2 Tricks That Made Me Super Productive

Confession time. I struggle to be productive at work – especially when I have to work from home. As much as I try to do all the right things – get up on time, sit at a designated workspace, set aside time to time work on emails – I still never get to everything on my to-do. What mom does?

And the less productive I am, the worse I feel. I’m not saying you should measure your worth by how much you can accomplish in a day. I’m talking about basic productivity, as in being productive enough to do your job and do your job well.

For instance, studies have found, “most workers are no more than 50 percent productive at work!” That means half of the day we spend at work, we aren’t productive. Instead, we are falling into rabbit holes on the internet or doing other tasks unrelated to work. When you add in having to work from home during the pandemic, it is even harder to be productive.

I talked to a friend recently, and she shared some of her best productivity tips. I decided to give her tips a try, and I am happy to report that they actually work! These two tips have radically changed how much I can get accomplished during the day and have made me super productive.

Getting Rid of Distractions

You hear all the time about the importance of getting rid of distractions, but there are so many things vying for our attention. Instead of saying you’ll simply avoid checking your email, scrolling through your social feeds, or exploring random topics on the internet, do something to force yourself to block these distractions.

For instance, the Freedom productivity blocker allows you to set up a personalized block lists of the websites that tempt you. Then, you can block yourself from these sites for a set amount of time across your devices. In other words, you can’t cheat and scroll on your phone when you are supposed to be working on your computer.

Embracing the Pomodoro Technique

Even if you have gotten rid of the distractions, it is still easy for your mind to wander. I don’t know how many times I have just wasted time doing nothing. But I have found a technique that works wonders. It is called the Pomodoro Technique.

The Muse explains, “The Pomodoro Technique is a time management system that encourages people to work with the time they have—rather than against it. Using this method, you break your workday into 25-minute chunks separated by five-minute breaks. These intervals are referred to as pomodoro. After about four pomodoros, you take a longer break of about 15 to 20 minutes.”

It works wonders for me because it brings out my can-do competitive nature. I know I’ve only got 25 minutes in a pomodoro, so I stay focused on the task at hand to see how much I can accomplish before 25 minutes is over. It shocks me how much I can actually get done in 25 minutes when I am focused!

Plus, it both rewards my focus and gives me a short distraction break. I know at the end of the pomodoro that I get a five-minute break to check my notifications or scroll. And those five-minutes ae a great way to keep me in check. I mean, how many times do we tell ourselves we are just going to play around on our phones for a few minutes before it turns into 45 minutes?

Don’t worry if this sounds too complicated for you to keep track of yourself – there are tons of pomodoro productivity apps available that can track them for you!

How to Avoid Distractions and Focus While Working from Home

The work from home struggle is real – especially for those of us who typically do not work this way. Since the coronavirus pandemic has forced millions of Americans to start working from home, we have been thrown into a new workplace full of distractions making it harder to focus. If you are finding it hard to focus while working from home, here are some things you can do to avoid distractions.

Turn Off the TV

Yes, it is super tempting to binge on Netflix while you are home and have full access to a TV without your boss knowing. But, it is super hard to stay focused on work with the TV on, so turn it off.

Avoid Chores During the Workday

While at home, you can distract yourself from work by focusing on all the “work” you need to do around home. If you spend the day doing chores, you won’t be able to focus. Instead, make it a rule to only do things around the house after your workday is done.

Set Aside Time for Emails

If you get bombarded with emails that keep you from staying on task, set aside time to check emails rather than checking each time you receive a new email. For example, opt to check emails from 8 – 9 am and then from 3 – 4 pm, and be sure to let your coworkers know your email hours.

Start Each Day with a To-Do List

Before you begin working each day, make a to-list. Write down your goals for the day, as well as identify the items on your to-do list that are “must-do’s” versus “may-do’s.”

Have a Dedicated “Office”

With mobile devices and Wi-Fi, it makes it possible to work anywhere in your home. The problem is that you can choose a different place each day and you don’t typically do this at work. Instead, you should have a dedicated workspace. No matter if it is your kitchen counter or a desk in your living room, make a point to work in the same space each day.

Create a Family Code of Conduct

If you have kids, then they will likely be your biggest distraction. Since you and your kids are working from home, create a family code of conduct. Some ideas: 1.) No TV during the day. 2.) If mom is on the phone and a kid needs something, kids should either wait or silently put their hand on mom’s arm (rather than yelling for her).

Turn Off Notifications

If you get all sorts of notifications on your phone from social media or news sources, you absolutely need to turn these notifications off. You can check your notifications when work is done – they aren’t going anywhere.

Take Breaks

Sitting and staring at your screen all day isn’t healthy either, so be sure to take breaks throughout the day. If this is a struggle for you, set alarms to go off after chunks of time to remind you to get up and move.

Use Tools to Block Distractions

Some websites and apps are just too tempting, and we need help to avoid them. If this sounds familiar, then utilize tools like Freedom to block tempting websites and apps like Offtime to block distractions on your mobile device.

Allow Yourself Time for Distractions You Need

Lastly, it is important to allow time for the distractions you need. You deserve a break to watch videos on YouTube or scroll through Instagram, so allow yourself to do so during set times, such as lunch.

Wall Calendar, Day Planner, Calendar App? Which One is Right for You?

Women are busy, and we are only going to get busier. First, let’s celebrate! Check out these awesome statistics from the US Department of Labor.

“Seventy percent of mothers with children under 18 participate in the labor force, with over 75 percent employed full-time. Mothers are the primary or sole earners for 40 percent of households with children under 18 today, compared with 11 percent in 1960.”

Who runs the world? GIRLS!

And how do we manage work, family, marriage, friendship, and self-care? By being devoted to our calendar planning systems!

If you are one of the few women who do not utilize a calendar, I’m here to change your life. And for those who do use a calendar, I’m here to encourage you to switch things up and make your planning system work better for you.

Why You Absolutely Need Some Sort of Calendar in 2020

Ladies, you absolutely need to embrace calendar planning. If you are like me, you need a calendar to keep everything in your life straight. If it is not in my calendar, I will forget or overbook myself. We’ve all been there, and it is no fun. A calendar planning system helps you manage your time and prioritize the things that matter.

Plus, saying “you’ve got to check the calendar” is a fantastic way to take a pause before you commit to something you really don’t want to. You’ll thank me later.

Here’s the good news. No matter what type of planner you are (someone who plans down to the minute or someone who just likes to have a broad overview), there is a calendar planning system that will work for you and make your life more manageable.

Wall Calendar

Some women prefer an old-school wall calendar. They are nostalgic and can be placed in the home where everyone in the family can see what is happening each day. Some families have upgraded their wall calendars to a dry erase calendar so they can make it more personal.

The good – It is simple and easy for the whole family to use.

The bad – Not as much space for busy days and not with you wherever you go.

Day Planner

Other women are obsessed with their day planners. Day planners are bound notebooks that are broken down into different increments (monthly, weekly, daily, and hourly). For women who love to put pen to paper, this is an ideal way to plan. You can visualize your entire month – down to the hour.

The good – It has space for every part of your day (including slots for exercising and self-care).

The bad – The hourly breakdown may be overwhelming for some women. And unless you have a small planner, it will likely not go everywhere you go.

Calendar App

And some women opt to go digital with their calendar planning. There are tons of great calendar apps, such as Google calendar or Cozi Family Organizer, that work on your digital devices to keep track of events. The apps allow you to color code events according to family members, as well as sync with other family members. This type of calendar planning is super helpful for busy parents needing to make changes on the go.

The good – It has space for everything, can be shared with family members, and goes with you everywhere you go.

The bad – For those who don’t love technology, this one will prove ineffective.

Or a Combination of Two or More

Finally, there are some women who use a combination of the above. There is no wrong way – as long as you find a system that works to make your life easier! Which type of calendar planning system do you use?