A Beginner’s Guide to Productivity
Productivity. It’s a habit we all strive to master, yet it’s so elusive. I’ve watched and read countless YouTube/blogs about productivity hacks, and I’ve found some more valuable than others.
Here are my top suggestions for taking the first step towards becoming more productive.
Identify Your Why
Before you start trying any techniques, I would challenge you to examine your reasons for improving your productivity. Ask yourself the following: why do I want to become more productive? Perhaps you want to make more time for loved ones? Maybe you hate the unaccomplished feeling you get at the end of the day when you’ve done nothing but waste time scrolling Facebook?
Regardless of your response, you want to keep that question and answer close to you throughout the process. It’s easy for us to make plans when we feel motivated. However, as the legendary boxer, Mike Tyson puts it, “everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth.” So, when life strikes you, your why must be ready to be called on to propel you past any fatigue or self-doubt you’re facing at the moment.
Hold Yourself Accountable
Having a way to hold yourself accountable is essential. To overcome the urge to abandon your plans to be more productive, I suggest using the Accountability Mirror.
Recently, I finished reading Can’t Hurt Me by former Navy Seal David Goggins. In the book, Goggins poses the challenge of using a mirror to tag post-it notes that detail an area you want to improve.
This strategy is very beneficial, especially in the early stages of becoming more productive. There’s something very intimidating about looking yourself in the mirror every day and having to take on the goals you’ve already set. It’s added pressure that motivates you because you don’t want to face yourself at the end of the day if you know you didn’t give your best effort.
Productivity Methods
Now that we broke down the psychology behind developing your productivity, let’s get into some tools. Here are a couple that I’ve found to be helpful:
1.) Use a Digital Task Manager
A task management system houses and organizes all your responsibilities. There are a ton of useful task management apps that you can have, ranging from a simple paper to-do list or digital task managers like Notion or Trello. I recommend getting a digital app and downloading it to your phone. By doing this, you can always have the app on call when you need it. The same goes for Google Calendar.
2.) Use Google Calendar
Yes, there’s a difference between a calendar and a task management system. You use a task management system to organize your tasks. On the other hand, you use a calendar to allocate time. For example, if you have a 9–5 job and workout for two hours after work, you would block out those times, so you know that’s where your time is dedicated. You use a task manager to know what should get done within that time frame.
3.) Use the Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method. The technique works by blocking out a certain amount of time where you work intensely, followed by a short break. Traditionally, the method is done by setting a time block of 25 minutes, followed by a five-minute break. Repeat this 4–5 times, then take a 25–30 minute break. You can always change the time to whatever works best for you! This technique can be useful in maintaining efficient production throughout work sessions.
In Conclusion
These methods can be beneficial in building the mental fortitude required to stay persistent and have the tools necessary to improve productivity!
