‘Productivity’ or the term ‘being productive’ can definitely be considered a modern phenomenon: something which has undoubtedly found its value in the 21st century. Whilst for some this may mean getting through a daily ‘to-do list’ or university schedule, for others it can be more of a physical form of achievement like going for a run or learning a new skill. Being productive, and what each of us take ‘productivity’ to be, is intrinsically different. Whether you work best in the morning or evening, or prefer the environment in your kitchen or bedroom, remember, your preferred working style is personal to you. So, whilst you should bear this in mind, if you’re seeking some general tips on how to get things done this lockdown, or haven’t yet grasped what makes you the most productive, then read on…
- Have some kind of routine (but remember it’s ok if this routine changes)
Although routine is not for everyone, I have found that getting up at the same time every day and keeping track of time when performing tasks has definitely helped me to achieve certain work-related goals. Although on some days, that extra hour or two lie in is much needed, if you make a habit of waking up at a certain time every day and doing a task at a particular time or within a certain time-frame, your mind can adjust accordingly and make the task easier for you to complete altogether.
- Take breaks (they help more than you may think!)
Although some people like working in long intervals and do so effectively, for the majority of us the odd break every now and then makes a huge difference. Breaking up your tasks by a change of activity, a cup of tea, or a quick episode of Friends gives you time to relax and change focus so that when you come back to what you were doing you can do so with greater focus.
- Change up your working environment (in this case, it may have to be from your bedroom to your kitchen and back!)
Whilst this point is a slightly trickier one given the fact we are in most cases confined to our houses at present, a change in physical environment is always a good option if you find your mind wandering. I can’t say I know much about the psychology behind this one but I have definitely found that the shift from downstairs to upstairs this week has made my university work that tiny bit more exciting!
- Get to know the ways which you work best (possibly the most important step of all)
Knowing yourself and tracking what helps you stay focused means that you can schedule your day in a way that ensures you get the most done. This may be a matter of knowing that you work best in the afternoon, or need a particular amount of time for a certain task, or, if you’re like me, realising you work best in the kitchen due to the unlimited tea supply and quicker access to snacks!
- Make a mental or physical list of the things you have to do
Lists are a really powerful way of tracking progress but also visually identifying what needs to be done. Whilst I personally find a great deal of satisfaction in ticking off tasks in my recently purchased CGD London diary, for others, a bullet point list on their laptop or a daily update on the iPhone notes page may equally suffice. So, if you’ve found yourself forgetting important tasks or need that little bit of organisation this lockdown, go and make that list!
- Having a motivation or reward
Working towards a goal or having something to look forward to can have a massive impact on your work pattern and levels of productivity throughout the day. Whilst this motivation could be something as simple as a specific meal or an evening facetime with your best friend, by mentally acknowledging that you have something to work towards will make that university reading that little bit more encouraging, as well as helping you to stay on track.
I hope these steps can offer some inspiration and provide some ways to boost your productivity in the next few weeks, but don’t forget that days off are important too, and even more so in trying times like these.
Written by Jennie Sarama
Photo courtesy of Dylan Ferreira via Unsplash. Image license can be found here. No changes were made to this image.