5 Unusual Productivity Tips That Really Work

If you opened this article thinking "I'm lazy and not doing enough lately, I need to get better," it probably won't help you. This is because high productivity is impossible without kindness to yourself. So, first you need to say thank you to yourself for choosing to open this article.

Productivity is a long-term strategy, not a short-term solution. And for it you need to create a solid foundation. A few unexpected but effective steps will help you with this.

1. Create a "folder of happiness"

Taking on a complex personal goal or a serious work project can be very difficult, especially when there is not enough motivation. An easier way to take the first step is to start with self-reflection.

First of all, remind yourself how much you have already done. This is where the “folder of happiness” comes in handy. Collect in it letters and messages with recognition of your merits from your boss, colleagues or friends, love messages from your partner and other confirmations of your achievements in various areas of life. Look through your folder every time you want to cheer yourself up and get a boost of motivation.

2. Use a timeline instead of a to-do list

The bottom line is to correctly distribute energy and take the maximum from intermediate results. You need to fill in the gap between where you are and where you want to be. Here's how to do it:

• Determine how long it will take to achieve a goal or project. Check the calendar and select a start date and an end date.
• Create intermediate points on the way to the result. Think tactically. For example, your goal is to find a new work by June. So the first intermediate point is to prepare a resume and portfolio before the beginning of February, and the next one is to send emails to companies of interest to you until the beginning of April. If you have several projects, determine when you will find time to work on each of them, and not just put them on a to-do list.
• Analyze how your energy is distributed and what hours and days you can productively work on tasks. For example, if you write better in the morning, then plan to work with letters and texts in the first half of the day. And if you're, say, developing a personal project, it might be worth giving it 30 minutes after work at the end of each day. The main thing is not to plan anything for Friday afternoon, because by this time we are usually very tired. Weekends and holidays should also be taken into account. Set tasks for the time when you have the most energy, and not when it tends to zero and needs to be restored.

3. Ask a friend for help

It's easier to be successful if someone is monitoring our progress. Select friendwho you trust and look up to. It is better if his character and skills are different from yours. This will help you look at things from a different angle and learn how other people manage their time.

Offer a friend the same help. Perhaps he has a goal to which he is going. Agree with him when and how often you will check each other's progress. The more often you check in, the easier it will become for you to keep track of how close you are to the finish line.

4. Get rid of the paper diary

It is easy to buy a beautiful glider or diary. But it is important to remember that the main mission is to remain productive in the long run. Therefore, it is better to use an electronic diary or a special application for planning tasks, because the phone, unlike a paper notebook, is always at hand.

You can start with Google Calendar or move straight to more advanced apps. The main thing is that you have the opportunity to create intermediate goals and monitor progress.

5. Stop solving problems that don't exist

We already know not to compare your life to perfect social media photos. The same goes for productivity. When you once again have the feeling that you are doing something wrong, ask yourself: “I really need to change?»

Productivity is about knowing which tasks are worth doing and which are not. If you don't need an avocado sandwich and fruit smoothie for breakfast, don't waste your time on this. If you make your bed once a week, that's fine. You don't have to imitate fashion bloggers and add new tasks for yourself just because someone on TikTok does it.

Stay realistic, follow your energy and build your own system to suit your habits and lifestyle.