Productivity means getting tasks done efficiently and it's important to many people in work, school, or personal life. There are many tools and methods out there, but it can be hard to tell which ones really help you get more done and which ones just seem to help.

One key to staying productive is forming good habits. Studies in behavior psychology show that setting up routines that trigger certain actions can help make doing productive tasks automatic. This is done through a 'habit loop', which includes a cue (trigger), a routine (the action), and a reward (a positive outcome).

Despite what many people think, trying to do many things at once can actually make you less productive. Research in cognitive science shows that our brains aren't designed to focus on many tasks at the same time and do them all well. What we often think of as multitasking is really just switching quickly between tasks, which can lead to mistakes and lower quality work.

Sleep has a big impact on productivity. Studies in neuroscience have shown over and over that getting enough sleep is crucial for things like consolidating memories, thinking clearly, and solving problems creatively. So, cutting back on sleep to work more can actually make you less productive because it can affect your judgment, reduce your motivation, and lead to burnout.

The Pomodoro Technique is a way to manage your time that involves breaking your work into chunks, usually 25 minutes long, with short breaks in between. This method takes advantage of the natural rhythms of your brain and the need for rest, helping you stay focused and avoid burnout.

Depending solely on willpower to stay productive isn't a good idea. Research in psychology shows that willpower is like a battery - it can run out over the course of a day. So, strategies that don't require you to constantly exert self-control, like forming habits, designing your environment to support your goals, and planning ahead, can be more effective for maintaining productivity without draining your willpower.