WFH Series: Life-Changing And Productivity-Enhancing Hacks
Life is full of days that seem like they should be marked with a big red X on the calendar. And as much as we may want to, there’s just no way to get everything done in a day — and that’s okay!
Productivity is about getting more done in less time. It’s about efficiency and effectiveness, doing more with less. It’s not just about how much you do, but also how well you do it.
To be productive, you must have the right tools and understand how to use them. If you’re not using a tool or a technique that makes your job easier and more fun, then it’s time to find something that works better.
Get more out of your day and keep your creativity flowing with the following creative tools and some productivity tips.
Plan your time carefully.
The quality of our planning will determine how successful our days will be. I suggest preparing a plan for the week (or even month) ahead to manage your work time. This will help you set deadlines and achieve them.
Calendar applications are some of the primary tools worth using to stay organized. Of course, the first one that came to mind was Google Calendar. It’s free and super easy to use. I love that I can use different colors for different things on my calendar! Here are more pro tips for using this app more effectively.
Another one that is worth mentioning is Any.do Calendar, which is also a free app. It’s the ideal combo of a task list, calendar, planner, and reminders in one app. It’s very convenient and doesn’t overcomplicate the mode of display, making it an excellent option for any type of user.
Set your goals.
Write down a list of goals. Create a bullet-point list of what you want to achieve. This list will serve as a compass that will steer you in the right direction. Keep in mind that the goal should be challenging but realistic. Also, make sure you have a daily routine and some daily habits in place. Once your mind has been programmed to focus on those goals, you can effortlessly accomplish them. This is also an excellent way to measure your progress and know when to take it to the next level.
You can go traditional on this one and use post-it notes or even have a whiteboard. If you’re like me, who works best when technology is involved, then use an app like Basecamp. It is free to use so long as you have a Gmail account. And although the personal account has limited features, you’ll still be able to create to-do lists, set deadlines, and assign several goals into those sections.
nTask is another task management app that can help you keep all the particulars of your project in a centralized platform to ensure you are on top of project tasks, visualize your progress, get status reports, and so much more.
Eliminate distractions.
When it comes to productivity, we are all different. For us WFH peeps, the key is to find the right environment to focus on the task at hand. Avoid distractions like unnecessary small talks, TV, and your mobile phone. Lock yourself up in your workstation if needed. Block out any potential distractions that you could use as an excuse or that will cause you to lose time. Trust me — you’ll get more things done and feel less stressed!
Get help.
Admit it, there just seems to be a lot to do in such a short amount of time every day, and it would be a whole lot better if you got help — in any way or form.
If you respond to a lot of emails on a daily basis, then I highly recommend TextExpander. This is, hands-down, one of my personal favorite. It’s a simple tool that allows you to create a library of snippets that you may use in any application. With a few keystrokes, you can expand your text snippets. Think; typing less, saying more. You may even share them with your team for virtual collaboration.
Need help creating great-looking presentations, proposals, product mockups, etc.? My vote goes to Canva. The app includes pre-built templates, ideas, large number of materials, and collaborative capabilities to let you produce high-quality work with very little effort.
Want a simple digital note-taking tool that you can access both on your phone and PC? If you’re using the Google Calendar already, then Google Keep would be a no-brainer option. Still worth mentioning and both have free plans available are Evernote (another personal favorite) and Notion.
Maintain a clean and well-organized workspace.
Your workspace significantly affects how productive you will be throughout the day, so you should arrange your desk according to your preferences to enhance your overall mood. Keep things orderly so that you can access the necessary substance right off the bat. You may want to keep some motivational quotes or affirmations or even a family photo in your view; that’s totally up to you.
Remember that our workspace is our constant companion as we strive to become productivity masters.
Take a break.
Many of us forget to take breaks in our WFH environment, and fewer breaks result in increased stress and errors, which leads to longer working hours. The break time reminder app called Stretchly will remind you to take breaks when working on your computer to control your work and break time. It’s super nifty; it displays a reminder window containing an idea for a break from time to time. Super duper love this, btw!
Develop a wellness routine.
A wellness routine incorporates all of your healthy habits — like your diet, workout routine, self-care activities, and a solid night’s (or day’s) sleep. Your wellness routine will support you during those challenging days and give you an extra boost on your best days. Staying healthy can positively affect how you perform and increase your productivity.
There are so many different productivity hacks for everyone, as we all have our own way of operating. It is such a subjective topic, and I’m pretty sure people try numerous techniques. Nevertheless, I hope the tips and tools mentioned here will help you enhance your overall productivity moving forward.
Let’s work smarter, not harder.
.
Got questions or suggestions? Respond below and let me know.
Cheers,
