I’m going to be honest with you guys, I really struggle with productivity. Like, being productive is probably in the list of ‘Top 10 Things I Wish I Was Better At’. It seems like the more I have on my plate, the harder it is to be productive and get things done. I know I’m not alone in this, and I know that many of you are probably struggling with this too. If you’re looking for some productivity tips, look no further. Here I’ve compiled my list of all the best productivity tips that will help you become a laser-focused productivity machine!
Before I get started, I want to remind you that it’s okay if you’re feeling a little less productive lately. We all have periods like this and it’s a completely normal and human thing to experience.
I hope that some of the productivity tips below help you and that you will feel inspired and ready to take on the world after reading this!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that I personally would use or do currently use. Please read full disclosure for more information.
1. Go into every situation with a to-do list
Sounds obvious, right? Everyone knows about to-do lists, but how many of us actually make and follow them?
I know that I personally am a member of the ‘make a to-do list and then completely ignore it’ club. Buuuuuut I’m really trying to be better about that, and I’ve found that this is really helping me stay on track with my productivity.
It helps me measure my progress throughout the day and keeps me from forgetting to do what needs to be done.
Find a to-do list method that works for you. This can be pen and paper, a whiteboard, or a phone app.
If you’re a pen and paper kinda gal, you might like this printable to-do list template I have created for you which is completely free! Grab it below ↓
2. Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize
If you find yourself with a million things to do, and very little time, it can be helpful to get a good idea of which tasks are most important and which tasks need to be done first.
On your to-do list, make note of which items are most time-pressing and important and start with those.
If there’s something that needs to be done today, do it first and then you can get around to the less critical tasks.
This productivity tip can save you loads of stress in the future because you aren’t putting off the important things until the last minute.
3. Break up tasks into smaller bits
I talk about this a lot in my Cleaning with Depression post, but having huge time-consuming habits on your to-do list is not only overwhelming, but it’s a lot harder to get things done that way.
Breaking up your tasks into smaller and more doable tasks can skyrocket your productivity. I’ve found this productivity tip to be one of the biggest contributors to more productivity for me.
For example: instead of ‘clean the house’, try smaller tasks like ‘vacuum floors, take out the trash, wipe off the counters’.
These smaller tasks are much easier to achieve and the progress is a lot more measurable.
4. Set a timer
Setting a timer is sort of like a sneaky way to trick our brains into working for us.
Try this:. Set a timer for 20 minutes. While the timer is going, just work on one task. Put your phone away and ignore all the other items on your to-do list. Simply focus on that single task. Once the timer goes off, take a 5 minute break. And repeat.
This is so so simple but so effective. We are giving ourselves a distraction-free period of time to get things done, and then giving ourselves a break which is also extremely important.
Another way of using a timer to your advantage is to give yourself a period of time that you will dedicate to your to-do list.
So imagine you want to get everything from your to-do list done in the morning so that you can use your afternoon for something different.
Maybe you could set a timer for 2 hours and decide that you’d like to get as many items done as possible in those two hours. Then after the two hours are up, you can focus on something different.
If there is anything left on the to-do list after your time is up, you can either decide to get it done real quick (if you’d like) or you can save it for the tomorrow (guilt-free because you completed a lot today!)
Pssst…. Want to repin this post? ↓
5. STOP multitasking– just stop it!
There’s a reason the whole ‘set a timer’ productivity tip is effective- you’re taking time to focus on ONE task at a time.
As much as the opposite may seem true, multi-tasking will most definitely not help you be more productive.
When we try to juggle multiple things at once, it ends up taking way longer to get anything done because we aren’t focused.
This is especially true for things that require a little thought.
Take for example, me writing this blog post. Every time I step away from my desk to do something else, I come back and have to try to find my train of thought again. I waste so much time by doing this.
So try focusing more on single tasks and see how it helps you. I have a feeling you’re going to save a lot of time.
6. Have a consistent schedule for long-term success
One of the biggest ways we cheat ourselves out of productivity time is by not having a routine.
Now I know that this isn’t super doable for some people.
If you work varying hours or have kids or have a lot of commitments, you may find it harder than others to find a schedule you can repeat every day.
BUT, it’s still totally possible to set up somewhat of a routine for yourself.
Here’s why this works: our brains love habit.
So if everyday at 7 a.m., you go to the gym, you will eventually reach a point where it feels like second nature.
Or if you try to make it a goal to tidy up your home for 15 minutes every evening, soon you will be doing it without even thinking about it.
Your brain will see that consistency as a habit and soon it won’t take much effort to do it, which means you will kind of just become more productive on auto-pilot. Yes it takes some work up front and might take a few weeks to build these habits up, but once they’re built, you’re gold honey!
Find ways to work your tasks into somewhat of a daily routine, and see how much of a difference this makes for you.
If you’re looking for some inspiration for setting up either a morning or nighttime routine, check out these posts below!
8 Morning Routine Habits You Need to Adopt
Nighttime Routine Habits You Need to Adopt
7. Set up an incentive
Give yourself something to look forward to. Especially if you have something on your to-do list you really really don’t want to do.
This gives us a little extra motivation to actually get our crap done rather than procrastinating.
For example: if you have to make a phone call you’re really dreading, maybe tell yourself that once you make the phone call, you can relax and watch an episode of your favorite TV show. (P.S. do you have to mentally prepare for like a day before making a phone call or is that just my anxious brain? 😄)
OR, maybe you have to go to the BMV (which no one likes to do). If you’re having a hard time getting that done, maybe make it into a date. After going, get lunch with a friend or your significant other.
The key here is finding ways to motivate you to get stuff done and not procrastinate.
Yes, in a dream world we would all just be super productive with no incentives needed, but let’s be honest here, sometimes staying productive is really difficult.
There’s no shame in finding ways to make these unappealing tasks seem more enjoyable.
Simply put, rewarding ourselves is one of the best productivity tips out there.
8. Schedule ‘me time’ for the morning
No one enjoys waking up and immediately starting their chores.
Doing that day after day is an easy way to feel burnt out and honestly just not thrilled about life.
It can also lead to less productivity because we eventually reach a point where we are trying to find anything to do except our to-do list.
Try taking time in the morning to focus on you and only you.
Wake up a bit earlier and just enjoy the morning before getting the day started. Sip on some coffee, read a book, workout, do whatever you love and give yourself a bit of time where your to-do list isn’t the priority.
Trust me, you’ll be able to start the day feeling more awake, more focused and you’ll be a lot less stressed.
Each of us has a list of things we have to do and sometimes that list can seem daunting and overwhelming or just honestly not exciting. By implementing the tips I provided, you can find a balance between life and chores and your productivity can thrive again.
Productivity is one of those things that many of us would like to be good at, but definitely need some help with. I hope that trying out some of the productivity tips listed above will help you become a more productive person.
But keep in mind that while increasing your productivity is good and necessary, it is equally important to rest and relax often. We aren’t meant to be constantly doing something, achieving something. It’s important to give yourself the rest that you need so that you can keep going without getting burnt out and overwhelmed.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, and if you have a productivity tip that has helped you, I would love to hear it in the comments!
Don’t forget to get your FREE to-do list below!
Leave a Reply