Twenty-Two Ways to Increase Productivity
In a world where everyone wants to be their own boss, and not many know of us know how, it can be difficult to find ways to set ourselves apart from others. There are ways to make your time work for you and to help you focus in on the task at hand. With so many distractions in today’s world, it’s a wonder we aren’t all walking zombies at this point. Many of these things can help you get ahead, while others are stuck spinning their tires. This blog was carefully written and created to help you succeed in whatever your full-time grind is. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of thinking we are hustling, and then actually working hard, reaching goals, meeting deadlines, and seeing results. A lot of these tips and tricks worked very well for me whenever I was putting together my first poetry novel. Looking back, I realize many of these tools should be shared with those around me, in hopes of helping you meet your goals as well. I will also provide several accredited resources that I currently use or have used in the past, so you can use these resources to your advantage as well.
One. Taking notes by hand and electronically
Taking notes by hand helps me retain the information that I have planned out for whatever project I’m working on. Typing out notes is definitely much easier, but to avoid any risk of ever losing information, it is important to back up those notes and to also record them by hand. Recording things by hand, mapping things out, and creating lists helps me to mentally put my vision into motion. For me, I’ve realized that whenever I have writer’s block, picking up a pen and notebook is one of the quickest ways for me to begin visualizing things again. Being able to have multiple places to access your ideas is also important, so you’re not always on one device. Always make sure to keep your personal items safe; wherever you stay.
Two. Tune into live videos
Tuning into live videos of different entrepreneurs and business owners can be very beneficial. Many of these people go live early in the morning, so it’s easy to tune into what advice they’re willing to give that day. Be very aware of who is a real entrepreneur and who is someone just talking out of their neck. Two major examples of entrepreneurs who go live on Instagram and offer much advice are Ronne Brown and Grant Cardone. You must take the time to do your due diligence by making sure the person has credible clients, active support / fan base, books written, published, and selling. Many people like to hop onto Instagram live and talk but very few of them have the credentials to give advice or the evidence to back it up. Ronne Brown is an example of a woman who has a huge amount of clients that she is working with, that can truly attest to her knowledge about the world of business. If you can’t afford to invest in a business mentor right now, tuning into a live video is one of the best ways to get free advice. There’s no shame in getting a free pep-talk first thing in the morning!
Three. Organization apps
Thankfully, we live in a time where ‘there is an app for that’. There are a variety of apps that allow you to organize your projects but they’re all different. Taking the time to figure out which apps work for you and which ones don’t, is well worth the time and effort. There is also nothing wrong with using multiple apps or using different apps for different projects. Organization is a major key to increasing productivity and decreasing time wasted. If you’re feeling paranoid, you can always either double check the app’s privacy policy, and if you’re still not satisfied, you can always invest in a healthy sized notebook. Most of these apps make it very clear that your content will not be exploited, and even offer to back up your content for free.
Four. Getting enough sleep
Not getting enough sleep at night can definitely slow down your productivity. The average recommended hours of sleep per night is between six to nine hours. For me, working from home can sometimes be a challenge, because if I don’t get enough sleep the night before, I won’t get much work done. Getting enough sleep at night allows you to stay alert and in the moment. It helps your to mentally make the right decisions and to function at maximum capacity. There is also a thing as getting too much sleep as well. Getting too much sleep could possibly make you feel sluggish, it can cause headaches, and you won’t get as much work done because you aren’t thinking clearly. It sounds extremely cliché but it makes a difference whenever you make responsible choices.
Five. Having a detailed hourly schedule
Having a detailed hour to hour schedule is something that works for many business owners that I have talked to. It might seem tedious, or even time consuming, but the benefits of knowing exactly what you need to do for the day are limitless. By keeping track of what you do during every hour, you are able to maintain being organized. This is a sure way to make sure you stay on track throughout the day and that no time is wasted whatsoever. Setting alarms, reminders, and timers are great when it comes to keeping track of time. You can also ask Siri and Alexa for assistance, because that is what they’re programmed to do. You can set multiple timers and reminders with both assistants, instead of manually scheduling them all by hand.
Six. Go for walk
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or if you’re unable to think, going for a walk is an easy and cheap way to clear your mind. Relaxing and enjoying the scenery before you may even invoke some type of inspiration. Changing up the scene and taking in fresh air is never a bad thing. It might be helpful to call a friend and chat or go out for lunch. Being outside helps us snap back into reality; by exposing ourselves to the elements, we come back to where we are and what we’re doing. This is one of my favorite things to do whenever I feel like I’m experiencing writer’s block or whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed.
Seven. Take a break and jam out
Taking some time to step back and put in your headphones is one of my top five favorite things to do. Creating certain playlists on Spotify or Tidal depending on your mood, can help you get into your zone. Once you find your zone, your are simply unstoppable as far as productivity. It’s helpful to create different playlists for different moods and events. You might’ve created a playlist for whenever you get into the gym, but that same playlist might also help you get into productivity mode. As hard as we often work, it’s important to take a break. We have to take care of ourselves and ensure that we are putting forth our best efforts.
Eight. Indulge in high-protein foods
High protein foods are one of the greatest ways to increase your energy. Some of the hottest esports streamers have to sit at a computer or gaming system for several hours. Some of these gamers stream for twelve hours or longer. It seems highly impossible to sit and be productive for that long, but in order to make money and fulfill their contracts, these gamers must endure those conditions. One thing that many gamers talk about is high-protein foods. It allows them to remain alert without zoning out, falling asleep, or feeling sluggish after a few hours. Granted, they are allowed to take bathroom breaks, but beyond that, almost all of them end up eating at their computer while they are gaming. There are so many different ways to access protein whether it be animal-based or plant-based, that you can take your pick at either one. Many of these gamers and highly productive associates can agree that consuming high amounts of protein can be more effective than energy drinks.
Nine. Coffee / Tea
Coffee (or caffeine) is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world, and yes it is a drug. There are so many variations of coffee, that it is almost impossible to not find something which works for you. Coffee is simply a life-preserver at least and it makes you feel great for a short amount of time. The downside of coffee is that it can possibly increase your anxiety, it can make you crash, or even worse, it can make you sluggish. An alternative to this highly addictive phenomena is tea. There are many types of tea which also contain caffeine. Establishing a tea routine (where you drink different teas at different times or for different reasons), can be beneficial. Teas contain many helpful and soothing herbs that naturally increase or decrease chemicals within our body. Finding whether you’re a coffee person or a tea person doesn’t take long, and it doesn’t really matter, because in the end we’re all still people.
Ten. Find your muse
For those who are unsure of the definition, finding your muse is similar to finding your source of inspiration. Many times people try to use scrolling through Instagram as a way of doing this, but it can be very tricky and can lead to time wasted. A great way to finding your muse is to look through different categories on either Pinterest or possibly Tumblr. Pinterest is designed to group things into categories. The entire experience of Pinterest is to group things into categories, so that more relatable content appears pertaining to what you want to see, in specific categories. If you’re looking for inspiration in a specific niché or category, you can simply type it in and those things will pop up immediately. In contrast, when trying to explore Instagram, you would have to surf through an endless amount of hashtags and the content may still be unrelated to what you’re looking for.
Eleven. Dateless planners
Investing into a dateless planner is a sure way to improve your quality of work. Dateless planners are in fact dateless, so you can physically write in the date pertaining to your needs. Let’s say your slack off for a month, and you forget to use your planner for organization… You can pick up immediately the next month, without wasting pages in your planner. You can simply begin with the month you are currently on, and go from there. Dateless planners also contain stickers to keep you organized and motivated throughout the weeks, and they also carry task and to-do lists. Dateless is the way to go, because it doesn’t depend on the year or the month you decide to go into business, your planner will adapt to you and work for you. The key to staying productive is to allow time to work for you. By investing in these resources whenever you’re ready to, you can put yourself on the fast-track to success.
Twelve. Networking events
Attending events in your category and within your niché is great way to draw inspiration and possibly find your muse. Connecting with other people who share the same interests as you is also great. If you’re more of an introvert and you’d rather not be in public, there are also several webinars hosted online by business owners, but chances are the webinar isn’t free. There is also a slight chance that the networking event isn’t free, but paying a small cover charge is nothing compared to paying for an entire online class. Forcing yourself to get out and connect with people is a major way to grow your brand or business. Networking events are more laid back, which make this much easier to make friends and follow each other on social media. Always carry your business cards on you, whether it be in your purse or wallet. You never know who your next client could be.
Thirteen. Follow people in your niché
Following people in your niché is a way of building your own audience and engagement. Building relationships, sharing each other’s content, or even collaborating on projects are all recipes for boosting your own brand. Working with others might seem difficult, but when you are well established with who you and what you stand for, collaboration can be really fun. Sharing your experiences and thoughts with another can also help remind you that you aren’t alone in this journey, and that there are other people in your field that can help you. It’s important to not see others as competition, but as associates. Whenever we work together, we are far more likely to succeed than whenever we work alone.
Fourteen. Use social media with a purpose
As mentioned before, it is very easy to fall into the depths of social media. Social media is an endless black hole of pictures and content, so it is important to have a specific purpose to using social media. Have clear goals set for your social media use. For example, if you need to use social media, decide what you’re going to do specifically. Decide if your doing to post to your timeline or story, and exactly what you’re going to post on both beforehand. There isn’t anything wrong with checking your notifications, because they are important. Responding to comments, giving shoutouts, and showing support is more than necessary for a good social media presence. There isn’t anything wrong with showing your presence, but it’s very easy to begin scrolling as minutes turn to hours.
Fifteen. Snack lightly throughout the day
Snacking throughout the day has been scientifically proven to boost your energy. Instead of indulging in three large meals, it is much easier to snack throughout the day without feeling fatigued or sluggish after eating. Popcorn is a great snack with very few calories. Skinny Pop is a great product that has very few calories. You can snack easily without adding all of the butter and salt. Mineral water is another option for drinks if you’re wanting to cut down on soda but you’re tired of water. Many people are afraid of snacking, because snacking on the wrong things is not healthy. Snacking on healthy foods is great for you and can allow you to better focus on whatever you have planned for your busy day. Being mindful and consistent is very important.
Sixteen. Stay hydrated
Whether it’s water or gatorade, staying hydrated is key to remaining productive throughout the day. The human body requires a lot of water to function at full capacity. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the middle of a fierce workout or if you’ve been sitting at your desk all day, your body needs water to function. As mentioned before, taking care of yourself is recommended above all else. If you’re pressed for time, you can make smoothies or drink a protein shake. Both are great ways to take in as many nutrients as possible, while also making food fun and delicious.
Seventeen. Read about who inspires you
Reading about those who’ve become extremely successful in their field is a significantly great use of your time. This can also be cheaper than investing into webinars or hiring a mentor for the time being. Thanks to Kindle and ebooks, it’s a lot cheaper to buy electronic books if you are unable to purchase paperback copies. Those who’ve made it before us can teach us a lot, and can possibly save us a lot of trial and error on our journey. Finding what works for them can possibly work for us as well. Without copying, we can learn their methods and approaches to different situations in order to get a better understanding of how to reach our own audience.
Eighteen. Send follow up emails
Sending follow up emails can save you a lot of headache in the long run. Sometimes people don’t check their emails as often as they need to, sometimes people forget to respond, and sometimes people simply aren’t interested. Sending a follow up email can possibly eliminate some of the ‘what-if’ factors. Follow up emails are usually sent between two to four days after the original email has been sent. Rather than blowing up the person’s email, it is much more considerate to give the client an ample amount of time to think about whether or not they will be needing your services. Always remember to let them know that if they have any questions to contact you, and don’t forget to offer several contact options!
Nineteen. Attend conferences in your field
Attending conferences is a more formal but fun way to get to hear speakers and listen to others tell their stories. Conferences can be a little more on the pricey side, but it is well worth the amount of information that you will be receiving during your time there. Make sure to bring plenty of notebooks, business cards, and storage on your cell phone. It could very well be an experience of a lifetime, and you can possibly hear something that you would’ve never heard before. Being in a room with so many people who all have different experiences can really be life-changing and inspiring. Hearing what worked and what didn’t work for them can also help you. Be sure to listen more than you speak, so that you don’t come off as self-centered. It’s just as important for you to hear their story as it is for you to tell yours.
Twenty. Use Doordash / Postmates
Delivery apps can definitely be abused if not used with responsibility. These apps were created and designed to make out lives easier. If you’re in a pinch to finish up a project and your don’t have enough time to cook or go out, you can always order in. While making sure to tip well, these apps can make sure you have good food very fast. Taking care of yourself comes before anything else. There are ways to make your life easier, and using this resource is one way to do so. Whenever you use these apps, you are actually helping someone out by giving them a job to do as well. Doordash has hundreds of thousands of great reviews and their service is amazing; it’s definitely worth a try.
Twenty-One. Instrumental music
Listening to music without the words can eliminate confusion while multitasking. Sometimes we can get lyrics confused with whatever we’re writing or typing, and that itself can be disastrous. Whenever we get into our zone, the last thing we need is a distraction. Sometimes listening to classical music or uptempo instrumental music can also be very soothing. Listening to rap music or heavy metal can confuse our working minds, and cause us to mix up words or even distract us from what we’re doing. If you’re doing something other than writing or typing, this music might be helpful to you. Doing any type of tedious work that involves much concentration requires music that doesn’t add stress to whatever we’re doing. This is one way to enjoy listening to music without decreasing our productivity.
Twenty-Two. Invest in a mentor
Nothing can compare to the amount of influence a mentor has on someone in business. Investing in mentors can be costly, but the payoff is completely inevitable. Certified mentors are trained specifically to help you achieve your goals in a way that works for you. As mentioned before, it is your job to do your due diligence in making sure the person is certified to mentor anyone. By checking their references, clientele, and reviews, you can make sure the person is credible and safe to work with. Mentors can provide advice in person and on the go whenever you need them. Depending on who you choose to work with, that mentor may even invite you out to events that they may be attending. Building a circle of people you can trust and ask for advice or support from is extremely helpful. Working alone can sometimes be overbearing, so it’s great to have others to go to whenever things become difficult.
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