Silence The Noise

“We are easily distracted in the digital age… The key is to simplify,” Hassam says.

It’s commonplace to try to get work done while music, notifications, emails, and browser tabs run in the background. But if we’re being honest with ourselves, these only serve as distractions. Worse, they enable us to buy into the illusion that we’re “busy” while little gets accomplished.

To be more productive, hone in on the task at hand and eliminate all potential distractions. Close all browser tabs save the ones you absolutely need and hold off on checking social media until your work is complete.

Separate Work and Play

Don’t allow your work obligations to leak into the time reserved for loved ones and activities that energize you. Instead, create a clear distinction between the time you spend working and the time you spend enjoying the rest of your life.

If you work from home, it’s tempting to work in your home and switch back and forth between work-related tasks and non-work related tasks. In the long-run, this can make your home feel like an office rather than a place of rejuvenation, as well as deprive you of much-needed breaks.

Resolve to work at a location apart from your home, like a public library or coffee shop, and you might just slash your work hours in half.

Peter Awad, founder of The Slow Hustle, is a vocal advocate for being on and off the court. He won’t answer emails when he’s with his family or outside of the hours he’s allocated for work. “When I get home, I leave everything at the door,” Awad says.