Productivity sometimes feels too ephemeral to hold onto for long. Work, home, and life in general needs a near consistent amount of effort to maintain. So how do you be productive, and an even better question: how do you stay that way? 

How to be Productive at Work

Showing up isn’t cutting it anymore – you have to be present and active in your job to be considered productive. It’s an overwhelming idea that you have to be doing something every second of the day, and quite a damaging concept for your mental health. But the truth is: you don’t. Work smarter, not harder, and you’ll be more productive than you ever were. We have some tips on how to get the most from your work day. 

1. First of all, stop multitasking. Though it may seem like it, you’re not doing more by working on several things at once. Multitasking nerfs your productivity more than you think, and shifting between tasks takes up 40% of your time. Give your brain a break and let it focus on one project. 
2. Eat the frog first thing. A spectacular metaphor by Mark Twain is responsible for this particular phrase, and it refers to getting the biggest, worst task out of the way first. That project you’ve been procrastinating, or that you know you will put off as long as possible? Get to it. Eat the frog. 
3. Lists, calendars, and reminders are your friends. Writing a to-do list, with estimates on how long each task will take, will give you a sense of organisation that helps you jump into your work. Any.do is a brilliant application to help monitor your to-do lists. And it always feels good to tick something off!
4. Emails are a dangerous thing to your productivity. They’re an easy excuse to procrastinate while looking busy – you can spend all day reading and writing emails instead of doing what you’re meant to. So schedule in time to look at your emails, and use tools like Spark to organise your inbox.
5. Sometimes, it’s knowing that your day will be filled with the menial admin tasks every company relies on that kills your productivity. To combat this, you can either change your mindset and approach to these tasks, or hire a Virtual Assistant. A Virtual Assistant will handle these smaller jobs perfectly, allowing you more time in your day for the bigger things.

How to be Productive at Home

 A lot of people have taken to remote work in recent years, preferring to contribute to their business from home instead of going into the office. Many entrepreneurs run successful companies from their home office – but productivity pitfalls will follow you wherever you go. So, we’ve provided a list on how to stay healthy and on your grind when not working at the office. 

1. First and foremost, reduce distractions. If you have children, a partner, a housemate, or rambunctious pets, ensure that they understand your workspace is a no-go zone. Just because you’re home doesn’t mean you’re available, and you’ll need to set up boundaries so you won’t get sidetracked. 
2. Use tools to keep yourself on schedule and show your boss and colleague what you’re getting up to. Toggl will help you track the time you spend on a project, while Evernote is a note-taking, tasking-managing, organisational tool that basically does everything for you. They’re well worth investing in for the home office. 
3. Take regular breaks when you need them, and when you do, go for a short walk. Sun, fresh air, and food power your brain, and it functions best when it has a healthy diet of all three. Going outside every few hours or on a regular schedule will let your mind settle. 
4. Some people find working to music increases their productivity, as it soothes the need to multitask. There are types of music specifically made to help keep your concentration, video game soundtracks being the most plentiful. There are also apps like Noizio that will block out other sounds and provide a custom-made white-noise playlist to help you concentrate. 
5. One of the biggest issues with working from home is the isolation, so you cannot stop socialising. Interacting with colleagues, friends, and strangers will help boost your brain and productivity. In your regular breaks, trot yourself to a nearby cafe, or meet with a friend for lunch so you can have some face-time. 

How to be Productive in Life

Productivity doesn’t stop when you clock off work, you have to live your life, too. There are trips to take, friends to see, games to play, and books to read! But none of that will get done if you don’t have an idea on how to be productive in your downtime. Luckily, we’ve got some tips for you to make the most of your life. 

1. Start working on your happiness now instead of putting it off until you ‘have time’. You’ll never have time if you don’t make time, and that applies double in regard to your health and happiness. So, find something you’re grateful for, pleased about, or just makes you excited – then channel that energy into your daily life. 
2. Remember, prior preparation prevents poor performance! Using planning tools like a calendar, Beeminder, or scheduled reminders will help you keep track of your goals for the day and help you do everything you want. 
3. Never, ever overlook a small win, because they’re just as important as the big ones. Every time you check something off your to-do list, your brain releases a little bit of dopamine that’ll make you feel happy and accomplished. It doesn’t matter the size of the task – perhaps you’ve been meaning to find good meal-prep recipes, or fix up your clothesline. Whatever it is, write it down and cross it off once you’re done. 
4. Make sure your batteries are as full as they can be before you start the day. Getting enough sleep and making time for the things you love is an essential part of health and wellbeing – two things necessary to be productive. Sleep and taking time to relax is crucial, because each gives you the energy to be active. 
5. Schedule things and get excited for them! Happiness and excitement give you a boost of energy, and you’ll be able to chug through any mundane chore when you know there’s something fun waiting at the end.