While giving yourself a little grace is important (and necessary), you can also take some steps to be more productive, if only to keep your home- or work-life afloat until overall conditions improve. Sometimes, attention management can do the trick, or revisiting working from home tips can remind you what you need to do to focus. (We’re particular fans of the The Pomodoro Technique.) But sometimes you just need to reconsider your productivity process completely. Whether you’re working to re-focus after a few weeks (months?) of feeling chronically distracted, or you just want to boost your productivity, put these expert tips and self-care suggestions to work. They’ll have you checking more off your to-do list in no time.
How to Be Productive
“The three little pigs, three Olympic medals, three parts of a story—our brain is wired to think in threes.” When you follow through on what you intended to do, you’ll end the day feeling great and motivated for tomorrow. And if you finish early enough, you can get a jump-start on tomorrow’s tasks or spend some time outside. Don’t fight it; instead, check social media with intention. Do a feed sweep to see what’s going on, then put your phone on airplane mode for the next hour. When you fight through distraction and get tasks done, reward yourself with a little time to chill out. Try to get outside in the morning, when your body craves brightness, and then stand near a window a few times a day when you sense yourself slowing down. Getting enough sunlight can stimulate your internal clock, providing you with the energy you need." “It wasn’t that each person received a compliment. All it took was one flattering remark total to make everyone, including the manager, feel more positive. Why? Whether you smile yourself or watch someone else smile, the happy facial expression can trigger your brain to release dopamine—a chemical that helps control your body’s reward centers and, in turn, kick your productivity into high gear.” “A quick walk improves memory and increases the ability to generate ideas and make better connections,” says Bonnie St. John, coauthor of Micro-Resilience: Minor Shifts for Major Boosts in Focus, Drive, and Energy. When your mind wanders, creativity can flow, enabling you to synthesize information in a unique way. Then when you sit back down to your work, you’ll have new ideas and be able to get more done." St. John recommends that you try reversing your thoughts from negative to positive. For example, if you wish you were someplace else, say, “I am so glad I am right here working on this project.” Even if you don’t mean it, “by saying it out loud, it shifts your energy, flips a switch in your brain, and tricks you into pushing your emotions in a new direction,” says St. John. Identify exactly what you’ll be able to achieve and when you’ll tackle each task. Book meetings and calls for the early part of the week, when more colleagues are around. Leave the (often quiet) last days before the weekend, a long weekend, or holiday week for solo work, like expense reports. Jot down potential roadblocks so you’ll be prepped to maneuver around them. “Take as much time as you need working with colleagues to get consensus and define, down to one crystal-clear line, what you are trying to accomplish,” he says. Pre-determining measurable benchmarks also helps everyone stay focused on the parts of a project they’re responsible for. Finally, with a clear mission statement, you’ll know when a project’s finally met its objective, and everyone can call it a day.
