Top productivity tools that will keep you organised

Hey guys,

I’ve realized that my productivity has increased greatly in the past few months. This is an awesome thing because I usually deem myself lazy! However, I am at a point in my life that I want to better myself in every way possible and have a lot of goals I want to accomplish. Therefore, I think that this has pushed me to get off the couch and get things done.

 

Since I’ve been checking off more items on my to-do list lately, I thought it would be helpful to share what I do to stay productive. I am hoping this post will be especially beneficial to those that are like me who has a little bit of a harder time getting up and running.

 

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started”

-Mark Twain

 

As Mark Twain said, we need to start something so that we can get our goals accomplished. I can say that this statement is spot on. I have realized that if I sit down and start a project; before I know it I am checking it off my to-do list.

 

So without further ado, let’s dive into these productivity tips!

 

Disclosure: This page contains affiliated links which means: that to no added expense to you, I would receive a commission if you click and purchase the item linked. 

 

 

Tips that will increase productivity

 

 

1. Wake up early

 

I know this one seems a little monotonous, but I can assure you that it is the most important thing you can do to help with productivity. I know that if I wake up later than eight o’clock I will feel completely out of it for the rest of the day. The ideal time for me to wake up would be six o’clock. However, that’s with me getting to bed early (no later than ten o’clock) and having a restful night of sleep.

 

I know that this can be a little harder for those of you who are parents or have complicated schedules but I do believe that the earlier you rise, the more you can get done during the day.

 

Note: If you wake up early and feel tired during the day (and if time permits) take a 15-minute power nap to get back to normal. No longer than that though or you will feel dazed (at least in my experience).

 

Therefore, waking up early sets you up for greatness for the rest of the day.

 

2. Exercise

 

For most of us when we wake up, we can feel a little tired or maybe even stiff. Therefore, I like to exercise first thing in the morning to get my blood pumping and to snap me out of that dazed feeling. This can mean stretching for 5 minutes, going for a walk/jog or doing an intense workout. Once you exercise, it is good to eat a healthy breakfast and get ready for the day.

 

3. Set monthly goals

 

At the beginning of every month, it is good to sit down and write out everything you want to accomplish for the month ahead. Go over birthdays, job projects, the kid’s events and anything you’d like to achieve for yourself. This gives you a clear idea of what will happen that month so you can be as prepared as possible.

 

I like to use a reusable calendar to record my goals. I usually try to limit the amount of paper or other material I use when I can so I tend to lean towards using my Mac’s calendar or google calendar to record for myself. However, for those who prefer to write down their task (like my husband), this dry erase wall calendar might come in handy for you. My husband has his own on the wall above his desk. I like to look over it to see what goals I can help him accomplish.

 

4. Set a daily to – do list

 

Setting a daily to-do list can help you get focused and organized. Before you start your day, go over what needs to get done. If you have to run errands, you can list them in the order of what’s closest to furthest from you. I like to arrange my stops so that I make a complete circle back home. This saves time and is not as hectic as running back and forth to different establishments without a clear view of where you are going.

 

Also, setting a daily to-do list helps you to determine what is the most and least important task for that day. This enables you to manage your time more efficiently to get everything done. This productivity planner is great for this step. It is an undated planner which is excellent, but it only has six months worth of pages. This is not a problem for me because I like to use these erasable FriXion pens or pencils. This way I can keep using the planner until I need to get a new one due to wear and tear. I also use my reminders app on my phone to help me keep track on the go and to share my tasks with my husband. I have found that both tools are essential for me to stay productive.

5. Do task in 15-minute intervals

 

When I was younger, I would sit down and take hours to finish one job. As I got older, I realized that I was losing focus after 15 – 30 minutes. My head would start to hurt, and I wasn’t thinking and learning correctly. So I started to get up after I lost focus and stretch my body or switch tasks to refresh my mind. This works for me now, and I see improvements with my workflow. So the next time you find yourself losing focus on a task, leave it for a few minutes. Believe me, when you go back to it you’ll get it done!

 

Additional productivity tools

 

 

The Productivity Epiphany by Vincent Harris. This book has helped my husband with his workflow and mindset; he highly recommends this book to anyone who needs some motivation to get their goals accomplished.

 

Three Feet from Gold by Sharon Lechter. This is another book that my husband recommends for productivity. I will be reading both books shortly to help me enhance my workflow!

 

Website Blocker. These work great for staying focus while on the computer. All of us might get carried away scrolling on Pinterest or watching youtube videos when we are supposed to be doing work. Therefore, if you use a website blocker for when you are working, it can help cut out those distractions.  WastenoTime is the one I use; it gets the job done!

 

Productivity checklist. This is a printable version of this post for you guys to keep as a reminder of what to do to enhance your productivity.

Final thoughts

 

 

I hope that my tips will help you guys better your lives and help you to achieve your goals. If you guys have any other suggestions on productivity, please leave them in the comments below! I would love to try them out.

 

Until next time,

 

yasmin rose xoxo