--- description: 1) Know When You’re at Your Best And plan accordingly. To be a productivity ninja focus less on time management, and more on managing your... title: 5 Powerful Tips for Getting More Stuff Done image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [Ideas](/section/ideas/) ## Ideas Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Psychology](/tag/psychology/) ## Psychology Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # 5 Powerful Tips for Getting More Stuff Done by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 2, 2014 4:01 AM CUT by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 2, 2014 4:01 AM CUT ## **1) Know When You’re at Your Best** And plan accordingly. **To be a productivity ninja focus less on** [**time management**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/09/time-management-skills/ "undefined")**, and more on managing your energy.** Charlie Munger, vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, used a system like this to make sure he was always growing. He identified the hours when he was at his best and then routinely stole one of those peak hours for learning. Via [_The Idea Hunter: How to Find the Best Ideas and Make them Happen_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004SI4A3I/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004SI4A3I&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined")_:_ --- > “” --- Are you a [morning lark? A night owl?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/night-owls-vs-morning-people-who-comes-out-ah/ "undefined") Tired after lunch? Best after a [nap](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/whats-the-secret-to-amazing-naps/ "undefined")? Track what works for you and plan around that. ## **2) Get Enough Sleep** No, [you can’t cheat yourself on sleep](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/04/how-little-sleep-can-you-get-away-with/ "undefined"). **Cutting corners on siesta time has a cascade of negative effects, not the least of which is to make you less proactive.** Via [_The Secret World of Sleep: The Surprising Science of the Mind at Rest_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E2PZTG4/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00E2PZTG4&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined")_:_ --- > “” --- In fact, **some people’s emotions are so disturbed after a night of sleep deprivation that they could be classified as psychopaths.** That might make you into a good real ninja but not a productivity ninja. Wrong ninja. Via [_The Secret World of Sleep: The Surprising Science of the Mind at Rest_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E2PZTG4/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00E2PZTG4&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined")_:_ --- > “” --- What’s the best way to improve your sleep? Learn [how astronauts sleep](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/09/sleep-astronauts/ "undefined"). ## **3) Distractions Will Make You Stupid** **Students whose classroom was situated near a noisy railroad line ended up academically** **_a full year behind_** **students with a quiet classroom.** When the noise was dampened, the performance difference vanished. (Silence, vanishing — all very good for productivity ninjas.) Via [_Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BMKOO6S/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00BMKOO6S&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined")_:_ --- > “” --- Distractions might mean you don’t notice gorillas walking by. [Seriously](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/12/would-you-notice-an-invisible-gorilla/ "undefined"). Here’s how to [improve focus](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/09/stay-focused/ "undefined"). ## **4) Work Somewhere That You Usually Get Things Done** **Have a spot where you’re usually productive? Go there.** How about a place where you always screw around and waste time? Avoid it. Wendy Wood, a professor at USC, explains how your environment activates habits — without your conscious mind even noticing. Via [_Habit: The 95% of Behavior Marketers Ignore_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004LB5J14/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004LB5J14&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined")_:_ --- > “” --- [Context](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/04/whats-the-most-effective-way-to-change-you-be/ "undefined") matters more than you think. ## **5) Believe in What You Do** Sounds like a corny cliché, but the research supports it. **What happens when you see your work as a calling, not just a job that pays the bills? You are more thorough, engaged — and happier.** (So maybe we should drop the productivity ninja metaphor and be more of a dedicated productivity _samurai_? Whatever. Ninja metaphors are lame anyway. You get it. Keep reading.) Via [_Choose the Life You Want: The Mindful Way to Happiness_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008NF01F8/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008NF01F8&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined")_:_ --- > “” --- How do you do this? **It’s about interacting with the people who experience the benefits of your work.** Wharton professor [Adam Grant](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/04/interview-wharton-business-school-professor-teaches-approach-give/ "undefined") did research trying to motivate employees at a university call center. **When call-center workers were shown letters written by grateful students who had received scholarships funded by the workers’ calls, their motivation soared.** What pushed their motivation even higher? Speaking with those students. Via [_Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AFPTSI0/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00AFPTSI0&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined")_:_ --- > “” --- Productivity ninja, productivity samurai, productivity Ewok — whatever. Never, ever underestimate the power of the right [attitude](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/09/bad-attitude/ "undefined"). **Join 45K+ readers.** Get a free weekly update via email [here](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD "undefined"). Related posts: [Time Management Skills Are Stupid. Here’s What Works.](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/09/time-management-skills/ "undefined") [Checklist: Are you doing these five things to be the best?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/secret-success-not-giving-up/ "undefined") [What 10 things should you do every day to improve your life](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/what-10-things-should-you-do-every-day-to-imp/ "undefined"). _This piece originally appeared on_ [_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/ "undefined")_._ ### 5 Horrible Habits You Need to Stop Right Now  Do Not Email First Thing in the Morning or Last Thing at Night “The former scrambles your priorities and all your plans for the day and the latter just gives you insomnia,” says Ferriss, who insists “email can wait until 10am” or after you check off at least one substantive to-do list item. Chris Pecoraro—Getty Images  Do Not Agree to Meetings or Calls With No Clear Agenda or End Time “If the desired outcome is defined clearly… and there’s an agenda listing topics–questions to cover–no meeting or call should last more than 30 minutes,” claims Ferriss, so “request them in advance so you can ‘best prepare and make good use of our time together.'” Sam Edwards—Getty Images/Caiaimage  Do Not Check Email Constantly Batch it and check it only periodically at set times (Ferriss goes for twice a day). Your inbox is analogous to a cocaine pellet dispenser, says Ferriss. Don’t be an addict. Tools like strategic use of the auto responder and Boomerang can help. Jetta Productions—Getty Images  Do Not Carry a Digital Leash 24/7 At least one day a week leave you smartphone somewhere where you can’t get easy access to it. If you’re gasping, you’re probably the type of person that most needs to do kick this particular habit. by nacoki ( MEDIA ARC )—Getty Images/Flickr RF  Do Not Let People Ramble Sounds harsh, but it’s necessary, Ferriss believes. “Small talk takes up big time,” he says, so when people start to tell you about their weekends, cut them off politely with something like “I’m in the middle of something, but what’s up?” But be aware, not everyone agrees with this one (and certainly not in every situation), and you may want to pay particularly close attention to norms around chit chat when traveling internationally. 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