8 Simple Ways To Be More Productive In Your Everyday Life

woman wearing a white work suit typing on a laptop - ways to be more productive

When I was a student, I scoured the internet for ways to be more productive.

I was low-key obsessed with all things related to productivity and growth; I wanted all my waking hours to be occupied with tasks and to-do lists.

If I could go back in time, I’d make my past self sit down, and give her a glass of water to let off some steam.

Seriously, I needed to take a chill pill back then. I was just running around making my life more hectic.

I thought the busier I was, the more productive I’d be.

Um, sorry, but no.

Being productive doesn’t mean working yourself to the point of exhaustion.

This habit is meant to simplify your life, instead of turning you into a work-obsessed soul.

However, it can be hard to draw the line between the two, but understanding the basic concept of productivity might help.

In simple words, productivity is a state of being in which you get more done in less time.

It’s a growth tool that successful people swear by for a balanced life, and something that every person can benefit from having in their routine.

Before diving into the tips, you might want to save this post by pinning it.

In this post, I bring to you 8 essential ways to be more productive in your everyday life.

These tips will help you create attention and focus during your tasks, and will guide you toward a more balanced life.

Read on to find out.

8 Ways To Be More Productive

1. Stick To A Daily Routine

This is going to sound like such cliche advice – Create a routine if you want to get things done.

Duh, we already know that.

Creating a routine is no big deal. You could whip out a pencil and make yourself a new routine for tomorrow, but that won’t guarantee that you’d stick to it.

And without a routine to follow, we end up wasting time, feeling low, and giving in to our unproductive habits.

That’s why I’ve come bearing tips to help you stick to a daily routine.

First, create a rough timetable for yourself that is easy to stick to. Keep things flexible but not too lax.

Wake up at the same time every morning, set down your intentions for the day, and partake in some healthy morning rituals.

Take your meals at the same time, exercise regularly, and have an active afternoon routine to avoid the 2 pm slump.

Once you start living by a routine, productivity will become a piece of cake. On the plus side, your days will be better regulated.

If you don’t quite know how to schedule your time, here is an excellent post that might help: How To Create A Daily Routine That Works For You – 7 Easy Tips

2. Use A Scheduling System

Time management might seem tricky to master, but a scheduling system can help you ace this skill.

When looking for ways to be more productive, I came across Google Calendars and fell in love with this system.

It’s a digital planner that’s perfect for anyone who likes to keep their routine organized. Plus, it’s super engaging and straightforward to use!

You can plan your whole week, set reminders for important tasks, and create to-do lists.

Seriously, using this thing will skyrocket your productivity. Make sure to try it out yourself and see if it helps you.

Here is a tutorial to get you started:

If micromanaging your time doesn’t hold an appeal, you can always invest in a daily planner.

The point is to have a scheduling system that makes you feel accountable.

If you have a schedule mapped out in advance, your mind will be more active and keen to get things done. It’s really as simple as that.

I also have a gentle reminder for you here:

Value your time, but don’t be too conscious about it. Otherwise, you’d end up missing out on appreciating the little things in life.

3. Write Down Your Plans Before You Act On Them

This one trick has changed the productivity game for me and might do the same for you too.

Whenever you’re about to start a task, quickly write it down first.

It might be something like ‘Going to finish that report now, should take me about 30 minutes,’ or ‘Cleaning the cupboard now.’

That might not seem like too powerful a method to increase your productivity, but it’s a formula I’ve been using for months now.

The simple act of writing down your plan before acting upon it comes with many merits.

First of all, by doing this, you will be reaffirming your goal for the next hour.

And trust me, penning down your intentions bring you better results than merely thinking about them.

Secondly, this tip will help you avoid procrastination, which is the number one enemy of productivity.

The best thing is, it hardly takes you a few seconds to apply this trick, but its impact is marvelous.

I suggest you dedicate an empty notebook solely to this.

You don’t have to worry about maintaining it. Be as chaotic or organized as you’d like to be.

Just scribble down your goal, then cross it off when you’re done with it. Easy peasy!

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4. Use A Timer To Get More Done

A lack of focus is the reason why most of us fail to be productive.

It’s got nothing to do with being incapable or lazy; your brain just loves drifting off at times when you need it to be focused.

With so many thoughts playing on a loop, it can be hard to keep yourself interested or stay sharp.

That’s where a timer comes in.

You’ll be surprised how much you can get done by setting short spans of work time periods for yourself. Notice my emphasis on the word ‘short’.

I have found that it is easier to keep myself attentive when I keep my work sessions short.

It helps me break down my work hours, and makes my goals achievable.

Bookmark For Later: 30-Day Happiness Challenge To Become A Cheerful Person

Working with utmost concentration for 25 minutes is way better than sitting at your desk for hours with a distracted mind.

So, next time you’re looking to break down your tasks and get more done in less time set a timer on your phone app.

Start with 15 minutes, then take a break before coming back for 25 minutes more.

Honestly, even 5 minutes will be good; you can add more to the timer as you go on and take a break when you feel like it.

And don’t be surprised when you end up finishing your work way early than expected. That’s just how brilliant this tip is.

Check Out: 11 Toxic Habits You Need To Discard Right Now

5. Break Down Your Tasks

Imagine gulping down a hot cup of coffee in one go. Sounds implausible, right?

Not only would that be dangerous for your throat, but it’d also take away from the pleasure of sipping your way through this sweet drink.

Now, I might be way off with this metaphor here, but in some ways, that’s how goals work too.

You’re not supposed to tackle a challenging task in one go. That’s not fair to your mind that prefers receiving commands in broken-down steps.

Give your brain what it wants by breaking down your tasks into smaller goals.

If you need to clean your room, first focus on the task of dusting the surfaces.

While you’re at it, don’t think about your disorganized wardrobe or your messy desk; it’d just make you dread your coming hours and make you anxious.

When you have the option to break it down, there really is no need to feel overwhelmed by your big chores.

6. Focus On Downtime

People often make the mistake of setting unrealistic and long working hours for themselves.

They feel guilty while resting and are always stressed about their impending tasks.

This creates a sense of worry and impatience to always be running with the clock. Mindfulness takes a backbench, and work becomes a cause of stress.

As a result, their mental health takes a downward turn without them even realizing it.

This happened to me when I was in school, and as a result, my mental health took a downward turn.

That was the start of my wellness journey, which taught me an important lesson:

You cannot and shouldn’t ignore downtime in your everyday life.

You are not a machine, so there really is no need to act like one. Be human and allow yourself to focus on downtime.

Hit pause when you feel tired, start your mornings by focusing on yourself, and sleep with your worries chucked out the window.

Reserve your weekends for self-care so that you can dive back into your Monday routine with energy.

Rest is supposed to be an integral part of your routine, and not just because it takes the load off your brain.

Believe it or not, taking breaks throughout the day enhances your productivity like nothing else.

7. Make Your Workspace Lively

I revamped my workspace last year and it ended up being a really fruitful change.

It was fun scouring online for cheap frames and inspiring posters, and I enjoyed every moment of setting up my new workstation at home.

But the best part is that it livened up my perspective on my work.

I swear half the reason I’m able to churn out regular content on my blog is because of how pleasant my work environment is.

Since you’re going to spend 8 hours a day at your desk, you might as well make your atmosphere beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. You deserve nothing less.

If your desk is old, save some money and replace it with a new one. Your chair should be comfortable to sit at.

Add bright and colorful frames to the wall. Browse Pinterest for some desk decor inspiration to give your workspace a personal and unique touch.

A lamp will be a great addition too!

You’ll need to make some effort for this one, but I promise the result will be worth it all.

8. Prepare For Your Next Day In Advance

Do you know why most people procrastinate? It’s because they don’t prepare to act on their plans in advance.

Preparation is the key to a productive day, and the best time to do it is the night before.

Why? Because then you are not giving yourself any opportunities to back out of your plans the next day.

I’ve found my motivation to be high during the nighttime, not in the sense that I want to burn the midnight oil, but in the sense that I look forward to making the coming day better than today.

When you are coming from this mindset, there should be a way to channel this inspiration and make something out of it.

That’s why you should prepare for the next day during your night routine.

Put your nightly motivation to use by gearing up for the next day. And no, it won’t take you longer than a few minutes to do this.

If you have morning exercise on your schedule, take out your workout clothes so that you wake up to the sight of them.

If you plan on having a healthy diet day, decide on your meals beforehand.

Your laptop should be right next to your planner on your desk, along with your outfit for the day.

This tip will save you time, make you more active, and turn you into a person who’s always prepared to act.

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Being Productive Doesn’t Have To Be Hard

Some simple changes in your mindset and approach to your work can make a big difference to your productivity level.

First things first, stick to a daily routine that fits your lifestyle best.

If you need any help in this department, check out my healthy living archives. It’s full of posts on building daily habits and routines.

Use a scheduling system, write down your plans before you act on them, and use a timer to build focus.

Breaking down your tasks helps, and don’t even think about forgoing downtime; you need it for your wellness.

Make your workspace more lively by decorating it, and prepare for the next day before your bedtime.

These are some good ways to be more productive that have worked splendidly for me.

They are easy to apply and will bring you noticeable results in your journey to being more productive.

If there’s anything I can help you with, drop a comment down below. I am always enthusiastic about engaging with my lovely readers.