Learn 5 simple ways to be more productive at work or school. They're simple, easy-to-follow and will make a huge difference in your effectiveness!
As most of you already know, SQ is my full-time job which means I work from home pretty much all the time. And even before I was working full-time on SQ, I was telecommuting for a marketing company, and I found it really difficult to stay productive.
Today's post came at the request from my YouTube subscribers, but rather than just sharing the video over there, I wanted to also write it all down and share it with you. And like I mention in the video, even if you don't work from home, these tips are still totally applicable. So let's dive in!
1. Make a List
This might seem pretty obvious, but having a to-do list is a great way to streamline your mind and help you stay more focused. For me, I like to use the rule of three, meaning that I have my top 3 things that I MUST get done during the day and everything else is ancillary or a bonus.
I also like using a planner. Like an actual physical book that I write things down in. For some reason, digital to-do lists just don't work for me and I don't get as much satisfaction from checking things off. If you're a digital list maker, that's a-okay in my book, just find something that works for you!
This year I'm using the Happiness Planner, and so far I'm liking it. I used to use the Day Designer, but I felt like I needed a change and while I'm still getting used to the new one, I like the simplicity of it. But again, the item itself isn't as important as the physical act of writing out your list. When you have a specific list to follow you're much more clear on what needs to get done and are therefore more productive!
2. Clear Your Workspace
My second productivity tip is to clear/cleanse/clean/organize your workspace. Cluttered spaces create cluttered minds, so if you're trying to get sh*t done, but you're surrounded by mess, your mind doesn't know how to focus.
So do a quick sweep of your space; recycle old papers, put away your pens, take mugs/glasses to the kitchen, organize your wires, etc. Whatever you need to do to make space feel fresh and clean.
I promise you will feel amazing! Your mind will have more space, you won't feel as anxious/stressed and you will get so much more done!
3. Take a Break & Go Outside
This is a biggie for me! We're are so conditioned to just power through our day, that a lot of times we don't even give ourselves a moment to breathe. While it might seem counterproductive to walk away, that break can be a lifesaver for your productivity!
I'm lucky enough that I have a dog that needs to be walked, so she's my excuse for getting outside and taking a break. Before I had her, I was guilty of literally not leaving my apartment for an entire day!
When you're cooped up like that, you don't give your mind a chance to relax and recharge. So give yourself just 10 – 15 minutes and take a breather. And personally, I think the best thing you can do on that break is to go outside. Even if it's freezing cold or raining, just the act of breathing in fresh air and getting oxygen into your lungs and brain will make you feel like a whole new person.
4. Remove Your Distractions
This is another one that I always seem to fall pray to and that is distractions. For me, and I'm sure many of you also, it's my phone. When I have my phone sitting next to me, I'm almost always tempted to reach for it to check my email, my social media, etc.
Once I have that little device in my hands, I end up wasting 10+ minutes just scrolling, switching around from apps, reading emails/news. It's a time suck and a huge drain on productivity.
So my suggestion for you is to find out what your distraction vice is and remove it completely from your workspace (especially when you have a big project or are in serious crunch time). If it's your phone like it is for me, put it in a separate room or leave it in your purse, switch it to silent and try to forget about it. That text message? Yeah, it can wait.
5. Focus on One Thing
My last and final way to be more productive is to quit multitasking. We're in this world now where we feel like we can do a million things at once, but in reality, our brain is not physically capable of actually focusing on two things at once. So if you really want to be more productive, you've got to focus on just ONE thing at a time. Just one. That's it.
If it's writing in a Google Doc, close your other tabs. If it's not on the internet, close down your entire browser. If it's not on your computer at all, close your computer. Just put everything else away and focus on that one task. You will be amazed how quickly you get it done. You'll fly through your to-do list and you will feel so accomplished at the end of the day!
Your turn…
What productivity tips do you swear by? If you have any that I missed, please share in the comments below!
And I hope that you enjoyed this post and found it helpful! If you end up implementing any of these into your work/study routines, come back and let us know how they're working for you!
xo Alyssa
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