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7 Ways To Stay Productive

Now that we are about a month into the new year I have been thinking a lot about productivity. I feel like I am super productive sometimes and other times I just space out. Anyone else? When I get on productivity kicks I want to accomplish all the things. Other days I feel like I accomplish NOTHING. I wanted to share the tips I use for productivity when I really need a kick in the pants. Here are 7 ways to stay productive that will really help you!

7 Ways To Stay Productive

Set A Schedule: If you are someone who’s super unproductive, then a schedule will be great for you! I try to schedule every single day to ensure I am as productive as possible. Once nap time rolls around I hate not knowing what I need to do or what’s next.

Have a Task List: This can be a daily to do list, a weekly to do list, or just a list of certain things that need to get done. I have a few. I have one for blog things that need to get done, house things, personal errands, things for Liam etc. This is SUPER helpful in scheduling my day.

Keep Expectations Realistic: If you have a ton to do don’t kill yourself to get it done in one day. Instead prioritize the most important to least important and keep your expectations realistic. Don’t cut corners.

Don’t Over Commit: This kind of goes with the one above. You can’t overcommit. I am notorious for doing this but be realistic. If something is due a certain day and you feel like it can’t get done ask if there is wiggle room for the due date. I would rather something be done a little late and done well than rush and have it be less than my best work.

Take Breaks: I try to take a few 10 minute breaks a day. Sometimes I will fold laundry, or listen to a bit of a podcast, or even indulge in 10 minutes of silly TV.

Find A Great Work Space: Everyone has a different idea of what their ideal workspace is. I need a less is more environment. I work from Starbucks A LOT when we have childcare and having just a coffee and my laptop is all I need. Sometimes I work at our kitchen island which I love as well. We have a home office but honestly I rarely work in it. It tends to be more of my blog HQ for props, photography gear, etc.

Remove Clutter: One of the reasons I don’t work in our office a ton is because there is so much stuff in it. The island is great because its almost always empty. I love having a space to work that is clutter free.

I hope these 7 ways to stay productive can help you achieve some of your goals this year. What would you add to this list?

Leave a Comment

39 Comments

  1. Task lists are everything! I make a checklist for what I need to do the night before. It makes me feel so much more relaxed when I know exactly what I need to tackle on the day! 🙂

    Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
    http://charmainenyw.com

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  2. Anna wrote:

    Those are such a great tips – as always! Especially the last one (and one before it, haha) – I cannot ever focus if my workspace is a mess. x

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  3. Sara wrote:

    I love lists!! Nothing beats the satisfaction of crossing something off of it.

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  4. Jessie wrote:

    I love this!!!! I love organization!!! I will definitely be using this.

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  5. Alexis wrote:

    Great post! I really like this guideline to success.

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  6. Great tips! I struggle with productivity sometimes and lists are very helpful. Also having a comfy clutter-free workspace helps

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  7. Victoria wrote:

    Good tips. I find it hard to work in a cluttered area also. There are days my productivity is very lacking. lol

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  8. Yesenia S. wrote:

    I love all of these tips!Take breaks is one that I have been working on. I am a workaholic and tend to dive in with no breaks. I feel burnt out and less creative. Taking a break has helped a lot.

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  9. Clutter is one of the things I cannot stand when trying to get work done! I need a clean space in order to get work done! These are great tips!

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  10. Krystin wrote:

    These tips are so great, and I agree with all of them! What really helps me is to write things down too!

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  11. Krysten wrote:

    Clutter is HUGE for me. I get super stressed when things are messy and can’t seem to get everything done. I remember when I waitressed and things would be busy and a huge mess – it made it SO hard for me to concentrate on my job!

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  12. Helen wrote:

    I love these tips for staying productive. I definitely need to work on taking more 10-minute breaks. I find that when I do, I feel a million times more energized and ready to get back to work.

    -Helen
    http://www.sweethelengrace.com

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  13. Tracie wrote:

    I use the Pomodoro technique if I have a big project that I am working on. I tend to get bored if I sit too long so I have to do things in small increments. These are all great techniques that I will begin to incorporate as well.

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  14. Ashley wrote:

    YES! These are all so great. Sometimes I have to remind myself that it all doesn’t have to be done in one day.

    Ashley @ A Cute Angle // acuteangleblog.BlogSpot.com

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  15. Marcie W. wrote:

    Excellent suggestions! Creating a to-do list works wonders for me! I usually organize tasks by importance and cross them off as I go along. It makes me feel extra accomplished.

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  16. Angela Kim wrote:

    I agree about the importance of finding a good work space. It’s so important for us working mamas.

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  17. These are some great ideas! I always find that I am stretching myself way too thin trying to get things rolling with a blog and small business and staying organized is always the hardest for me! Also ironically I tend to spend more time working in our office than at our island for the exact opposite reason!

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  18. I definitely agree with making a task list for various things, and to make sure you’re focusing on what’s MOST important first. I also agree with breaks.

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  19. Scott wrote:

    Over-committing is my biggest mistake and I’m always in a rush to perform. But I guess I never want to under-deliver!

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  20. Kaitlin wrote:

    Girl, this post is beyond relatable this week. Monday, I accomplished literally everything on my to-do list for the day (plus some!) and had time at the end of the day to watch the Bachelor, kick back with a treat and use a face mask. Other days this week I’ve struggled to get anything done. It’s so strange how productivity ebbs and flows! I’ll try out these tips next week and see if they help me harness the power of my Monday state of mind haha 🙂 Thanks for a lovely post!

    Kaitlin || http://www.thecuriouslemon.com/

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  21. Liz wrote:

    Ooh yes, I’ve been taking time to stop and reflect on how the year’s been going so far since we’re wrapping up January now. Nice list! I find having a schedule is really helpful to keep me on track, and I’ll put tasks to the schedule to make sure I’m getting the little to-do items done that contribute to checking off bigger to-do items and goals 🙂

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  22. I love “Don’t Overcommit”. Isn’t it so true that we often simply take on too much?!

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  23. Zoë wrote:

    Great tips on staying productive! I feel like I also go through stages of being really productive, and then not at all haha! Im being really productive at the moment, but we will have to see how long that lasts for! Love the removing clutter, and having a good workspace tips! Definitely a must! xx

    http://zoe-ware.blogspot.ca

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  24. Zoë wrote:

    Great tips on staying productive! I feel like I also go through stages of being really productive, and then not at all haha! Im being really productive at the moment, but we will have to see how long that lasts for! Love the removing clutter, and having a good workspace tips! Definitely a must! xx

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  25. Lindsey wrote:

    For me, not over committing is huge. It is so easy to not allow any room for those unexpected situations that are bound to arise in family life.

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  26. Carmela wrote:

    Very good, practical, simple tips that I can really see making a difference. Thank you!

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  27. These are great tips! Especially the reminder about taking breaks! I am always so much more productive if I make myself get up and walk around for a bit.

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  28. I am so guilty of trying to do too much. Totally need to keep expectations realistic. Great ideas, love this post!

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  29. Jacqueline wrote:

    I’ll fersure by using these to stay productive.great post(:

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  30. Annemarie LeBlanc wrote:

    I am more efficient if I don’t see clutter. I make sure my home office is free from junk and almost paperless. It makes it very conducive to write when my area is clean and organized.

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  31. Jillian wrote:

    These are all great tips! When I start feeling overwhelmed, it doesn’t take long for me to realize I’ve added too much to my to-do list. I then work non-stop to compensate for these unrealistic expectations. So, setting realistic expectations and taking breaks are the two I really need to focus on. Thanks for the reminder, Neely!

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  32. Great tips!! thanks for the encouragement

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  33. Tami wrote:

    My biggest hangup is overcommitting. Next, I’d say my desk is a huge problem. I tend to clutter it up, then procrastinate doing any work because it’s such a mess.

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  34. All of these tips help especially taking breaks. Sometimes it is just a struggle to feel motivated to take on a task but if I break it up it is so much easier to manage.

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  35. Vy wrote:

    Great tips and such easy to remember reminders. Thank you!

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  36. Awesome information! Thank you. I struggle with productivity.

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  37. CourtneyLynne wrote:

    Great tips!!! I’m always the most productive when I like my surroundings!!! The more decluttered and clean the better

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  38. Clutter and taking breaks are a huge problem for me. I have tons of clutter, and I never seem to take breaks once I start something!

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  39. Reality based expectations are definitely key and where I often struggle!

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