5 Proven Strategies To Jumpstart Your Productivity

If you are anything like me sometimes you need just an extra little boost to jumpstart your day. But beyond caffeine (or a triple espresso) here are 5 proven strategies to get you moving and feeling more productive.

 

  1. SET UP A ROUTINE AND STICK TO IT

By doing things the same way you can train your brain to be more efficient. Without a proper routine, your day can easily get lost, sidetracked, or completely derailed. Find what works for you, from what you eat for breakfast to your radio station in the car, and train your brain to get ready for work by simple patterning.

 

  1. CREATE A CLEAN WORK SPACE

Nothing beats my creativity down more than a cluttered workspace. When you get to work or at the end of each day, take a 5 minutes to tidy your work area. “You can’t reach for anything new if your hands are still full of yesterday’s junk” – Louise Smith. Make organized piles (this is my go to!), throw away the trash, and put things away. This small act of decluttering actually has psychological benefits. “Clutter causes stress, and clutter is one of the main barriers of productivity.” Charisse Ward.  Reasons this simple act of organizing is so effective is the fact that you are being active, you see quick results and unburden yourself from past projects or tasks.

 

  1. WRITE DOWN YOUR GOALS AND DESIRED OUTCOMES FOR THE DAY

Once you have organized your environment take a few minutes to organize your mind. Write down the goals you want to accomplish from the day – separate them into clear steps and breakdown each project so if you feel stuck you can reference this chart for renewed direction and vision. Check each item off as it is completed, or if you’re me… completely scratch it out beyond recognition. This on its own is rewarding and feels great!

 

  1. PRIORITIZE YOUR LIST

Now that you have the big picture items for the day take a moment to prioritize the most important work because let’s face it, we hardly ever accomplish everything on our daily to-do list. “People who want to appear clever rely on memory. People who want to get things done make lists” – Peter McWilliams. At the end of the day review your list, applaud yourself for what you accomplished, forgive yourself for what you missed today, and plan to try again tomorrow.

 

  1. SCHEDULE BREAKS

One of the easiest ways to boost productivity is to schedule breaks into your routine. “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes… including you.” – Anny Lamott. With a simple 5 minute break looking away from your project you can avoid tunnel vision, gain a new perspective, increase the blood flow to your brain, and recommit to the work at hand.

 

These are just 5 proven strategies to increase your productivity. What tricks do you have to motivate yourself throughout the day? Let me know! I may need the extra boost once the caffeine starts wearing off (or another espresso?).

 

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