During the colder season, people tend to experience a shift. That includes sleep, anxiety, digestion, and productivity. Searching for ways to boost your productivity? Read my 5 Tips below!
Tip #1. Organize Your Thoughts and Responsibilities with a Planner
I love planners and I can’t recommend them enough! It’s taken me years to find the perfect planner and that’s Aja Dang’s MSTRPLN Dated Budget Planner, which is available for pre-orders for 2024! Be sure to get yours before the new year!
Per the MSTRPLN site, this planner includes “everything you need to achieve your goals – monthly calendars, weekly layouts, goal setting pages, monthly and weekly budget sheets, thought prompts, and grid and blank pages to customize this planner to fit your exact needs.”
Yep! This Planner really does include everything. Before the MSTRPLN Planner, I had all sorts of planners and journals. I had separate ones, which honestly made me procrastinate on tracking my finances and responsibilities. This planner has helped me budget and record my finances, while preparing me for the week/month.
I’ve used this planner each year since the launch of MSTRPLN in 2021. In 2021, I was finishing up college. By 2022, I became a wife and a mom. This year, I went back to school and got a stable job. This planner has been with me through it all! I think that says a lot about how much I love this planner and I believe you will too. Not to mention, I admire Aja. She’s an inspiration. Aja has a YouTube channel, and I recommend you watch her videos as well!
Organizing your daily tasks will help you achieve them in a timely manner. In addition, it’ll help you plan for the present as well as the future. It’s a small step to taking that big step!
Tip #2. Refine Your Workspace and Change It Up
Every person’s workspace may look different. Nonetheless, I suggest keeping it clean. Having a clean space will keep the mind from getting distracted, which will let you get more things crossed off your to-do list.
Additionally, it’s not a bad idea to change up your workspace. I find that when I feel stuck, I change where I choose to work and I’m suddenly up to speed again. Sometimes it just takes a change of scenery.
Tip #3. Take Breaks
It’s a good idea to incorporate breaks into your schedule, whether it’s a bathroom break, social break, or a snack break. Breaks give your mind space and time to rejuvenate. It can also help you focus better when it comes time to get back to work.
Tip #4. Focus on One Task at a Time
Not only would it take you longer to complete tasks if you weren’t focused on one at a time, the quality of those tasks could look different from what it could’ve been had you focused on it. Therefore, focus only on one before the next.
My methods to focus on one task at a time:
- Making a list and prioritizing which tasks you need to accomplish first before starting
- Complete the quickest tasks first
- Time blocking is a technique in which a person blocks specific times throughout the day to accomplish tasks. It could look different each day and could be more specific to your needs. This is typically what I plan a week in advance in my planner and Google Calendar. See my example below for instance.
- 6-8am: Workout
- 8-9am: Get ready for work, drive to work
- 9-3pm: Work
- 3-5pm: Task
- 5-7pm: Dinner
- 7-8pm: Task
- 8-9pm: Task
- 9pm: Get ready for bed
- The Pomodoro Technique is another time management tool that splits tasks into 25-minute intervals. It allows people to work with the time they’re given, rather than work against it. See how much you can get done within 25 minutes! It could even be a game.
Tip #5. Ergonomics
This is so important and I can’t stress it enough. I don’t think I gave it too much attention until I became an aesthetician. I didn’t mind turning or standing a certain way… until my back constantly hurt! That’s when I started to find ways to be comfortable with just about every position.
For instance, I do a lot of bodywork which requires me to stand and look down. Instead of standing straight with my head down, I keep my feet apart and squat (woot, woot! Working on that booty.). This helps to keep my back and neck straight. Thus, no longer making my back hurt as much.
My suggestions for ergonomics:
- Placing a small stool underneath your desk to rest your feet on
- Placing a pillow behind your back
- Placing your feet apart to keep your body square
- Rest your shoulders
- Having your laptop/electronic at eye level
Taking care of your body will allow you to continue doing what you need to do or love to do. It could even motivate you to keep going. I know that when I’m comfortable and have a good groove going, I can’t be stopped. Plus, what can be so bad about taking care of yourself?
