Improve Productivity, Reduce Distractions and Get Shit Done

So you’ve got all these amazing ideas and projects in your head, but every time you try to put pen to paper (or keys to keyboard) you have a complete lack of motivation? Well I’ve got the help you need to build better habits for productivty, reducing distractions and finally getting your shit together.

Create a Productivity Space

Find a space in your home (or office) where you tell yourself there will be no distractions. At this space you will be productive, and everything you need should theoretically be in reach. For example, making your desk your ‘Space’ allows you to work, and then when you move onto Netflix or social media scrolling move yourself to a different space first.

Creating a mindset of having a ‘Productivity Space’ will help when you’re trying to get things done, because you’ve habitually been productive in that space. For an example, your bed should be for sleeping and sex – however, when growing up I spent a lot of time on my laptop or working on schoolwork from the comfort of my bed. This changed my mindset which caused me to struggle sleeping because my bed space was somewhere where I’d created a habit of being productive rather than sleepy.

Start Smart

When you’re planning out your to-do list, start your day smartly by strategically choosing which tasks to do first. Distractions often increase as you get bored or burnt out, so get your bigger or most dreaded tasks out of the way early. This means if you do get distracted later on, you’re working on tasks you may prefer or that are easier, which makes it better for you to centre yourself back on track.

It’s not just about starting smart either, work smart throughout the day. Make sure you have a way of understanding which tasks take priority, and work on those sooner rather than later. Always give yourself more time than needed, as a lot of the time people underestimate the time needed per task. Overall just try and work on your time management and organisation skills.

Utilise Digital Full Screen Views

This is more specific for if you’re writing or creating on your computer, but use full screen modes. Many applications now have this mode, just tap F11. This allows you to focus only on what you are typing out. Plus the ‘clean’ feel of this mode kind of feels similar to the productivity boost you get after tidying your room or house. (Although I don’t know if that’s just me)

Find Apps that Work For You

There’s so many apps that allow you to remove distractions such as phone notifications, or to keep your to-do list in check. But not everyone is the same, so you may need to find the one that works for you. I personally use Forest as it basically locks you out of your phone for the time you set it – and this works for me as I do have a habit of just picking up my phone and scrolling. However, other apps like To-Doist and Trello may be easy for others to just organise tasks, and get deadline notifications to put pressure on getting them done.

• Forest
• Coffitivity
• Trello
• To Doist
• My Hours

Take a Break

Sometimes you get distracted just because your brain needs a break. You can’t be productive 24/7, it’s just not a feasible plan. So make sure you have a brief coffee break, a walk around the block or a snack every so often. If you’re at a desk it’s also important to move your body every now and then to keep it healthy. So when it comes to productivity time, in your Productivity Space, you’ll be ready for anything.