My top five productivity hacks
Is it just me, or must everyone else work extra hard to stay focused in 2023?
I’m not sure if it is the hangover from COVID or the start of the year, but for some reason, I’m finding that I have to work extra hard to stay focused.
So, here are five tools that I’ve discovered that are helping me stay on the right track.
Use the Pomodoro technique
This is all about setting small goals for tasks during the day. You can use the app (I do), or I’ve also found that this timer can work just as well on your desk. You get a reward of 5 minutes of downtime for every 25 minutes of work you complete.
This is a great way to stay on track and try and keep the essential things that need my total concentration to happen with this approach first thing in the day.
Build A Second Brain
I’m a massive fan of Tiago Forte and suggest you check out his excellent book if you haven’t already. I found his Second Brain helpful idea to start putting a system for organising all my thoughts in place.
As someone constantly reading or checking out internet research, this simple system has improved my productivity as I now plan to recall all that great material I once found.
Adopt PARA
This is related to the second brain idea, but once you have the material, Forte suggests using a system of PARA to keep your second brain organised. I’ve found that starting to think in Projects, Areas, Resources & Archives is a valuable way to set up my life.
Write it down
While I love computers, writing tasks and appointments in a paper diary has made a difference in understanding what I need to work on.
Something is reassuring as being able to see exactly where you’re spending your time each day and using this as a visual way to maybe say no to a few appointments that have snuck into your diary if you realise that it isn’t something that you need to be spending your time on.
Choose three goals
This has been a game-changer for me this year but spending some time and working out what I need to focus on and what are the big blocks is something that I have found incredibly useful.
I can constantly reference my working time and ensure it is directly related to one of these three goals.
If it isn’t, I will stop working on it.
It is incredible how we can get waylaid by the brightest of shiny lights, and this helps give me the focus on working on what I need to.
So, that is what I’m finding useful now to keep me more productive. What else have I missed?
