My Top 3 Productivity Tools
With all the distractions that come with our phones, busy lives and schedules, it can sometimes feel like we are swimming in To-Dos. It doesn’t feel good to drop balls or let people down, and it also doesn’t feel good to let ourselves down. Lack of sleep and extra stress can also add to that feeling of overwhelm.
So without further ado, here are my TOP THREE productivity tools that I have been finding super helpful in my daily life. I hope you do too!
Assign Tasks to Specific Days of the Week
Dedicating certain tasks to specific days takes the pressure off of your working memory by making them simple habits rather than tasks we have to remember.
I schedule out all my personal routine and business tasks so that I never forget them. This also helps me space out the workload so that one day doesn’t become more overwhelming than another.
For example, if your goal is to clean more regularly, you could assign laundry to Tuesdays. Vacuuming might be on Thursdays, and changing the sheets on Mondays.
Sticky Note Task List Strategy for Each Day of the Week
For tasks that change from week to week, I like to use a sticky note planning method. Here’s how it works.
At the beginning of the week, I set up a sticky note for each day of the week ahead. Then I write my top 5 things I want to accomplish each day on each sticky.
Here’s an example of a typical day: Work out, pray, journal, NAPO (the National Association of Professional Organizers, a non-profit I volunteer for) and budget. These are things that I really want to either prioritize or must get done.
When I complete a task, I physically cross it off. The act of crossing something off your list releases a little hit of dopamine (that feel-good chemical in the brain), which reinforces the habit and provides momentum to keep going.
Sometimes our brains can get overloaded and then we start thinking of ALL the stuff we need to get done and it's super overwhelming and stressful! This method provides me with a roadmap to stay on track.
Using these as a guide can help us keep reasonable expectations about what we actually have time for, and to prioritize the things that really matter to us.
If you are having a hard time keeping it to five, start a master list of to-dos and brain dump everything that comes to mind. Doing this can help you stay on track instead of feeling like you are constantly swimming in to-dos. You got this!
The Year at a Glance Calendar
I don’t know about you, but personally, I can go a long time before I remember to take a vacation.
It’s not intentional. As a busy solopreneur, I get caught up in the day-to-day work of serving my clients, spending time with my family and church community, and growing my business.
But the truth is…everyone needs a vacation! Even this girl.
And when you think about it, taking time off is related to personal productivity. It’s the ability to look ahead and prioritize our needs and responsibilities. And it’s very important to take mental and physical health breaks, especially when your job is both physically and emotionally demanding.
Plus, the last few years has taught me just how important certain special people are in my life, so I now prioritize and plan time with those I love in advance.
In the interest of my newfound goal of taking time off, I had to look at the source. For me, it’s simply that I lose track of time!
I like to use a year calendar to visually see the future and plan ahead. That way, I can see how much time has passed, what I need to prioritize next, and what events are upcoming.
Some of the Benefits of a Year-at-a-Glance Calendar are:
It helps you to financially budget for upcoming things you like to do.
Gives you a visual reminder of something you are looking forward to.
Helps you to prioritize what is important to you.
Sometimes the months can fly by. Having more interaction with something physical can make time feel more concrete, help us to slow down, and better see where we’re at… right here and now.
If you’d like to start using a Yearly Calendar to keep yourself on track, here’s a Yearly Wall Calendar I like.
Happy Productivity,
