How to try to be productive

Being productive is always something that everyone is trying to adopt in their daily life. It’s not easy to keep it up for long periods, especially in this time, this year and all the chaos it brought. However, I’m going to tell you my way of trying to stay on track and be more productive. And from the title you see that i added the "try" because that's all you need to do sometimes.

Tips #1 plan, plan and plan.

This is basically the first thing anyone can tell you in the course of productive 101 haha. They tell you to write lists of your tasks and organize your day. And surprise, surprise … It WORKS!!

I have been keeping an agenda for I think 5 years now and I can’t live without it. I have tried several systems of planning, nothing stuck with me until I was suggested the Bullet Journal Method, and since then it has become my best friend (Sorry Sam :P).

Writing out your tasks and what you need to do, where you need to go, what classes your have… everything you can think of concerning your day, makes it more concrete and easier to follow and accomplish. it sets an organized schedule and organize your mind.

Tip #2 Priorities and deadlines

When you set your goals for the day, set priorities. Decide what you have to do and what you need to accomplish. Write them down and try to highlight the important ones. me, I try to scratch off the easy stuff first because when I see that I've done stuff fast however small they are, it gives me energy to continue on that pace. But for others, sometimes they feel like they have to get done with the big one first to take away the burden. Okay sometimes I also do that. Come on it depends on my mood that day hahah.

Another thing to consider is to add deadlines, whether they are actual deadlines of things or deadlines you put for yourself. When you put yourself deadline to do stuff, it indirectly prompts you to follow that and accomplish before the time you set. It can be a good tactic to trick yourself into being productive. This is one of the times that it's allowed to trick yourself into doing something haha.

Tip #4 organize your space

You can’t believe how much having an organized and tidy space can lift up your productivity. Imagine sitting on your desk, wanting to work or study but there are piles of random paper next to your and piles of clothes behind you, and just random clutter all around you. Can you focus? (if you answer yes, please don’t speak to me … no I'm kidding :P)

But really when you have everything in place and you are not surrounded by random distracting things, you can concentrate easier. You don’t have to worry about finishing your task at hand and tidying after. When you have an organized space you’ll have an organized mind.

Just wake up, tidy your space and start checking stuff off your list smoothly.

 

Tip #5 (and the most fun) do a brain dump

A few years ago, I came upon this technique that frees your mind. Literally. It’s similar to brainstorming, but brain dump is more general and considers every single thing in your mind and not just letting out the ideas.

Grab a pen and paper (yes you can use your laptop but I swear actually writing it out on a paper has more of an effect), and start writing everything that comes to your mind. They don’t have to be complete phrases. They can be single word, opinions, whatever way that lets them out of your head onto the paper. They can also be any kind of thought; tasks, feelings, people, relationship, objects, ideas.. literally anything you’re currently thinking of or is on your mind that day.

After you're done, get on with your day, start doing what you set out to do that day. Notice how it feels kind of freer and you can focus more on the task at hand while not distracted by random thoughts.

But then again, it’s okay at times to not feel like doing anything and spend your day reading a book or binge watching a tv show. Listen to your body, listen to your mind.

Until next time,

Salam!