Practical Tips to Maintain Productivity

Productivity is a major driving force in my team. I have implemented tools and principles to help everyone in my team optimize their creativity. I have written articles detailing the same and now is the right time to complete the trilogy. Let’s discuss some practical tips I use to keep myself productive from within.

Understanding your environment

Your environment determines how productive you can be. I always prime my environment by removing any potential distractions from my workspace. I like focusing on one task and giving it my full attention. This means removing noise, loud music, programs, or entertainment sources. I keep my workspace simple with everything I need to accomplish my tasks. I sit at my computer and follow my planned checklist to accomplish my tasks. 

I do not use any productivity aids. These are things like white noise machines or timers to keep you accountable. I find them more of a distraction than an aid. Keeping the workspace lean with one visual and mental stimulus helps me maintain my productivity. Eliminating all distractions will keep you primed for the best output you can achieve. Your environment is one of the aspects to prime. Your workflow is the other. I do this by using checklists.

Utilizing checklists

Checklists are like to-do lists but better. They fully break down a task into specific deliverables ensuring every aspect of a task is accomplished as required. They help you maximize your time and get more done efficiently and correctly. I plan my days by deciding on the most important tasks and other smaller tasks that can be done during the day. These checklists keep me focused on the most important things, saving me time and energy. 

I've implemented these checklists in my remote team to great effect. I've seen my team reach peak productivity as they perform their tasks. We get things done and avoid the backlog, and wasted effort we previously experienced. The checklists are a staple of how I do things and how my team does things. To-do lists tell you what to do without breaking it down for you. It doesn't protect you from focusing on irrelevant aspects. Efficiency is the main priority and checklists help me and my team achieve this. I have written a detailed article that goes deeper into this topic. It will guide you on how to create, implement, and use these checklists. 

Read:Boost Productivity With Checklist

Proper time management

I manage my time by planning my days. I have a simple text document that I use to write down a to-do list. I pick out the most important task to accomplish on the list and make it the most important adventure. I then decide which smaller tasks can fit my workday. These can range from meetings, giving, feedback, or tangible tasks I have to do. I prioritize the most important adventure as it is the main task with the biggest outcome for that day.

I organize my workday to spend less time deciding what to do. It helps me know what's urgent and what isn't. The to-do list is important for batching the tasks. The checklists then help me execute the tasks most efficiently. This prevents me from having to multitask or have my attention pulled in many directions. I like grouping similar tasks and handling them in one go. An example of this is when I give feedback to my writer. I usually have the time block reserved for specific tasks. It keeps me productive and ensures things keep moving. We do this on Goleko. It allows us to manage projects better. 

Having a clear plan of attack is something I'd recommend everyone to implement. It will help you maintain your output and keep you productive. 

Maintaining physical health

A healthy mind and body are essential to maintaining your productivity. You cannot produce optimally when you're not at your best. Maintaining your health is vital to enhancing your productivity levels. You can't do much when sick, tired, or hurt. I promote my physical health by eating a lot of meat, training, and going for walks. I drink a lot of water and get some rest. This allows me to stave off sickness and fatigue in most instances. It's not a full-proof strategy but it works well most of the time.

I keep my mind healthy by ingesting helpful and productive content. I read, practice coding, and learn to integrate new legacy frameworks. This keeps my mind eager, fresh, and active. Your mind is the biggest driving force of your motivation, creativity, and resilience. Keeping it productive is essential for your increased output. I am a big advocate of using coffee to get an extra boost. Caffeine is a good mental stimulant that helps you stay focused, energized, and productive.  This is a template is used by many people to achieve great things.  Take care of your mind and body and they'll take care of you. 

Remembering to rest

Rest is essential for your mind and body to recover. I struggle to know when to take some time to rest. I like maximizing my efforts, leading to overworking. I'm not a good judge of when to rest but I have some cues that help me. One of these cues is an inability to do my tasks well. This can be poor quality, poor efficiency, or both. This is a sign of reduced focus, intent, and drive. 

I take time to rest and let my systems recharge. It's recommended to have eight hours of sleep to recover. I don't regularly hit these numbers but I make sure to get enough sleep in. Your productivity is adversely affected when you aren't at your best. Take breaks and rest when you feel tired, slow, or overwhelmed. It is counterproductive to have your efficiency drop and produce lackluster work. Take time to rest, replenish your strength, and then work as best you can. 

Takeaways

You can enhance your productivity and execute all your plans. Properly manage your time, prioritize your physical health, understand your environment, and utilize some checklists. It will help you enhance your productivity and allow you to produce your best work. These are some of the strategies that work well for me. There are more techniques and strategies you can use to enhance your productivity. Remember to assess and adjust when possible. Keep your goal at the forefront and tailor your strategy toward it. You'll see your efficiency and productivity soar from it. 

FAQs

Do productivity tools work?

Some people swear by them and others don't. They do not work for me but that doesn't mean they won't for you. Try them and assess whether you're more or less productive with them.

How important is sleep to staying productive?

Sleep is necessary to keep fresh and re-energized. Take a break when necessary and let your mind and body recover to serve you better on your next tasks. 

What's the Pomodoro technique?

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. It involves breaking work into intervals. The intervals were 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. The technique aims to improve productivity and focus by using short bursts of concentrated work, followed by rest periods.

How can I remain productive in project management?

You can use a project management tool to organize and delegate tasks to your team. Use checklists to break down the important tasks in the project and use your time well to fulfill said tasks. Implement timely feedback with proper and open communication. These principles should help you maintain high productivity in your project management.