The Productivity Tips That *Actually* Work
Trust me on this: I am a pro at productivity. (Pun totally intended.)
Little
disclaimer to start with: productivity really isn't everything. Life
isn't defined by how many tasks you tick off your to-do list. And
it's ok not to be busy all the time. But most days, truth is we just
gotta get stuff done. Not only for work, but also when you have a
blog, you do photography, art, anything that calls for consistency
and discipline. On a home weekend day, I juggle between blogging,writing, exercising, preparing work for school and making sure I have a social life. I am a human
to-do-list ticker. And I like that! I get through a lot in a day, and
this is why I wanted to share my tips for those of you who need a
little boost of organisation to get things done. Let's get started!
WRITE YOUR TO-DO LIST THE DAY BEFORE
Every
evening, I have this little ritual of writing down my to-do list for
the next day, as well as planning my workout if I do one that day
too. I find that writing the list in the mornings isn't as effective:
if you wake up sleepy or unmotivated, your to-do list will reflect
that. Maybe you'll cheekily decide to skip a couple things because
there and then, as you write it, you already can't be bothered. Write
your list the night before, make a little ritual of it: put some
calming music, maybe stretch or relax a few minutes, think about
happy things (do you practise
gratitude?)
and then, write the list of things you want to accomplish the next
day. You'll be in a positive, can-do mood and thus the next day you
will have your list ready to guide you through your tasks.
WRITE YOUR LIST IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER + PRIORITISE
At
some point, a couple years ago, I used to have a timetable rather
than a to-do list - I'd write hour by hour what I had to do. This
still works for some people, but I am a lot more flexible now.
However, I still write my lists in chronological order, with the
first tasks of the day, and slowly progressing on. I leave aside the
minor tasks like 'changing my nail polish' or 'responding to X' (I
have a two-column system, on the left the important tasks and on the
right the more mundane ones.) Chronological order should reflect what
works for you: in the morning, do you prefer answering your emails or
doing your workout? After lunch, would you rather clear out your
wardrobe or write a blog post? Think about what suits you best, and
write the tasks in order. It really helps to know where you have to
start - and leave those smallest tasks for when you have time to
kill.
GIVE YOURSELF A TIME FRAME FOR EVERY TASK
Now,
this is a bit different from calculating an exact timetable for each
of your tasks. It is more about allowing yourself some time, but
knowing when to stop. This is mostly for longer tasks, like doing
some work from home or doing some blogging. Don't let it drag on too
long, otherwise you'll feel the strain, and what could have started
as an enjoyable task can become a burder and drag your mood down for
the rest of the day.
I
often write bits of my novel, and I try to sit at my desk and open
the page even on days when I don't feel that inspired - if it's on my
to-do list for the day, I give it a go. And on days when I am
inspired, I still don't write more than an hour and a half in a row -
right about that time, I generally stop, close the page, and
congratulate myself on having made that progress - no matter how big
of small. If you don't give yourself boundaries (especially when it
is work-related!) you lose the feeling of 'yes, I'm gonna do this'
and use up some precious time that could be spent by having a little break, or
just doing another of the tasks on your list. When it is the right
moment, you need to stop and take a breather. Do one of those little
tasks that will switch up your mind from that draining things you've
been working on for a while. And you'll pick it up again the next
day!
HAVE SHORT BREAKS, OFTEN + REWARD YOURSELF
If
you make yourself work non-stop from 9 to 6 (on a good day), sure
you'll accomplish loads, but you won't really appreciate all the work
you've done. My aim is that even with work, you ought to enjoy what
you are doing. Of course, if you could tick off the task by snapping
your fingers, you should do it (I know I would!) but since it has to
be done, it may as well be enjoyable, right? And for that, taking breaks
is key. Reward yourself on the spot: you accomplish something, you
tick it off, you get a rest. This might be a cheeky flick through
your Instagram, reading a few pages of a book with a cup of coffee in
hand, or watching an episode of a series you like. You decide how
long you need your break to be, depending on how long you need to
recharge. Often, I do it by looking at the clock: if I finish
something at 3.35pm for example, and I want a break, I'll give myself
until 4pm to read a chapter of my current book, for example. If I
have finished a task a little early, say ten minutes before I'd
planned to start my workout, I'll use these ten minutes to look at
Instagram, or answer a couple messages on Whatsapp. I could start my
workout early, or I could take that time to breathe and give myself
the time to do something that isn't a chore or a goal. Time to just
be. These little rewards are self-care in their own way, and will
make you want to get on to the next time with more enthusiasm.
READ THIS NEXT: TIPS TO HAVE A PRODUCTIVE WEEKEND
AND FIND MORE MOTIVATION TO CONQUER YOUR TASKS HERE: WHY YOU SHOULD DO THINGS NOW
READ THIS NEXT: TIPS TO HAVE A PRODUCTIVE WEEKEND
AND FIND MORE MOTIVATION TO CONQUER YOUR TASKS HERE: WHY YOU SHOULD DO THINGS NOW
What is your trick have a productive day?
Lots of love,
Julia x
Lots of love,
Julia x
12 commentaires
Your system sounds very good. I only write tasks I need to remember doing, like changing banners on websites every other week. Otherwise my work, blogs, and study get priority according to what I need to do and how long is the task. I might try having a list of things I need to, made the night before, to see if I can be more productive.
ReplyDeleteIf you try this out, I really hope it works for you Anca! xx
DeleteI agree on giving yourself some time to breathe in between - it is the key to staying productive in the Long run and avoid overtiring yourself.
ReplyDeleteExactly! If every day seems like a chore, it's really not worth doing at all! xx
DeleteWriting the to-do list the day beforehand is a great idea, Julia! I used to do that years ago but had totally forgotten what a time-saver that was, particularly as by morning I'd have forgotten half of it otherwise haha! Hope you're having a good weekend so far!
ReplyDeleteGabrielle | A Glass Of Ice x
Exactly, you may forget things if you do the list in the morning, or discard some tasks because you don't feel like doing them anymore. By prepping your list the day before, you avoid that! xx
DeleteI actually am not a pro at productivity. I am a perfectionist so, if I dont set a time limit I will never finish the project. I love your idea of the list the day before. That way I know my purpose for the next day! great blog post.
ReplyDeletethank you, thexglitterbox
@thexglitterbox
http://thexglitterbox.com/
Perfectionnism is hard! I hope you find the right methods for you to keep up with your productivity, while being proud of what you achieve! xx
DeleteI agree with every one of your tips Julia! It's so important to take breaks and remember to not much too much pressure on yourself with productivity. Writing out your to-dos the night before is an absolute game-changer! I need to start doing that more x
ReplyDeleteIt would totally help you if you took the habit of doing it every day. I'm glad you enjoyed the post Katie! xx
DeleteLove the new layout! I find frequent breaks helpful too - especially now I'm working from home indefinitely
ReplyDeleteJasmine xx
Jasmine Talks Beauty
Thank you so much Jasmine! Yes working from home can be hard in the long run, so taking breaks and putting tasks into small chunks helps! xx
Delete