5 Hacks to Up Your Productivity Game

Alright guys, if you know me, you know that I’m all about efficiency. Time is valuable, and we all want ways to maximize it. So I wanted to share 5 hacks with you that have upped my productivity game.

1. Prioritize your to-do list
Sounds simple enough, right? Then why do we all suck at it? So I realized that while going through my to-do list, I’d skip between tasks – not good. Then, I got the Productivity Planner earlier this year which was a total game-changer. You guys know that I’m a big fan of the Five Minute Journal, and this planner is from the same creators. In short, the concept is that you write down a few of your most important tasks for the day in order of priority. Then, you tackle one task at a time, NOT moving between them until you completely finish one. I love this because it keeps me focused and accountable. I also feel like if I’m moving between tasks, it takes a while to even adjust the way I’m thinking. So this ensures that I’m super productive.

2. Listen to a podcast or audiobook while doing mundane tasks
Meal planning? Walking somewhere? Doing your skincare routine? Listen to a podcast to learn on the go. With my schedule, I can only really get in 30 minutes of reading a day. Podcasts and audiobooks are the best way for me to get educated while doing mundane tasks. So I recently got the Quip toothbrush (which I love, btw), but basically this toothbrush is an electronic one that makes you brush for a full 2 minutes. I would get so bored, until I started listening to an audiobook while brushing my teeth. It’s the easiest and most efficient way to learn!

3. Time-batch
I’ve been time-batching for the last few weeks, and feel like it’s a productivity game-changer. How it works is that you focus on a task, give yourself x amount of time to do it, and just focus on that specifically. So, for example, instead of refreshing your inbox and answering emails every minute of the day, give yourself 30 minutes at the beginning and end of the day to do all your emails.

4. Stop saying yes to everything
I feel like I should do a separate blog post on the power of saying no. Here’s the thing, if you’re constantly saying yes to everything, from 2 dinners a night to work commitments that just aren’t serving your big picture, when are you focusing on the shit that matters? Really evaluate what you’re giving your time to, and if you can’t figure out why you’re saying yes to something, then just say no.

5. Set specific times for work and relaxation
If you’re your own boss, at whatever capacity that may be, from full-time business owner or the owner of a side hustle, it’s important to figure out clear cut times for work and relaxation. For example, if I’m having dinner with my friends or family, I don’t really pick up my phone to browse through Instagram. Similarly, during my work day, even when I’m eating lunch alone at home, I’ll rarely start watching TV. I do this because it helps set boundaries. Also, I don’t want to half-ass my work or my relaxation time. If work and relaxation bleed into one another, then you’re not really benefitting from either, make sense? Also, make sure you set those times, I’m talking put it in your damn calendar. If you’re prone to overworking, put things like a massage, facial, or dinner with friends on your actual calendar.

I’ve gone on and on about my productivity hacks – tell me about yours!