How To Reclaim Your Productivity
Have you ever gotten to the end of a long day and think to yourself, “Where did the time go? I didn’t get half the things done that I wanted to!” I know that I have. It can be a frustrating feeling, and one that I think we all understand and try avoid! It can be difficult to stay productive throughout the day with all that we are trying to juggle. However we have come up with five tips to help simplify your productivity game and get you going on the right track! Enjoy!
#1 – TIME BLOCKING
Time blocking is a concept in which you block out certain times of your day for tasks that need to get done. You would block 2-3 hours at a time for things such as “Morning Routine”, “Work”, “Errands”, “Nighttime Routine”, etc. During this time, you focus only on the tasks that you have delegated for that specific time block. This method helps you stay focused and helps eliminate being overwhelmed with all that needs to get done in the day.
#2 – ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS
This one is HUGE in assisting in productivity. Nowadays we have distractions everywhere, which can make staying productive very difficult! Here are a few of our tips for eliminating distractions:
- Take a break from social media to get back on track with your productivity. Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram are huge time consumers throughout the day and eliminating these can usually buy you lots of time! When bringing these applications back into your day after your break, consider setting time limits on your phone that limit your usages to a certain amount of time each day. Your phone will notify you when you have reached your previously decided limit and you know it is time to put it away at that point.
- Clear your workspace of any distractions. Tidy up your space so you tackle your tasks for the day in a clutter free environment. This helps clear your mind and also helps save you time looking for things in a mess. Having a spot for everything and keeping your space organized can greatly streamline your day.
- Set clear boundaries of work hours with your friends, family and co-workers. This can be easier said than done, but having less phone calls, texts, or office pop-ins can help you stay focused throughout the day.
#3 – SET A TIMER
You would be shocked at how much you can get done in a 10-20 min block of time throughout your day. This is something I like to do toward the start of my day and toward the end of my day. At the start of my day, I use this method to make sure my day is planned out. I review my to do list, cross off any unnecessary tasks, and prep anything I can to streamline my day. At the end of my day I use this time to tidy my home and prep things for the next day. I am someone that hates waking up to a messy home so spending this time each night, sets me up for success the following day.
#4 – UTILIZE THE EXTRA 30 SECONDS
This one is simple and something that I feel like makes a big difference with minimal effort. Taking an extra 30 seconds could mean, putting your breakfast dish in the dishwasher instead of just the sink. Or, filing that paperwork right away instead of throwing it on your desk. When walking to another room or meeting, fill up your water bottle, refill your coffee mug, use the restroom, etc. so that you don’t have to make a special trip, which can cause additional distractions and wasted time. Although these moments may seem small or insignificant they add up and make a difference in your productivity!
#5 – LESS IS MORE
Sometimes increased productivity means delegating tasks to someone else or removing them completely! Over the years, it has almost become a competition to see who can be the busiest. However, being busy and being productive aren’t the same thing. By removing unnecessary things from your day to day routine, you will be able to simplify your life, increase your productivity and focus on what is really important.