Sometimes, we all need a friendly reminder of productivity tips. There are so many distractions, especially working from home. And some days are better than others.
Sometimes I forget to drink an ounce of water because I’m so focused on writing blogs for clients. Other times, you cannot keep my butt in that chair. I’m constantly distracted or unmotivated to get anything done. (That’s usually when I clean out my inbox or organize my Asana to at least feel KINDA productive.)
Especially on those days, I need the productivity tips in this blog to stay productive during the day. I hope they help you, too!
Put Away Distractions
And I mean away! Put your phone in your desk drawer or in another room. Only have what you need on your desk and put everything else away. Clear off your desk and only keep the essentials out. Do you need an entire set of colored pens to write notes? I doubt it. Pick one, and put the rest away.
Technology makes it difficult to stay productive. I’m the Type-A person that when a notification comes in, I HAVE to check it. Emails, direct messages, texts… doesn’t matter. I’m pausing my work and checking it. So I either close the applications entirely or pause notifications for an hour. That way, I won’t be distracted by an incoming notification. Without the distractions, I get things done way faster.
Food can also be a distraction. Getting up to get a snack, then constantly reaching for it can distract you from your work. Set aside time to eat meals, but limit snacking at your desk. Did you know that sometimes you’re thirsty when you feel hungry? Try drinking water before heading to the kitchen.
Set a Timer
Give yourself a certain amount of time to work, then a few minutes for a break. A good starting place is 25 minutes of focused work and a 5-minute break. Seems doable, right? Breaking up your day like this will make the day go by faster and help you stay focused on the work that needs to be done.
Once you’ve mastered that routine, kick it up a notch and work for 50 minutes, then take a 10-minute break. Start small and build up to longer times of focused work. You’ll be surprised at how much you can get done when you sit down and focus.
Create a To-Do List
Create a to-do list and prioritize it. When you prioritize your tasks, you are giving yourself a starting point. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to get started. Tell yourself, “I’m doing this task first, this task second, this task third, etc.” You’re setting yourself up for a successful and productive day. Plus, who doesn’t like to cross things off their to-do list? So satisfying!
Then, at the end of your day, create a to-do list for the next day. You will spend less time thinking about what you need to get done when you sit down to do it. You can mentally prepare yourself for what you need to do tomorrow.
Work When You Have the Most Energy
Where are my morning birds at?! I’m so much more productive in the morning. I start work around 7:30 AM and I’ve learned that around 1 PM, I start to lose focus and motivation. That’s when I start the tasks that don’t need a lot of focus. Structuring my day like this has helped me prioritize tasks and produce higher quality work.
Work on the tasks that require the most brainpower when you are the most awake. Save the mind-numbing tasks for after you’ve done the most difficult tasks of the day.
Reward Yourself
When I was in college and reading those 2,000-page textbooks, it was a struggle to stay focused. Reading 40 pages seemed like the end of the world (if you’ve ever been in college, you know what I’m talking about). I would set small rewards for myself when I finished two pages. Honestly, usually, it was food. I would tell myself, “after I read two pages, I can have a Skittle.” It worked for me! It kept me motivated to finish reading the pages.
You can have a similar strategy. When you finish a task or reach a break, you get X, Y, Z. Choose something that will keep you motivated, but won’t distract you. Don’t reward yourself with 10 minutes of TV, for example. You know you would end up convincing myself that it’s okay to finish the episode, and by then, it’s been a 25-minute break. Here are a few reward ideas, but come up with something that will work best for you:
- Getting a snack
- Taking a short walk
- Playing with a pet
Batch Your Work
Batching means bundling similar work together, so you are focused on doing the same thing. For example, I’m a blog writer. I will sit down and write for one client at a time so I’m in the mindset of their tone of voice, brand, and industry. It gets me in the zone instead of constantly trying to switch gears. I can usually write 2-3 blogs in a day, which puts me ahead of schedule for that client. If something else comes up, I’m not stressed trying to fit it into my busy schedule.
Are you feeling motivated by reading this post? These tips have made a huge difference in my productivity and motivation levels during the day. I hope they positively impact your day too. Which of these productivity tips are you going to try first?
AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER
Some links in this blog post may be affiliate links. I only recommend products and services I trust and believe would be beneficial to you.
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