After years of struggling with my own productivity demons—bouncing between endless to-do list apps and productivity hacks that promised the world—I’ve learned that the most effective approaches are often surprisingly simple.

The difference between people who consistently get things done and those who constantly feel behind isn’t talent or willpower. It’s habits. Small, deliberate practices that compound over time.

Today, I’m sharing five habits that have genuinely transformed how I approach my work and life. These aren’t trendy productivity tricks that’ll be forgotten next month. They’re time-tested strategies backed by research and real results.

Let’s dive in.

1. Eat the frog 

Mark Twain had it right when he said to “eat a live frog first thing in the morning” – basically, tackle your hardest, most dreaded task right off the bat, and the rest of your day will feel like a breeze.

This habit changed everything for me. Instead of checking emails or scrolling through news first thing, I identify my most challenging task the night before and attack it when my mental energy is at its peak.

The psychology behind this is brilliant. Once you’ve conquered your biggest challenge, everything else feels manageable. Plus, you eliminate the mental drain that comes from dreading that difficult task all day.

Whether it’s writing a tough report, making an uncomfortable phone call, or tackling a complex problem, getting it done early creates momentum that carries through your entire day.

Your afternoons will thank you.

2. Eliminate distractions ruthlessly

Here’s a scary stat from UC Irvine: when you get distracted, it takes your brain an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to fully get back into the zone. Those “quick” phone checks? Not so quick after all.

This research completely changed how I approach focused work. Now I treat my phone like kryptonite during deep work sessions—it goes in another room, face down, on silent.

But it’s not just phones. Email notifications, Slack pings, that interesting article you bookmarked—they’re all productivity killers. The key is creating barriers between you and these distractions.

I use website blockers during writing sessions and have specific times for checking messages. It felt extreme at first, but the results speak for themselves.

Think about it: if every small interruption costs you nearly 25 minutes of focus, those innocent distractions are costing you hours of productive time every single day.

3. Focus on one thing at a time

Think you’re a multitasking master? Think again.

Research shows that trying to juggle multiple things at once can actually tank your productivity by up to 40%. Ouch.

I used to pride myself on handling five things simultaneously—writing while answering emails while planning my next article. Turns out I was just doing five things poorly instead of one thing well.

The human brain isn’t wired for multitasking. What we call multitasking is actually task-switching, and each switch comes with a mental penalty. You’re essentially forcing your brain to constantly restart and refocus.

Now I batch similar tasks together and give my full attention to one project at a time. When I’m writing, I write. When I’m responding to emails, that’s all I do.

The quality of my work improved dramatically, and paradoxically, I started getting more done in less time. Single-tasking isn’t just more productive—it’s less exhausting too.

4. Use both a calendar and to-do list

Want to think like a millionaire? Start simple: people who keep both a calendar AND a to-do list are 289% more likely to become millionaires compared to those who just wing it with no real schedule.

That statistic blew my mind when I first read it, but it makes perfect sense. A to-do list tells you what needs to happen. A calendar tells you when it’s going to happen.

Most people make one of two mistakes: they either live entirely by their calendar with no flexibility, or they create endless to-do lists without time-blocking when things will actually get done.

The magic happens when you use both. I write down everything that needs doing, then I schedule specific time blocks for the important stuff. That blog post isn’t just on my list—it’s blocked out from 9 to 11 AM on Tuesday.

This dual system transforms wishful thinking into concrete action. Your tasks stop floating around in productivity limbo and actually get accomplished.

5. Invest in a dual monitor setup

I resisted this for years, thinking it was just tech indulgence. But after finally making the switch, I can’t imagine going back to a single screen.

The constant alt-tabbing between windows, losing track of where things are, minimizing and maximizing—it all adds up to serious friction in your workflow. With dual monitors, you can have your research open on one screen while writing on the other, or monitor your email while working on a project.

It’s not about having more space to be distracted. It’s about reducing the mental overhead of managing your digital workspace. Your brain stays in flow instead of constantly task-switching between applications.

If you’re serious about productivity and spend significant time at a computer, this upgrade pays for itself quickly.

The bottom line

That’s a wrap on the five habits that can genuinely transform your productivity game.

But here’s the thing: you don’t need to implement all of these at once. Pick one that resonates most with your current struggles and commit to it for a week. Maybe it’s finally putting your phone in another room, or investing in that second monitor you’ve been debating.

I’ve mentioned this before, but real change happens when you focus on systems over goals. These habits aren’t just productivity hacks—they’re sustainable practices that compound over time.

The art of getting stuff done isn’t really an art at all. It’s a science of small, deliberate choices that add up to big results.

Which habit will you try first?