We’ve all been there. Days you don’t want to tackle the “To Do” list, right? I used to think it was easier when I was working full-time and juggling my DS business on nights and weekends. I knew I only had a limited about of time to be productive before I crashed for the night. I was focused and had a plan.
Now I work from home full time and hubby works the swing shift. It is easy to blow off at least part of the day till he goes to work, hanging out and ignoring my business completely. I have learned (the hard way) I won’t achieve my goals this way. When I worked at home as a grant writer, it was easier because there were deadlines. Belinda went to school, I worked. Of course some would say I always worked. I had lots of deadlines and a passion in my soul to make a difference. Now to use some of those same tricks in my DS business at home.
Having health issues and working at home full time, some days I need an extra little push in the right direction to get me going. What about you? Maybe you are crazy busy and you want to learn how to be more productive so you can get back on track with your goals. Here are some tips which might help you….
#1 – Figure out the feelings.
I’m great at stuffing them so this one is sometimes tough for me. Are you feeling burnt out? Are you dreading one (or more!) of the tasks on your To Do list? Do you lack inspiration? Do you over analyze everything so you suffer from “Analysis Paralysis?”. The truth is by figuring out why you are feeling the way you are, you can acknowledge it and then work to solve it. Change up the routine. Have an impromptu dance party in the living room to get the juices flowing.
#2 Accomplish Something – ANYTHING – First Thing In The Morning
I’m usually up and in my office for by 7AM. I have a checklist of daily things I have to get done a a bare minimum. This gets the ball rolling for me. For you, it can be a simple task like cleaning up the kitchen while enjoying your morning coffee. On rough days, making the bed is my one accomplishment. Pick one thing each morning and accomplish it. Once you are done, spend a moment enjoying how it feels to have completed the task.
#3 Adjust your Morning Routine
Start your morning off on the right foot so you have a productive mindset. Be sure you eat something healthy with some protein in it to start your day off right. I’m not a big breakfast person but grabbing a hard boiled egg with my coffee helps. While you’re enjoying a healthy breakfast option, start writing down your priority list. For me, I take the top 3 things I need to do and get them done! You may want to start with the easiest task and work up to the more difficult ones. When you use preparing a to-do list based on priority levels as part of your morning routine, you’ll naturally start to have a more productive day.
#4 Allow Breaks during the Day
I’m learning when I take breaks during the day, I am more productive. It’s okay to take breaks throughout your day, especially if you have a heavy workload. Breaks like 15 – 30 minutes not 2 – 3 hours. Once you finish a task, reward yourself. Take a break. Grab a snack. Put on some music and dance around. By giving yourself rewards (breaks) when a task is completed you will maintain your confidence and motivation. It’s great to take a break in between tasks because it helps transition your mind from one priority item to another. Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a regular lunch break each day. Get away from the office. Clear your head. You will be amazed at how much you get accomplished.
#5 Manage Your Distractions
There are LOTS of distractions when we work from home BUT the biggest distraction is social media. The “just want to check one thing” on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram then it is 3 hours later and nothing has gotten done. I’ve even used the excuse of “I’m working on my business”! I need to remind myself, if I was working for someone else, I wouldn’t be able to take personal calls or texts, so why do I do it during my business hours? Schedule your social media time so you can still maintain your online presence without having to be logged in at all times.
It is possible to have a more productive day – every day. When you practice these tips, you will create habits which will lead to success! What is your best tip for having a productive day?
Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!
Hope Wissel 