6 Effective Ways to Be More Productive This Spring
To-do lists! They never quite seem to end, do they?
If you’re an overachiever and perfectionist, the chances are that your long laundry list of daily goals overwhelms you and kills your productivity even before you begin.
Raise your hand if this is you. Now take a deep breath, and let’s start fresh.
Scroll down to learn six productivity hacks that will help you zip through your to-do list in total boss mode.
Productivity Hacks for Spring 2021
Hack #1: Have an “If I can do” & “I will do later” List
We all have to-do lists, don’t we? A great place to have a realistic list is to initially brain dump everything onto a single list and then break it up into three parts.
You’ll want to create a…
- “I NEED to get to” list
- “If I can get to” list
- “I will do later” list
It’s all about prioritization. What absolutely needs to be done? And what can wait? Tackle what is most difficult on the list first for maximum success.
We know it’s not always easy. But we also know you are trying!
Full points for effort! Keep going!
Hack #2: Work Through the Resistance
Procrastination is a big buzzkill for productivity!
Let’s call out the elephant in the room, shall we! Everyone has struggled with procrastination at some point in their life.
In fact, research has shown that nearly 88% workforce in 2019 procrastinated at least for one hour, making it a far more widespread issue than we think. These alarming statistics point to the fact that you’re not alone.
A great productivity hack to deal with procrastination is to start asking the right questions about why you procrastinate.
Oftentimes, dwelling on the fact that you are procrastinating makes matters worse. Interestingly, psychologists have reported that fear of failing at the task at hand is the underlying emotion why most people put off the task for a later time.
Understanding the emotions at play is a much more effective approach than going down a self-sabotage spiral. When dealing with procrastination, power up your productivity by acknowledging your fear and being gentle with yourself.
Hack #3: Marie Kondo Your Workstation
“Clutter is no more than postponed decisions” – Barbara Hemphill
It’s true! A cluttered space makes for a cluttered mind which drastically affects productivity.
Lookin’ right at the coffee mug with stains, a stash of post-it notes, open water bottle with missing lid (you get the picture!).
In The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo elaborates the need to bring “good energy” to the workstation. A clean desk (even if it’s just your kitchen table), a solid AM routine, not skipping breakfast are just a few things that will help maximize your productivity and steer clear of to-do list anxiety.
Are you ready to Marie Kondo your desk?
Read this article next: A Room-by-Room Guide to Decluttering Your Home
Hack #4: Use Apps for Productivity
Why fret overwriting your to-do list in your ginormous planner or tiny post-its which disappear before you blink? Perhaps it’s time to retire the stereotype that paper to-do lists are likely to boost your productivity?
In this always-wired tech-savvy age, it’s safe to say that our phones are attached to our hips. So why not digitize our to-do lists on them?
If you said yes, say hello to apps like Evernote, Trello, Todo-ist, and Asana. Give it a try and see if it allows you to make the switch from paper to digital to-do lists finally.
Hack #5: Pomodoro Technique
Are you still working from home?
Yeah, it’s the new norm now!
Working through the day & not taking a short break (or multiple) is an unrealistic and impossible expectation to set for oneself.
If you are someone who finds productivity hacks to be a drag, you will love the Pomodoro technique! The Pomodoro method of time management helps you hyper-focus.
Taking frequent breaks and scheduling set time intervals for answering emails and other tasks is a stellar approach to power through distractions. It involves setting a 25 minute time interval for a task and greatly improving attention span and concentration.
You can digitize your Pomodoro day by using apps like Focus Timer and Marinara Timer.
Hack #6: Celebrate Little Wins
Are you entirely futuristic and never take time to reflect on how far you’ve come? Celebrating little wins and learning to be proud of your achievements goes a long way in building self-esteem.
This, in turn, is a great motivation to show up better in your every day and be more productive.
For a lot of people, beating themselves up and being highly self-critical comes naturally. But, sadly, it only serves to bring us down.
Each morning, we ask that you write three small things you are proud of from the previous day. Do this before sitting at your workstation and beginning your long and arduous day of chasing down your to-do list.
Watch as your mood gets a boost along with your productivity.
Level up Your Productivity Game
Your productivity should not be what defines your self-worth. That said, once you identify your dream job and what you want to hustle for, any resistance between you and your productivity, if present, can be worked on with ease.
Level up your productivity game with these six productivity hacks and step into your true power.
Get started today.
Related article: 8 At-Home Productivity Mind Tricks You Need
