Please share with me the productivity tips / tricks / changes habits (however small) that have helped you!

[peachyandkeen]

Just that!

What have you implemented in your life / what changes have you made / what have you trialled but no longer do that has helped with productivity? However small.

E.g things like switching phone off during work hours, only checking email at certain times, task batching, calendar blocking, ANYTHING - ALL OF IT - HIT ME!

@Orangeinmybluelightcup

Pomodoro app. I read about it on here last week and am finding it helps!

YES - this is a good one. I use a modified version of the pomodoro technique which is work for one hour and then break for 10 mins, as I find a 5 minute break far too short to allow a mental rest AND go to the loo / make a cup of tea etc.

Great ideas. Where do I get a husband like this please?

Honestly? No fucking clue it just sort if happened. I never underestimate how much easier this makes my life.

[quote UsernameNotAvailableApparently]I asked something similar recently as was in a productivity slump and someone shared this which has been a LIFESAVER
theantiburnoutclub.com/how-to-get-motivated-to-do-anything-14-ways-to-get-and-stay-motivated/[/quote]
This looks very interesting!

Put EVERYTHING I need to do on a To Do list - then I don't have to hold it in my head. I use ToDoist and have it on my phone and computer. I use it for both work and home stuff - I add stuff to a general inbox throughout the day anything sitting there once a day, in the morning.

Pick your battles.

Good enough is good enough. Don't let perfection be your enemy.

Think about WHY you are doing something - what's the aim you are trying to achieve, is this task meeting that aim or is it just pointless? If the latter, don't do it.

Try and keep my inbox empty (once every day or two) - then I don't stress about what could be lurking in there. Either action the email immediately where possible, or put it on the to do list.

See when letters/forms come from school - just do the reply or diary note there and then. Some of my mum-friends spend so much time worrying about late replies, save yourself the stress!

Online food shopping. Once a week if you have a large fridge, twice if not. Meal plan takes 10 mins, shop takes 15 mins, done.

Capitalise on your energy bursts.

Sometimes I have such a hectic day at work that I have this adrenaline buzz that carries me through til 9pm so I just jump on it and keep going

It's not often but I do see it when it happens and really try and make the most of it.

I also dont sit on the sofa between morning cuppa at 7.30 and evening meal at 7.30 Monday-Friday.

Even now, Mumsnetting, I just lean at the kitchen counter. If I sit down......well.....

I stopped putting things in drawers and store them in those shoe holders you hang on doors. Makes it much easier to find stuff. I bought loads of pens, bobbles, masks, tape measures, secateurs, scissors....anything I tend to put down and lose and put them in each room in these door storage things. I organise my seeds and plant instructions in these things too with a pocket for each month.
I try to keep a small notebook in my pocket so I can note things as I think of them.

I do small quick tasks ASAP. This gets them off 'the list' and gives me a sense of satisfaction. Then I can give full concentration to bigger tasks that will take longer without and distractions (or excuses!)

Couple of things are key for me:

1. I have one long list of tasks, and once a week I sit down and assign one task per day across the week in my diary. No more than 1 because these are top of the general day to day. At the start of a new month, I make a new list, hopefully without too much carried forward.

1. At the point my mum asked me to take over help with running her house too, I turned to google calendar. We made a list of everything from window cleaning to car insurance renewal to prescription repeat orders, and I put everything into a shared calendar with appropriate reminders and repeats. I then lined up any of the tasks where I have to do the same thing, so I can book her boiler service and my boiler service together in one action, for example, likewise pet vaccinations, broadband contracts etc etc.

Once a week I sit down with my mum and we look ahead at the week "it looks like it's almost time to order your prescriptions, what do you need? The window cleaner's due to come this week, do you have cash already?" She feels much calmer knowing she doesn't have to remember everything - and so do I In theory, other family members also have access so can chip in with any jobs coming up.

Home related - now buy almost all storable food/ cleaning stuff twice per year. Means the rest of the year food shopping is far more leisurely and quicker as only buying ‘fresh’.

Do one thing at a time and finish it (work and home). I don't mean leave emptying the dishwasher until you have cooked dinner, but if you are cleaning the bathroom then clean it, don't wander off and start doing something else. If you can finish two things in the same time then do.

Realistically, at work I generally set one thing I want to do in the day and fit it round meetings and ad hoc items but get take the view that it is better to finish one thing than have three things at 80 percent.

Prioritising those things into the right order...well that's a skill on its own!

I have 2 tips:

1: If something can be done in 2 minutes or less, just do it. You'll be surprised at how many tasks are actually that quick (for example, emptying 5 small bins from around the house into the large bin from the kitchen, and taking it outside).

2: Look up the Bullet Journal technique (especially if you're a fan of notebooks/stationery like I am). It's a system for having a total brain dump into a notebook and then scheduling things out to months, weeks and days. You can adjust the system to whatever works for you. I've been using it for about 6 years and I love the flexibility and creativity it allows. Plus I'm getting loads of things ticked off my big list It's fun!

Workwise I always have an A4 notebook. To do lists go at the back and when the page is full it is torn out and a new started. Like a PP there are often tasks that are quicker to do than to rewrite. Urgent tasks are written in red, carried forward tasks in green and everything else in pencil so I can see what needs to be done quickly. The rest of the book, working from the front, is for making notes as I go along -phone calls, meetings, ideas, information etc. It means I always know where everything is written and I never need to scrabble around amongst bits of paper.

Homewise I use the Moleskine diary with a week on one side and a ruled page on the other - i can then write relevant information down on the page next to an appointment etc or paperclip a letter etc against the relevant week.

I started writing everything down on my to do list, even the things I do anyway, and it has helped me understand time better. I tend to either over schedule, or put things off that I think I don’t have time for. This is helping because I can see what’s taking up my time.

I now procrastinate strategically. I read that people with adhd sometimes procrastinate to generate a head of steam to power through a job and it was a lightbulb moment for me. My energy levels can be uneven, and just being mindful of how I’m feeling has helped. I’m trying not to be down in myself about laziness/irresponsibility but actually figure out why I do/don’t do things and work with my brain instead of again at it.

I keep to do lists for recurring events, notes for what to expect on particular months (hidden expenses/ the futility of scheduling anything in June, etc)

@londonmummy1966

Workwise I always have an A4 notebook. To do lists go at the back and when the page is full it is torn out and a new started. Like a PP there are often tasks that are quicker to do than to rewrite. Urgent tasks are written in red, carried forward tasks in green and everything else in pencil so I can see what needs to be done quickly. The rest of the book, working from the front, is for making notes as I go along -phone calls, meetings, ideas, information etc. It means I always know where everything is written and I never need to scrabble around amongst bits of paper.

Homewise I use the Moleskine diary with a week on one side and a ruled page on the other - i can then write relevant information down on the page next to an appointment etc or paperclip a letter etc against the relevant week.

Ok - you had me at moleskin. I also have this diary (the XL one) and its excellent.

What notebook to you use @londonmummy1966 - stationary enthusiast over here

*stationery

I do whatever I'm dreading that day first. Gets it done and removes most of the point of further procrastination.

@Hollyhocksarenotmessy

I do whatever I'm dreading that day first. Gets it done and removes most of the point of further procrastination.

Otherwise known as 'eat the frog'! I mean I know its sensible but I find it SO hard.

Only touch something once - if you have it in your hands and know where it needs to go then do it.

All general washing goes straight into the machine and it gets washed when it's full. Save whites elsewhere.

10 minute tidies - 19 mins per room, with music, on a timer.

Obvs 10 mins not 19...

It's so tough though

I discovered the pomodoro technique a few years ago and it revolutionised the way I work. I lack focus and procrastinate to the extreme without it but with it I'm a focused, driven, career machine. Still working on my home life but I'm happy. I did watch a thing on skillshare a few weeks ago about discipline that was very insightful.

Yes pomodoro is brilliant

I don’t think the Pomodoro technique works for all situations. I was at a seminar by some productivity person who advised that it usually takes 15 mins before you really start to concentrate on a large piece of work. If the phone rings or email pings and you break concentration you almost have to start again with settling in to the work. Only after the first 15 mins are you truly concentrating and working effectively, ie you are in the zone and again your concentration should not be broken.

I think Pomodoro is fine for lots of little bits of work that need done but anything big needs a much longer block of time and most importantly - no distractions.

@SlatternIsMyMiddleName

I don’t think the Pomodoro technique works for all situations. I was at a seminar by some productivity person who advised that it usually takes 15 mins before you really start to concentrate on a large piece of work. If the phone rings or email pings and you break concentration you almost have to start again with settling in to the work. Only after the first 15 mins are you truly concentrating and working effectively, ie you are in the zone and again your concentration should not be broken.

I think Pomodoro is fine for lots of little bits of work that need done but anything big needs a much longer block of time and most importantly - no distractions.

Agree - I used a modified version which is work for one hour and break for 10 mins. Works well for me, but every person and every situation different of course.

Any more for any more?