Last Updated on May 18, 2022 by Thalia
With the start of a new season, I always like to do a spring clean of my life.
To go through all my tools and resources to see what is working for me and what is not.
And that inludes my productivity hacks too.
Here is a list of the ones that I swear by, and never change.
Table of Contents
- New beginnings
- Win the day
- 6 productivity hacks to help boost motivation while working from home
- Final Thoughts
New beginnings
For me, March always represents fresh starts and creative change.
The weather is warming up, daffodil buds are starting to grow, mini eggs are being sold in the supermarkets and the smell of hot cross buns is in the air.
Spring is just around the corner and you can feel it.
March might be the last month in Q1, but for me, it’s usually the month where I begin to take things seriously and make the most progress towards my goals.
Side note; it was actually in March 2020 when I started my personal brand on social media but I’ll save that for another day.
January and February are always slower months and can be very hit or miss. More so this year as we were stuck at home with nowhere to go.
Everyone, including myself, seemed more unmotivated and deflated than usual.
So as I write this blog post, on Monday 1st March 2021, I am feeling good and ready to take some serious action.
Win the day
A new month also signifies new habits to build.
I’m not going to lie, I found building or even maintaining certain habits slightly difficult this winter because I just wanted to do what felt most comfortable for me.
I held off on eating healthy for as long as possible and instead found comfort in eating biscuits and other sweet treats.
I also found myself working from my bed more than usual as it acted as my safe place.
I’m not saying January and February were complete write-offs, but I was a lot more mindful of my well-being this year and I made sure I wasn’t putting too much pressure on myself.
The one good habit I did manage to build though and have stuck to since the beginning of the year, is going on a 30-40 min walk every single day.
Fresh air is my therapy. It helps me gain clarity in moments of overwhelm and clears away my foggy thoughts.
It also has a big impact on my mood and makes me feel happier even when things aren’t going to plan.
Walking is now one of the things I do daily to help me win the day and boost my motivation.
I will continue to maintain this habit throughout March as it’s essential for making my working from home life easier and better along with a few other hacks I’ve picked up along the way.
6 productivity hacks to help boost motivation while working from home
It’s been over a year now since I started working from home and let’s be honest, it’s not always what it’s cracked up to be.
It can be extremely lonely and isolating.
So much so that I have recently joined a virtual coworking club every Friday to chat with fellow female entrepreneurs to help me feel less alone.
It is also hard to find that happy medium between your home space and workspace where you can happily shut down, not look at your computer for the rest of the day and feel relaxed.
So as you can tell, I haven’t quite nailed working from home just yet but I have managed to accumulate a range of hacks that have worked wonders on my productivity.
Let’s dive deeper into why I swear by them.
1 | Plan your day the night before
This is my number 1 productivity hack and one that has never failed me.
It’s now a non-negotiable and I schedule it into my bedtime routine every evening.
Planning your night before also has a lot of added benefits.
Better night’s sleep
There’s something so freeing about going to sleep knowing exactly what you need to get done the next day. No more lying awake at night listing off all your to-do’s in your head as you’ve already brain dumped them onto a piece of paper and prioritised them throughout the day.
By planning the night before, you are relaxing the mind and preparing yourself for uninterrupted sleep. Plus you wake up the next day with purpose. No more hitting the snooze button as you have a schedule to get through and a morning routine to complete!
Be Stress-free
Having a plan keeps your day organised so instead of rushing around like a headless chicken you can enjoy moments of calm after completing each task. You can also make sure you’re getting in enough breaks and fresh air during the day.
Save time + GET MORE DONE
By planning the night before, you are instantly giving yourself more time the next day to be even more productive.
Sticking to a schedule also allows you to focus more and procrastinate less. You will get more done and still have time to chill.
Builds Momentum
Having a productive morning builds momentum and gives you a sense of achievement. This then encourages you to keep pushing forward throughout the day.
2 | Read for 30-mins as soon as you wake up
Now I’m not just saying this because I love to read!
Reading in the morning is proven to help you start the day feeling more inspired and motivated. It also helps to boost focus as you’re less likely to get distracted while reading than when you watch tv.
I prefer to read non-fiction in the mornings to help stimulate my brain but if you want to read a cheesy young adult fiction novel, then you do you.
3 | Make the bed every morning
I know this hack sounds slightly tedious but you’ll be surprised how much of an effect making the bed has on your overall mood.
Think of making the bed as your first task of the day.
By completing it straight away, you have gained a sense of achievement, setting you up for a more positive & productive day.
Besides you know the saying, “clear bed, clear head.”
4 | Tidy up your workspace
Your desk should motivate you rather than distract you.
So make sure you tidy it up every morning to feel more organised and prepared to take on the day.
Keep it clutter-free and visually appealing to help boost your focus.
5 | Listen to a motivating podcast before you start work
Listening to an influential podcast in the morning is a quick way to shift your mind into power mode.
I used to listen to a podcast every morning when I was at the gym and they honestly made me feel more driven and ready to tackle the day.
The podcasts I 1000% recommend are The Bossbabe Podcast, Saturn Returns with Caggie and Unlocking Us by Brené Brown.
6. Use The Eisenhower Matrix or 135 Rule when writing your to-do list
I hate feeling stressed out, especially by my to-do list.
I, therefore, use to-do list hacks to help me manage my day better and decrease overwhelm.
Final Thoughts
As you may know, I’ve been promoting a “productivity” that works for the individual for a while now.
I believe that we work differently from one another and we all have our unique way of doing things.
Although these productivity hacks are extremely actionable and simple enough to apply to any schedule, I still recommend testing them out first to see if you’re happy with them before fully committing to them.
So please feel free to bookmark this page and give these productivity hacks a try until you find the one(s) that work best for you.
And drop me a comment below to let me know what productivity hacks you swear by.
I’m always looking to adopt some new tricks.
Until next week,
♡ Thalia xx
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