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1. Take a pulse of your attention and energy level
When attention and energy are low work on completing smaller, less taxing tasks.
When attention and energy are proficient, tackle larger more in depth projects that require more focus.
Pay attention to trends in your attention and energy level over time. Do you have more energy in the morning, afternoon, or evening? After you eat or after a work out?
2. Change your mindset that multitasking is positive skill
Multitasking, while often praised in our society, can result in working on multiple tasks but never actually crossing anything off your to-do list making one feel unproductive.
Tackle one task at a time and break up larger tasks into more manageable parts.
3. Make use of technology that will work for you, not against you
We have all been there...you sit down to accomplish a task and mysteriously find yourself watching 45 minutes of TikTok videos. There are many useful productivity apps that are highlighted at the end of this post - use them to your advantage.
Temporarily disable tempting websites/apps until you can regain self-control.
4. Take the time to make a to-do list (but not too much time)
Take time to plan your week on Sundays (meal planning, grocery shopping, daily to-do list, weekly to-do list).
Find a system that works for you and make it part of your Sunday routine. You will feel better about tackling the week ahead.
5. Create a space conducive to productivity
Enjoyable - Make your space enjoyable. You should like the way it looks, the vibe, the flow, the organization, and enjoy spending time there.
Personable - Make your space personable to you and the work you are trying to accomplish. Include reminders of goals to foster motivation. Include your favorite colors or pictures of places traveled.
Relaxing - Strive to make your space relaxing. Be strategic with lighting, décor, furniture, and technology. Your space should calm chaos, not create it.
Organized - To promote productivity your space should be kept organized and free from clutter. Keep paperwork filed and make sure everything has its place and it is easy to locate.
6. Utilize breaks to your advantage
Designate a certain amount of time to focus and work without distractions. One to two hours is desirable. Then allow yourself a 20 minute break.
Fill your break with a task that will tap into a different part of your brain while still allowing you to feel productive. Some examples are:
Exercise: Take a short walk, a quick bike ride, do yoga, or any kind of movement.
Mindfulness Meditation: Take 10-20 minutes to practice meditation and reset your mind.
Cleaning: There are quick cleaning tasks you can knock off your list that allow you to move and do not utilize brain power. Vacuum a couple rooms, do a load of laundry, or clean some dishes.
7. Don’t procrastinate on the undesirable task
A longer task that has more steps and requires greater cognition and attention can be overwhelming but this is not a valid reason to put it off till later.
Break up longer tasks into two or three parts and add each part to your to-do list. Crossing off each part will confirm that you are making progress.
Here are some of my favorite productivity apps (I am in no way affiliated with or paid to promote these apps):
135 Todo List - Take your to-do list to the next level. Each day has you designate one big thing, three medium things, and five little things to accomplish.
Block Apps - Increase productivity by shutting down tempting apps for a designated period of time.
Boosted - Keep track of time spent on larger projects and goals.
Monday.com - Work Management - Breakdown and assign tasks to a team.
Tody - Schedule your cleaning tasks room by room.
Whisk - Find recipes, create a meal plan, and add ingredients to your shopping list with ease.
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