Productivity Archives

Work From Home? How To Make Your Morning More Productive

10148216866_4ecbdef55d_z When you have a traditional 9-5, it’s easy to have a productive morning. You settle into a routine. Wake up, shower, breakfast, brush teeth, get dressed, drive to work, check emails, and get started with your day. When working from home, it can be harder to get into a routine. You don’t have to shower or get dressed, and the only guidelines you have for the day are deadlines (which are often self-imposed).

It takes practice and discipline to avoid the temptation of a mid-day nap, or a two hour Netflix break. Add in family, kids, pets, and household chores and it becomes super difficult to stay focused! For tips on becoming more productive in the morning and making the most of your time, check out this post by Lexi at Glitter Inc.:

-Start with coffee and breakfast- caffeine and brain food will wake you up and get your brain working for the day.

-If you have kids, get the little ones situated- get them to school, or in front of some activity that will keep them busy.

-Get one big task done- if you’re a blogger, write a post immediately and get it published!

-THEN check your email.

-Tackle social media/scheduling after. Find an order of doing tasks that works for you, then stick to it!

Photo Credit: Sam Howzit

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Time Management Life Hacks

by Shakadoo Leave a Comment

tictac I think that learning to manage your time effectively is the true sign of adulthood and maturity. The younger I was, the more scatterbrained I was, and the more I procrastinated on things. I still do it from time to time, but I’m getting better.

Time management skills are especially essential for anyone who works from home. There are so many distractions in the home- kids, TV, food, pets- the list goes on. When you work a normal 9-5 in an office or other workspace, you just get up, go to work, get the work done, and come home. For work-from-homers, there are no designated work spaces or work times. You have to create them yourself. For tips on becoming better at managing your time, check out this post by Celestine Chua at Lifehack:

-Create a plan for each day the night before

-Set time limits for tasks

-Use a planner, calendar, or phone app to plan and mark your deadlines clearly

-Know when to say “no”. (In my experience, there are some people who think that working from home= unemployed with endless free time. They try to make plans with you during work hours. While you can be more flexible, no one wants to catch up on work they missed at 1 am).

-Focus on one thing at a time- close all apps and tabs that are not directly related to what you’re working on. Turn off your phone if you can.

Photo Credit: Daniel Novta

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Friday Fun Video: Productivity Tips For Work At Homers

by Shakadoo Leave a Comment

These are some great ideas for people who may have trouble staying on task.

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Apps For People With Poor Time Management

by Kathy T.

That would be me. I’m a terrible procrastinator, and tend to find a million ways to be super un-productive for my entire day. I did just get a new app called Habitica, which is great for forming new habits and kicking bad ones (like meeting deadlines, working out, quitting smoking, or literally anything you want to achieve). I like it because it’s set up as a video game. Every time you check off something from your to-do list or your good habits list, you get experience points and can level up. It’s super fun (and free on the App Store)! If that’s not your style, check out this post by Laura at I Heart Planners for more apps that will keep you organized:

Cozi (free)- It has a calendar, journal, to do lists, and shopping lists.

iTrackmyTime (free). This is a very simple, clean, and well designed app for tracking your time.

Any.DO (free). This to do app is amazing! I’ve tried a lot of to do apps and this is the best free one.

30/30 (free). This is really great app to help you stay focused and on task

Photo Credit: Mark Morgan

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Time Management For Writers

by Kathy T.

I’m a writer, both professionally and just for fun. I know that some writers are extremely disciplined- they schedule a time for writing every day, edit as they go, and meet certain word count quotas. MOST writers, however, are the opposite (including me). We write when inspiration strikes. Sometimes, we write pages and pages at once. Other times, we go weeks without a word. Procrastination and laziness are demons that writers must conquer, and it’s hard for creative minds. If you are a blogger, freelance writer, or aspiring author, read these productivity tips by Ali Luke at The Write Life:

-Turn off your internet connection

-Write down your intention before you begin, eg- “I will finish chapter 3 of my novel,” or “I will update the About section on my blog”.

-Sit quietly for three minutes before starting

-Set a timer and write, without stopping, until it goes off.

-Take (SCHEDULED) breaks

Photo Credit: Eelke

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The Weekend Is The Key To A More Productive Monday

by Kathy T.

When working from home, there is a constant battle between productivity and distraction going on. However, with preparation on Sunday, you can make Monday way easier and much less work. These weekend productivity tips by Shannon Rosenberg at Buzzfeed are great for any professional, but are perfect for work from homers:

-Write your Monday morning to-do list

-Make a list of weekly goals for everything you want to accomplish

-Empty all garbage cans in the house (and office) and take them out

-Go shopping for the whole week, prepare some healthy (distraction free) snacks.

-Take a walk

-Set an alarm to remind yourself when to go to sleep

Photo Credit: Ebelien

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Productivity Habits To Adopt Before The New Year

by Kathy T.

Working from home itself can be a huge productivity drain. It’s hard to focus on work when there is housework to be done, pets to watch, kids to take care of, and Netflix to watch. It’s a miracle that anything gets done, really. Well, it’s time to kick procrastination to the curb. It’s almost a new year, which means it’s time to adopt new, healthy habits. Check out this post by Katie M. Mclaughlin at Pick Any Two for habits that productive people do every day:

-Set aside 5-10 minutes for planning each day

-Take care of quick tasks immediately

-Write a to do list (during your 10 minute planning period) and prioritize it. What are the top 3 things you need to get done today?

-They know when (and when not) to multitask

-They have a time management tool that works for them- a planner, or maybe an app.

Photo Credit: Ivan Walsh

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Amazing Tips To Increase Your Productivity

by Kathy T.

Workers of all professions occasionally get the blahs. Maybe you just started the day on the wrong side of the bed, you feel uninspired or just unfocused. It happens. But with creative professionals, these days are extra bad, happen more often if you don’t know how to combat it, and can have a more serious negative impact on your work. That’s why it’s important for anyone who works from home, works in an artistic field, or has some other non-traditional job to keep a strict daily routine. If you find yourself in a bit of a productivity slump, check out these tips from Meredith Lepore at Levo for things you can do to give yourself a little boost:

-Make lists, but get creative: vary the format, start in the center of the page and branch outward, create thought bubbles and venn diagrams to stimulate your brain and help you think outside the box.

-Smell flowers when you wake up- seeing bright colors in the morning lifts your energy.

-Take a walk in the park- strolling through a nature setting shows a 20% improvement in attention and focus tests.

Photo Credit: Jackie Ick

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Sites That Will Help Anyone’s Productivity

by Kathy T.

The hardest part about writing for a living is staying focused and managing time wisely. With a traditional job, you’re at a desk from 9-5, and you work during that time. It’s much easier to focus than when you’re at home, with the TV on, Facebook in the background, with kids running around you. And that doesn’t even take into account the writer’s block that can happen daily. That’s why I love this post by Julia Hughes at S Trends! Here are her top websites that will keep you focused, productive, and on track- no matter what it is that you are trying to do:

-LinkedIn- is a fantastic networking tool for freelancers and young professionals.

-Resume Genius- provides an easy, stream-lined online form

-Google Drive- for your online storage needs

-Tomato Timer- keeps you from taking breaks that last too long

-My Daily Schedule- This schedule gives you the option of logging what you’ve done that day or seeing how your time adds up over the course of a week.

Photo Credit: Andy Roberts

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How To Stop Procrastinating and Get Your Writing Done!

by Kathy T.

This article by Monica M. Clark at The Write Practice was written for people who are working on novels, short stories, and other creative writers. However, the tips can apply to anyone who writes for a living (or for fun). That’s you, bloggers! Even if you love writing, sometimes it can be so hard to just stop procrastinating and start typing. And for some reason, having a deadline can be counterproductive and actually make the procrastination worse! In the immortal words of Shia Lebouf, JUST DO IT! Or, check out Clark’s tips for getting started and staying productive:

-Don’t pull all nighters, and never PLAN to pull one! This will mess you up even more!

-Pay limited attention to progress of peers with same goals. Stop comparing your blog to your friend’s.

-Log out of Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter- etc. Block them if you have to (I turn off my wifi while writing).

-Eating, watching TV, etc., are all distractions. Don’t take a break until you meet a certain goal.

Photo Credit: Remi

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