This time of year it can be hard to stay focused on what you need to accomplish, especially if you work from home. Now that spring is here, staying productive gets hard when the sun is shining and the warmer weather is calling your name.
Today I’m going to share tips on how to stay productive and get your tasks done. Then use the productivity worksheet to help you organize your lists and goals.
Focus on Five
Making a list of everything you need to accomplish can get pretty overwhelming. Instead of focusing on the entire list, pick just 3 to 5 tasks that you must accomplish today. Then focus on completing just those things. If you’ve got time or are feeling ambitious to get more done, then work on more tasks but make sure you have your ‘must accomplish’ things done first.
Break Down Bigger Projects
Have a big project that you keep avoiding? Break it down into smaller, more doable pieces. Once you have it broken down, schedule the smaller pieces on your calendar and little by little, you’ll get the project done.
Find Your Ideal Work Time
Figure out what time of the day or week you are most productive and reserve those hours to get your work done. Maybe you’re trying to work around your kids’ schedules or you might like to take afternoons off. Decide what time you do your best thinking and best work and work during those hours.
List What You’ve Accomplished
Lots of times we focus on what we have to do and not what we’ve already done. Each week, make a list of all of the things you’ve accomplished and you’ll (hopefully!) realize that you’ve done more than you thought. It will make your to do list seem a little more accomplishable.
De-Clutter Your Mind
Ever stay up at night thinking about all of the things you need to accomplish in life? It happens to the best of us. One way to de-clutter your mind is to make a list of everything you need to do – from picking up groceries to writing that book you’ve been dreaming about. Take some time to clear out everything you’ve been thinking you need to do then categorize it into 5 different sections – 1) to get done this week, 2) to get done this month, 3) to get done in the next 6 months, 4) to get done in the next year and 5) to get done in the next 5 years. When you know what’s priority, you’ll get a better idea of what you need to get accomplished right away and what you have some time to work on.
Do What You Love
Most of all, doing work that makes you happy helps you stay productive because it doesn’t feel like work. Try to incorporate your hobbies into your work and it’ll be much more fun. For example, if you hate doing the bookkeeping for your business but you love blasting your music throughout the house, only allow yourself to do that while you’re working on your bookkeeping. This will make the task more fun, and you’ll look forward to that time instead of dreading it.
The Worksheet
Download the How to Stay Productive Worksheet to help you organize your lists and goals!
What are your tips for staying productive? Share in the comments!
As the owner of Race & Religious we couldn’t have been more satisfied with all that Ciera has accomplished for us. Because of her designs for our logo and website we feel that we have become internationally recognized as one of the most eclectic, beautiful, funky places to have an event in New Orleans. She was able to incorporate the ambiance thru our website and logo that is signature to our location, and renovation of our 1835 historical houses situated at Race and Religious Streets in the warehouse district of New Orleans. We are so proud to hand out our cards eluding to the website that is unique and embodies the mystery of what is yet to be seen at Race & Religious. We feel that it is because of Ciera’s design ability that we have been named by Travel and Leisure as one of the coolest rental houses and also by Martha Stewart Wedding Magazine as one of the most spectacular wedding venues available. All this in less than three years of operating! -Billie and Gran Semmes | Owner, Race and Religious
