Alright: with 2013 now upon us, it's that time where we make our resolutions for the new year and promise ourselves this year will be different.
It's also a great time to take stock of how productive you were in 2012, and look at some of the science behind productivity and achievement.
This video was created by ASAP Science, aka Canadians Mitchell Moffit and Gregory Brown. It includes some interesting insights into productivity, all based on scientific research.
So what are the basics?
Well, first of all, if you want to get something done, get started. Now.
Apparently one of the biggest barriers to achievement is the stumbling block of beginning a project. Our brains tend to cause us to visualize the worst parts of a project, preventing us from getting started (it's called the Zeigarnik Effect, which sounds like something out of Star Trek).
But once you get started, your brain tends to forget all those negative imaginings and helps you get the job done
Another tip from the vid: multi-tasking is the enemy of productivity.
Instead of trying to do a bunch of stuff at once, some of the most successful people focus on one thing and do it intensely.
And they don't necessarily do it for long: instead of going hard at it all day, they will work in 90-minute chunks of time with serious focus. Then, they take a 20 minute break.
For more on the science and research behind the video, and extra tips on being productive, check out this blog post on SparringMind.com. Gregory Ciotti, the man behind Sparring Mind, co-produced the video with ASAP Science.