Productivity 101

Over the last month and a half I have fallen into a vicious cycle of ‘I’ll do that tomorrow, I deserve a break’. Which has resulted in me becoming incredibly unproductive. As someone who considers herself a queen of productivity – it has been hard to come to terms with. So, over the last couple weeks I have been adjusting my routine and changing some habits to return to my most productive self.

Since implementing these tips into my day I have seen major improvements in the amount of work I have been able to get done and how I feel.

So, grab your notebooks ladies and gentlemen. It is time for a lesson in productivity.

Start your day by making your bed.

A speech done by US navy admiral, William H McRaven, outlines the importance of making your bed in the morning stating “if you want to change the world, start by making your bed.” He goes on to explain how if you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day and how by completing this task you will receive a small sense of pride. This will then encourage you to complete the following tasks of the day, as you crave that same sense of pride.

Our bodies crave that hit of dopamine which our brain releases when we accomplish something that makes us feel good. It affects many different parts of our behaviour, including our motivation, attention span and ability to learn.

At the end of the day, even if it has been the worst day ever with little to no dopamine or serotonin released, at least your bed is made.

Have a routine.

A morning routine is the key to a successful day. Every night I write down exactly what I want to complete in the morning before I start my day. By doing this I wake up each morning with an idea of how my day will look and the work I have to do.

Put away the phone.

In this day and age it is pretty hard to go an extended period of time without your phone, especially if you are working from home. But sometimes our phones act more as distractions rather than tools.

When I have something that I know has to be completed by a certain time I put my phone away for the period of time I am working on that certain task.

Like I mentioned before our bodies want that release of dopamine, which is what motivated us to do certain things. We have become incredibly reliant on our phones (and what is on our phones) during isolation, as we have been very limited as to what we can do. Therefore, in the past 6 months our brains have recognised phones or other technology as a source of dopamine.

Let me walk you through it:

Put your phone away whilst you’re working. This way your brain will release dopamine when you’ve completed a task instead of when a notification bell goes off.

Handwritten to do lists.

When writing notes by hand you develop a stronger understanding of the task than by typing it. It forces our brains to engage with the information, which makes us more likely to remember things. I make my to-do lists more colourful, as I am more likely to look at the list when it’s visually appealing or fun. When writing your to-do list add every task, work related or personal, that you are aiming to accomplish that day. You will feel more satisfaction with yourself if there are 10 tasks crossed off the list rather than 3. This way you are aware of everything you must accomplish that day.

Push through and remember your goals.

It is so easy to become unmotivated and have no desire to do anything productive whatsoever. When this happens it is important to remember what you are working towards. At the end of the day you will feel more accomplished and satisfied with yourself if you completed what you set out to.

Reward yourself.

To incentivise productivity I recommend giving yourself a reward every time you complete a task. This can be anything from a snack, coffee or going for a walk. This will encourage productivity within your day as you are more likely to do a task if you get something in return.

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Let’s all become our most productive self before the new year!

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