Time management is everything these days. Between balancing work and our personal lives, some days it truly feels like there is not enough time in the day. I’m sure you can relate!
That’s why when our team feels like the tasks are piling up and the to-do seems never-ending, we turn to these tried and true methods that help get us back on our game and get sh*t done.
# 1 – Create a morning routine
We sound like a broken record, but developing the perfect morning routine for your lifestyle is the key to productivity. Take it from some of the most successful business moguls and entrepreneurs you know — they all have a ritual that gets them out of bed in the morning. A successful morning routine helps set the tone for the rest of the day, better allowing us to control our schedules rather than being controlled by them. Should we share our team’s morning routines over on IG Stories?
# 2- Time block
Do you ever catch yourself wondering where the day went and getting absolutely nothing checked off your to-do list? Or maybe you try to do too many tasks at one time, hopping from your inbox to Instagram and trying to write a blog post and back to your inbox. If this sounds like you, then this productivity hack is going to be your saving grace.
Time blocking is the act of concentrating on ONLY one given task at a time. For example, set a timer (we love the Be Focused app or the time cube for this!) for 30 minutes and reply to every email you can in the given time. Only when the timer goes off can you move on to the next task. Simple, but absolutely genius for motivation and productivity. (PS: I use this hack for just about everything in my life from washing dishes to laundry to cleaning out my closet to even social media!). The key to time blocking is to make sure you turn off ALL distractions (including your phone!) during each 30 minute period of focus. Sometimes you’ll need to do 30 minutes in multiple blocks to complete the task. Give yourself a 5-minute break to refill your water/get your Instagram scrolling in before moving on to your next time block.
#3 – Batch your tasks
No matter what industry you work in, you need to be time batching if you want to improve your productivity. It’s literally the biggest time saver and the easiest way to keep your concentration for an extended period of time.
For instance, at High Moon Studio, we have a creative block on Friday mornings that is entirely dedicated to creating content for our agency. But you could literally do this for anything you need to get done. Have recurring meetings each week? Batch them back to back on all one day. Need to shoot photos for blog posts? Shoot every photo you need on one day instead of doing a few throughout the week.
It works because you are not having to start a million different tasks throughout the day and your brain stays focused on one thing – meetings, being on camera, writing, designing, admin work – whatever.
#4 – Create a to-do list that works
Whether you’re an old-school pen and paper person or you use a fancy online tool, there is no one-size-fits-all. Finding a system that works for you is the key to getting your sh*t done. At HMS, we use the Things App because you can literally organize every aspect of your life — from your daily routine to your long-term goals — and you always know what is coming up next. It’s basically a glorified calendar that organizes your tasks by due dates (which we love!). We also use ClickUP as a team to keep track of what everyone is working on and of course, Apple Calendar is our lifeline.
#5 – Set the tone with music
Anyone else a huge vibes person when it comes to getting things done? If you’re like me, you need a designated space with a candle or two, a cup of coffee, and all the desk accessories to feel inspired. But more than that, I need MUSIC to stay focused. Personally, I love jazzy vibes, pop r&b, coffee shop tunes, or a deep focus playlist to get going, but if you have any good ones that are not too distracting send them our way!
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