When it comes to productivity, simple mistakes can really set you back. These suggestions should help you see where you’re likely to go wrong and help you work smarter, rather than harder.

Here are three easy things that could unravel your entire productivity system. It won’t feel good if you make these simple mistakes:

You’re not specific

It’s easy to sit down with your to-do list and have no idea what you need to do. When you’re busy, it can be so tempting to just jot down a word or phrase and assume you’ll remember it when you get to it.

The problem is, it could be weeks or even months before you see it again and very few people have a memory they can rely on like this.

It may seem pedantic, but it really helps if you can immediately be reminded of exactly what you need to do. It saves having to go back through notes or wasting time reminding yourself why you wrote it down.

You don't use place markers

Even the most clear and descriptive to-dos are irrelevant if you’re not reminded about them when it’s time to do them. I think the worst mistake anyone can make when it comes to productivity is relying on your brain to remind you. Even if you have a great memory, wouldn’t it be great to free up space and let your mind work on something more important?

A simple calendar entry or a timed reminder can really make a difference.

I’ve personally seen some absolute disasters in my time, purely because someone has tried to rely on their memory to remind them about something important. We’re all really busy now and have to cope with constant distractions, so why not put all this technology around us to good use? Honestly, the extra time you invest in making a calendar entry or setting up a reminder is sure to pay off big time.

You forget about your busiest day

It’s so easy to create an amazing, complex productivity system that takes care of everything when you have plenty of time on your hands. If you’re not careful though, it can take far too much time to manage in the real world and will simply fall apart when you’re busy.

If you have too many folders, use several apps or it takes too long to set reminders and make notes, you’re in trouble.

If it overflows or you don’t have time to maintain it, it’s as good as useless. A productivity system is there to make sure you know what you need to do when it’s time to do it. It also needs to be as stress-free as possible.

I can’t overstate the importance of simplicity when it comes to productivity. You may not get it right first time, but it’s important to learn from your mistakes and keep adapting. Remember, every minute you devote to organising yourself is one you divert from working.

That’s it. I wanted to make this post as simple and as effective as I could.

You just need to do these three easy things:

• Write your to-dos as if they’re for someone else

• Make sure you’re reminded about everything you need to do

• Keep everything as simple as possible

I hope this helps and more importantly, I hope you never make any of these common productivity mistakes again.