Why is it that the busier we are, the harder it is to get things done?! Well, as a perfectionist myself, my brain is constantly trying to keep me safe by never letting me forget anything. So, when I am working on something, alarms are going off in my head that other things are still outstanding. Learning how to be truly productive and manage my time with efficiency has been a process that I am continuing to refine daily. As a business owner, wife, mom of 2 beautiful babies (4 and 1), and high performer who always wants to do all the things, establishing good habits and figuring out ways to be productive have been essential to sustaining the level of performance and success I desire. Today, I want to share with you the productivity hacks I have discovered with the hopes that if you are anything like me with way too many things to do in what feels like too little time, you will find a new tool to add to your toolbox. Let’s get right to it…
10 Productivity Hacks for Success:
1) Wear a smartwatch or set a timer
If I am working on a project it is easy for me to push through until it is finished but I KNOW that is not going to be my best work. I wear a smartwatch that tells me to move if I have been sitting too long. This will help you clear your head and focus.
2) Move your body throughout the day
Every 50 minutes maximum, I get up, get a drink, and move my body by either going on a short walk, stretching, or more recently breaking out the Skip Ball and jumping around the garage to a favorite song. This is a great way to have fun and be more productive.
3) Drink lots of water (Goal of ½ your body weight in Oz daily)
Hydration is essential for mental clarity and energy. If you are dehydrating you will feel foggy-headed and sluggish. To be honest, water is not my favorite drink so I like to mix in hot tea, seltzer water, and flavored water (cucumber is delicious).
4) Add fun when you can
Who says work can’t be fun?! Ask yourself, “How can I get excited about this activity?” Is there a candle, special drink, quick clean, or something else that would make accomplishing this task more enjoyable? Do it! It doesn’t have to be anything complicated or perfectly planned. Listening to fun music and silly dancing to a Disney movie works for me!
5) Use busy work time for learning.
Generally, multitasking is not an effective use of time but there are absolutely exceptions. Since I work from home, clean space makes me feel so much more productive but my family goes through dishes and trash like we are trying to win an award! Well, dishes are my least favorite task so to make it easier I listen to a podcast while I work. Other ways I use this is listening to a podcast while driving with my sleeping baby or planning during color time.
6) Master your transitions
Between activities take 2 minutes to set intentions for who you want to be and what you want to do in the next activity. Notice what went well with the last activity and take note of any to-dos for later. This allows you to get to the end of the week and FEEL accomplished.
7) Habit stack
Habits are essential for living in alignment with your values and achieving your goals. But, creating habits is hard work! To make it easier, add a new habit to one that is already established. For me, I wanted to be more thoughtful and connect with friends and family throughout the week so I decided that when I am warming up on the treadmill or bike at the gym I will text 5 people. I already have a workout routine so the new habit will be easier to remember and establish. Give it a try!
8) Batch work
Let’s attach a new meaning to “One thing at a time”. This used to make me think that if I have a project to do, I need to work on it from start to finish in 1 sitting. Instead, a more effective way to get things done is to batch similar tasks. So, if I have 3 projects to do I will work on similar pieces of them together and research all 3 together, then outline, craft, etc… This is truly a game-changer!
9) Do what you say you are going to do
Let’s talk about integrity for a moment. This value means doing what you say you will do. Promise a friend you will be there for them, you show up. Sign up for a sport and finish the season no matter what, with integrity! Did you know that holding yourself accountable for what you promise yourself is one of the greatest things you can do for your confidence? This saying stays in my mind to help me remember, “To know and not do is to not know”. Sit with that for a moment
10) When panic sets in, take action
When things feel overwhelming and I begin to feel anxious about all of the things to do, the #1 thing that makes the biggest difference is to take action. I find one thing that feels big but doable and get to work. Action reduces anxiety and helps things feel more manageable. So if you are feeling overwhelmed, what is one thing you can do right now to get that momentum going?
Ready to get to work and knock out that list of to-dos? By reviewing the list of productivity hacks I use daily that set me up for success, I hope you have uncovered a few tools that you can use to get your time back. The process of becoming mentally organized is a journey and having the right tools is essential! Want to learn more about Mental Organization so you can trade overwhelm for more focus and impact? Check out our Mental Organizer which is now available. As a gift, you can grab yours for 50% off today. All you need to do is click here to purchase and enter code ORGANIZED at checkout. Then, get READY to go to the next level of productivity and performance!
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