How to be productive

Teacher by day, blogger by night. That seems to be my regular mojo. I’m a busy bee and that sometimes has people wonder how I do it. Because next to a 4 day job as a teacher and daily blogs, I also try to workout at least 3 – 5 times a week, try to cook as many meals as I can and I have a social life. If you’re curious how I manage, then read on.

How to be productive

1 Create a routine – The best way to get anything done is to make it part of your system. There is only one problem: this is hard and it takes time. I read somewhere it can take at least 2 – 3 months before something because routine, which means that you need to pull yourself off the couch more than once to work on that killer body. Alas most people give up before their first month is up. Creating a plan and then sticking to it, is the best way to make the most of your time.

2 Allot time for tasks – My favorite solution to creating a plan and being able to stick to it, is to allot a certain amount of time on a daily basis for certain tasks. Take writing blogs. I ensure I have everything I need to write the blog posts so that all I have to do is write. I then edit my pictures do the writing and ta-dah, my daily post is done. I typically allow 1 hr a day for blog creation. Sometimes it takes more time and others it takes less. I have created my blogging schedule according to when I have the most time available.

3 Listen to music – Once I get started on a task, my main motivator to keep going is music. That wardrobe declutter I showed you last Sunday took hours to film. What you don’t see is how I get up after every talkie bit to switch on my playlist and continue the task at hand. I do the same when I am taking pictures, doing dishes or am cooking. I am always listening to music (or watching youtube videos or am reading) because it is something you can easily do in conjunction with other tasks. It helps me to focus and think of none other than what needs doing.

4 Focus on the result – ‘You can do anything if you set your mind to it’.  How often haven’t we heard that? But when it comes to productivity, it is  what works. I find that if I just keep going and push through, it makes it a lot easier to get things done. This especially goes for housework and chores. Not my favorite tasks by any means, but as long as I keep my eyes on the prize (which would be a clean home) I know I can do it.

5 Chill if needed – However, THE trick to being productive is knowing when to stop. This is the part I struggle with most, because I would love to just keep going. While that is far from being feasible, it is something you manage by knowing exactly when you need a time out. I try to get blogs done the minute I get home or right after getting out of bed. Better to get it out of the way, so I can chill and relax and not think of anything other than how I am going to waste the night or day away.

What are your tips for being productive?