Being more productive and using your time wisely can be challenging. It’s hard to remain motivated to want to get tasks checked off your to-do list, but it isn’t impossible. With the right tools, advice and system in place, you’ll soon be on your way to a more productive life.
Productivity is key to being not only successful in what you do but also happy. It allows you to find your own self-worth; or push yourself to new limits; or evolve into a better version of you, whose habits are beneficial and mind-focused.
By learning to be more productive, despite productivity being a difficult skill to master, you’ll instantly find yourself in an improved place. You’ve just got to harness those skills and adapt them to suit your lifestyle. There is no one-size-fits-all here, it’s about learning what matters to you and ultimately, what actually works within your personal life.
Pin This:
Forbes describe 9 habits that will force you into a more productive life; however, I would recommend that you prioritise just 3 of those:
- Half your to-do list.
- Take more breaks throughout your day.
- Create a (useful and purposeful) system.
From my point of view, once you being to utilise these 3 elements within your everyday life, you’ll soon be on your way to a more productive life.
Half your to-do list:
Increasing your productivity levels, you’ve got one of two options: you can either decrease your workload or reduce the amount of time you have to dedicate to each task.
By halving your to-do list, or alternatively, prioritising 3-5 tasks (at most), you are able to achieve more without feeling overwhelmed, and therefore, put off by your workload. I’d recommend that you do the most daunting, boring or challenging task first; as that way, it’s ticked off and avoids procrastination.
Take more breaks throughout your day:
This is important for achieving maximum productivity. You need to allow yourself to experience and embrace, downtime. By allowing yourself regular rest-breaks to grab a coffee, get a bit of fresh air or if you are anything like me, an hour to catch-up on your favourite Netflix show, you’ll prevent what I’d label ‘burnout’.
When trying to find your most productive self, you don’t want to overpush it. You need to find a happy medium; somewhere in between wasting time and finding the potential of 24-hours each-and-every day.
Rest-breaks allow your brain to recuperate and re-focus when you return to your task at hand.
Create a (useful and purposeful) system:
By ‘useful and purposeful’ system, I am talking about a method for staying organised; for example: a planner, calendar or task list; this is where bullet journaling has its place within the pursuit of finding ultimate productivity levels.
When using a bullet journal system of organisation you are able to combine the prioritisation of tasks with ‘breaks’ throughout your day to overall find an increasingly productive way of being.
Within the set-up of my weekly journal pages, I layout my day into important appointments/events/tasks, my general to-dos and then notes. I am able to set forth my top 3-5 major tasks, as mentioned above, in their own section. This makes them easy to view; and therefore, I feel motivated to just get them ticked off and done for the day.
As for the regular rest-breaks, they take place when I am editing my journal entries or weekly spreads, jotting down notes to remember certain memories or when pre-planning for the week ahead. Now, this might not sound like rest-breaks, but I view them to be creative time set aside not only for getting more organised but also self-care.
Therefore, I am to locate my productivity levels within my bullet journal alone due to its visual capabilities. I enjoy being physical able to see (using my colour coding system) all that I have achieved in one day; because of this, I often feel inspired to do more the following day. There is a pattern occurring here. It’s a loop of productive-like habits; of which, over time become deeply embedded positive habits that could change one’s outlook on what it means to be organised, and in control of life more generally.
Do you struggle with productivity or organisation? Have you learnt ways to overcome these challenges and ultimately, are you now more productive than before?
Let me know in the comments below or contact me here.
Pin This:
Ahhh loved this so much! Your diary entries are beautiful, I’m feeling so motivated now to create my own :D definitely bookmarking! xx
elizabeth ♡ ”Ice Cream” whispers Clara
(I would love to follow each other on bloglovin if you like! :D)
Thank you so much! You should – I’d love to see the progress of your on your blog!
I followed you on Bloglovin and stopped by your blog to share the love <3
I love this bullet journal! It allows more freedom to adjust to my needs. I like all the extra spaces where I can express myself with doodles. I guess it is not yet late to start one soon!
It is never too late – please start one, I promise you won’t regret it. I love doodling and adding quotes to make it more personal. It’s a nice memoir to look back on in years to come.
I love journaling! It’s wonderful that there are so many different forms of journaling that can help you out in so many different ways. It can truly work for everyone’s needs. And bullet journaling is just so useful and lovely! I’m definitely going ro have to give it a try! Thanks for these wonderful tips ?
I agree with you Sara – it’s flexible and personal to everyone’s needs!
Your bullet journal looks like a real work of art! I have a planner that can be embellished, but I have a less artistic system that works, at least most of the time. I really like your “half the to-do list” suggestion since I often overplan. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much. I too think of it as some sort of art-outlet. I think you are either the artsy type or not, both are completely okay and for as long as the system works for you then that is all that matters really!
I have always wanted to start a bullet journal. The freedom to create a journal that is suited to your needs sounds very appealing!
That’s the beauty of it. You should give it a go Fran!
Love the concept that halving your to do list makes you more productive. I’m going to try it! Great read
Thanks Rachel! It’s about turning your task list into manageable and non-daunting segments!
I love how you styled your bullet journal! I totally agree that bullet journaling can help with your productivity. You have something listed and need to check it off by a certain time! I find taking more breaks being helpful because you feel refreshed to go back to the grind.
exquisitely.me
Thanks for stopping by my blog Nancy and thank you for the ever so kind comments on my journal. I try my best. I also love being able to check tasks off once they are completed – it is so satisfying!
I revolve around my bullet journal so this was incredibly helpful! I may have to try halving my to-do list, as right now there are too many things on it and I’m so discouraged!
Jas xx
Give it a go Jas, you might surprise yourself with how much more productive you’ll find yourself being!
These are great suggestions. I tried using a bullet journal a while back and it didn’t really work for me. Perhaps I should try again!
Absolutely give it another go Nicole. I tried 4 bullet journals over the past few years before I finally found a system that works for me personally, and in all honesty, I just love doing it now – that often helps with productivity and organisation!
Love this!! I love something that keeps me organized and accountable.
Bethany Wilson | http://www.mycaffeinatedchaos.com
Me too – we share that same passion for sure, oh and a love of food (and Disney) hehe!
I love what you said about halving to-do lists, I make sure I prioritize 3 tasks so it keeps me focused :) Great article!
It’s about just trying to remain focused and therefore not put off by a huge to-do list, I am super guilty of that one. Thank you for stopping by Ivana!
Hey Channon
What a cute name! Talk about unusual. I’m in the UK too (Birmingham). The bullet journal thing hasn’t caught on with me just yet. But your ideas for productivity are amazing and sound doable. Loving the creative edge too. I might just give it a go. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much. This comment has put a huge smile on my face!
I love this! My attempt at a bullet journal would get me a ‘must try harder’ from any school teacher ha ha. However, my daughter who is sitting her GCSEs next month has created an amazing bullet journal to keep her motivated and organised with her revision. I shall share your post with her.
Hehe, I am sure it wouldn’t. I so wish I had a bullet journal throughout my GCSEs, instead, I had about 102 sheets of paper with post-it notes stuck everywhere. I was very unorganised back then and I now realise how much easier my life would have been. I wish her the best of luck, I’m sure she’ll ace the exams!