。如果你觉得无法完成生活中需要做的事情，你可能会去质疑自我价值。

However, it is also important to remember that it is not healthy to feel like you have to be productive all the time. You are not a machine, and your worth is not determined by what you can produce.
但也要记住，一直觉得自己必须高效不利于身心健康。你不是一台机器，你的价值不取决于你的产出。

Can You Be Too Productive?
可以过于追求效率吗？

There are times when the quest to be productive can have a negative impact on your mental health. For example, if you tend to be a workaholic or an overachiever, the need to always be productive can lead to a tremendous amount of stress. 
有时候追求效率不利于心理健康。比如，如果你倾向于成为工作狂或争强好胜的人，你需要时刻保持高效，这会让你觉得压力很大。

Such stress can make it difficult to relax and can seriously impact your physical and emotional health. It can also contribute to burnout which can leave you feeling exhausted, unfocused, and unable to cope.
这种压力致使你很难停下脚步去休息，会严重影响你的身心健康。它还会让你感到劳累过度，你会感到精疲力竭、注意力不集中，无法应对出现的问题。

Reaching a state of burnout also has a serious detrimental impact on productivity. To avoid this, it is critical to ensure you are taking a balanced approach that allows you to maximize your productivity without taking on too much. Check in with yourself regularly to see that you are taking enough breaks and caring for yourself.
一旦你过于消耗自己的精力，你的效率会受到致命打击。为了避免这种状况，一定要确保自己生活工作平衡，既能将效率最大化，又能避免负担过重。需要经常省察自己有没有充分休息，是否有好好照顾自己。

Summary
总结

There are many advantages to being more productive, including getting more done, reaching your goals, and feeling greater accomplishment. Strategies that can help you become more productive include having a plan, utilizing productivity-enhancing tools, caring for yourself, and learning how to prioritize your time can be helpful. 
提高效率好处颇多：你能完成更多的事情、达成目标以及获得更多成就感。为了提高效率，你可以制定计划，利用有助于提高效率的小工具，照顾好自己以及学习如何分清轻重缓急。