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5 Ways To Be More Productive


Photo of me by   IheartParis

Photo of me by IheartParis

As the blog grows, I find myself working from home in front of the computer more often than ever before. There are days I feel I am just being “busy” and not so productive. I think we have all been there. I put together a list of 5 tips that help me when it comes to being productive. You can use these to apply to your work/life balance. If you have any tips that help you that aren’t on the list, please comment below and share. 

1. Work during Peak Times

My most productive time is between 7 am – 9 am. This is not for everyone, I totally get it. I am more productive with less distractions. I do get the occasional phone call from my sister heading into work but that is pretty much it. I get more done during this time than any other time in the day. I schedule a workout at 9 am and I don’t feel guilty because I have already gotten so much done. 

2. Put the Phone Away 

When I am doing my two hours of writing in the morning, I leave my phone on the charger. Less distractions leads to higher productivity. No checking instagram, facebook, or texting with friends. 

3. Check Emails at Certain Times 

If I am constantly checking emails when they pop up, I would never be productive. Some things require immediate attention but not all things. Pick a few times of the day when you can devote to your inbox and then go back to work after 15-30 minutes later after you have tackled what is most important. 

4. Set a Timer

This has been the most helpful to me. I am not sure where I first read it so if you know who came up with this first please let me know so I can credit them. Set a timer. I typically choose 30 minutes. I turn off my phone and put my head down to get work done without distractions. It is usually a task I don’t want to do but need to get done. This also helps when cleaning the house. I put on music and set the timer. The house is clean(er) and I feel so much better. This is called the Pomodoro Technique.

5. Write a To Do List with Time Increments 

I still use an old school journal more than my phone for notes. If I have a busy day ahead, I will make a to do list for the next day. My Business Coach recommended that after each task, I write how much time it should take me. 10 minutes, 15, 30. When I have 10 minutes in the day if my meeting is running late, I can refer back to the list and squeeze in a quick task. This saves me from jumping on pinterest of Instagram to pass the 10 minutes and I am way more productive! 


paris journal and coffee boot cafƩ

Do you want to see more of these or should I just stick to Paris?

The two things that keep me organized and productive each week. I love writing things down on paper.

If you enjoyed this, donā€™t miss Mastering the Art of Sleep and My Morning Routine

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  1. More of this please. I recently read The Morning Miracle and am obsessed with morning routines and how every successful person on the planet does similar morning routines.

  2. Yes please, more of these. They are inspiring. I have gleaned a few hints for myself from this post. Thanks xx
    Working from home really means that a person has to be disciplined. Much easier when I lived on my own, but of course, it helps to have a routine in place, no matter what!

    • My pleasure! Thank you. Working from home requires so much discipline. Coming up with a schedule and carving out productivity time is key. I am so happy to hear you like these posts šŸ™‚

  3. I like tips like this if for no other reason than reinforcement. I’ve read — and tried– most of them at one time or another. I too use the old-school method of a (pretty) journal to jot my to-do lists rather than on my phone. I particularly like this late at night when something comes to mind I want to jot down — I don’t like looking at my phone after about 7:30pm (I still need to get better at estimating the time things take). I recently removed all email accounts from my phone because of a problem with my internet provider, and decided not to set them up again. I find the time in my studio is more productive when I am not tempted to check my email when taking a break.

    • Hi Sonya,

      I am so happy you like them! I will keep them coming šŸ™‚ Thank you so much for reading and commenting.

      Good luck with the unplugging. It is tough but it is so nice to connect face to face.

      xo

  4. Dear Rebecca,
    Pleased to inform that your post has been included in the recent episode of Productivity Articles roundup! Thank you so much for providing these perfect tips for being more productive.
    Please find the entire article "Productivity Articles: Tips for Achieving More! 18/3/18" on https://www.timecamp.com/blog.
    Alex at TC

  5. Love these tips ! Iā€™m finishing my Masterā€™s thesis (and aspire to do more writing after Iā€™m finished) and I often struggle with the distraction of my phone ! Something that has helped me with to do lists is to write everything in my planner that I need to do the next day right before I go to sleep. Helps me not to worry about forgetting anything !

    • Hi! I love it! Yes, the list before sleep is essential. I think it helps clear the mind šŸ™‚

      Good luck with your Master’s thesis!

  6. Can I share another tip of mine? I read somewhere for housework spend 5 mins a day in each room. Most days it’s just tidy make your bed etc but it means your house actually always looks nice. A few times a week you carve out longer for bigger jobs like changing sheets laundry dusting vacuum g etc and it always gets done and us never overwhelming. Xx

  7. Great tips I will be trying some of these tomorrow. I have been doing a 30 day focus challenge with my business mentor. The first 30 days has been incredible. I can’t believe what I have achieved. Message me for more details xx

  8. I loved this. Noting the amount of time a task will take when you put it on your to-do list is a fantastic idea. Using a timer is called the Pomodoro technique because it was named for the tomato-shaped kitchen timer that was used.

    • Marsi, I am so happy you loved this! The time of task really helps and you can realize how full or empty your day is due to the amount of time everything will take.

      Thank you for telling me the technique. I will add it to the post šŸ™‚

  9. Love your suggestions. Completely agree on phone text email etc., I recently (January 1st) started checking my phone three times a day . I was at a luncheon and when I looked around the room virtually every woman had a phone in her hand and I decided I just didn’t want to be that way anymore. It really is working out wonderfully – keep your ideas coming.

    • Patricia! You are so right! I noticed this about my family over the holidays and I was so disappointed we were more focused on what everyone else was doing than spending time with each other.

      I am happy to hear it is working well for you. I will keep the ideas coming šŸ™‚