One of my 2022 goals is to improve productivity. I confess to not always being the most efficient with my time, and now seek strategies to help keep me on track.
Start with a to-do list.
A to-do list of clear tasks and deadlines is one of the things on which I rely to improve productivity. If I know what I need to do and can check them off, one by one, I am much better equipped to stay on course.
Clear out distractions
Whenever I am on deadline, I find myself distracted by just about everything. Now, I’m not saying you have to Marie Kondo everything before you get to work, but tidy up your spaces. I always need the dishes put away, the counter cleared, and the laundry folded before I can really dig in to my work. Make sure your workspace is in a state that is workable for you (however that looks).
Adjust the noise
Personally, I no longer work well with noise. In some cases, I need to turn off all sounds in order to be at my most productive (and that includes our robot vacuum! Nothing cuts off my ability to focus like the drone of that thing!). Maybe you need background voices to help keep you on track, and maybe you needed utter quiet. Use noise-cancelling headphones to block out distractions, or treat yourself to a podcast, show, or music in the background.
Set small goals
I get overwhelmed when I am faced with looming tasks, so I prefer to break things up into smaller, more easily achievable goals. It’s easier for me to chip away at those, and watch my progress as I build to the larger whole. This is something where my bullet journal has come in very handy (and yes, I will share more details about that as soon as I complete a few more pages – I’m still fleshing it out). It’s a visual representation of the work I accomplish, and I find that beneficial to my overall productivity.
Reward yourself
Once you’ve hit those small goals, it’s time to show yourself some appreciation. Perhaps, after you check off the item you least wanted to do, you can take time for a small walk or get a coffee. Be aware of the incentives that help keep you focused and use them as needed.
How do you improve your productivity?
Calendar. Put everything on it!!
Plan ahead.
Blog.
Great ideas Jenn.
Setting small goals and making to do lists is super helpful to me as well!
Great post- I think we all struggle with this sometimes. I like setting small goals so things don’t become overwhelming. I need to find a way to reduce distractions when I’m at home. A little bit of noise doesn’t bother me- I can get a lot done if I go sit in Starbucks. It’s hard to work from home without being interrupted all the time!
Such great tips! I use a paper planner and schedule time with devices off!
Great post Jenn! I’m a die-hard paper planner girl and to do lists are a must for me. I like to start with a braindump (get everything down on paper, big and small tasks) and then prioritize.
Breaking things down into smaller steps is the secret to life! As I talked about in a vlog, recently, I pick 9ne thing each day that MUST get worked on. Of course there may be many other things worked on, but knowing what my top priority is is very helpful to me.
All good tips!
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