When it comes to staying productive, you may think that you need to make huge changes to your workday. In reality, the little things can add up more than you imagine. By implementing a few practical suggestions, you can increase your productivity without disrupting your schedule. Where should you start?

Set Your Alarm Clock 15-30 Minutes Earlier

An extra 30 minutes in the morning can make a world of difference at work. This is mainly because the traditional workday schedule of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. isn’t balanced. Going from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. is only three hours, while 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. are four hours.

If you can add an extra half an hour to your morning schedule, you can complete more projects comfortably. This is especially smart because people tend to be less productive during the afternoon lull a short time after lunch.

Get Enough Sleep at Night

Of course, if you’re going to be waking up earlier in the morning, you should also set your alarm a little earlier at night. Sadly, many people don’t get enough sleep at night regardless of when they wake up in the morning. To increase your work productivity, you need to invest in rest. Why?

For one thing, your brain needs it. Plenty of research shows that not getting a good night’s sleep affects mental performance negatively. It’s harder to concentrate when you’re tired and handling different tasks takes longer.

On the other hand, when you’re well-rested, your brain practically chomps at the bit. You think, reason and create things more quickly. That can help you finish projects sooner and come up with more productive solutions overall.

Leave Work at the Office

Another productivity hack that delivers results is to keep work at the office and family issues at home. This advice can seem counterintuitive, especially since so many people take their work home to squeeze in an extra task or two before bed. Honestly, that’s the problem.

When you prevent yourself from unwinding properly, you leave yourself tired out for the next day. Instead of actually being more productive, you’re only moving your work stress to your home. It’s better to properly destress and make sure your mind is fresh for the next day.

As you can see, many of these tips for staying productive support each other. Small changes have a ripple effect, prompting bigger benefits than you anticipate.