Photo by Matt Ragland on Unsplash

I’ve seen my productivity skyrocket when I started building these habits:

Daily Movements

Working out, especially in the morning, gives me a better mood for the rest of the day. Going for walks is also the best reset when I’m under the pump and feeling stressed. The combination of happy hormones I get from walking plus a different environment (away from my desk and laptop) serves as an excellent reset for my brain and current mindset.

Flow State

Chasing the state of flow helps me achieve deep focus work and finish critical-thinking tasks in 2-3 hours, which can be the equivalent of a distracted 5-6 hours of work. Setting my mobile on airplane mode, leaving it in another room, or using the Forest app helps so much with this.

Read the book “Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience” by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi to learn more about the flow state.

Deep Focus in the Morning

Putting the crucial and most important tasks first thing in the morning ensures I devote undistracted time and fresh energy to them. Typically, around 5-8 am are the best times because I have no scheduled calls or meetings.

I first learned about the concept of deep focus in relation to productivity when I read the book “Deep Work” by Cal Newport. 5 stars out of 5!

Time Blocking

Time blocking means you block a time on your calendar for a certain task. For example, blocking 8-9 am for posting and engaging on LinkedIn. By adding “blocks,” you get to focus on doing one thing and that one thing alone.

It helps me avoid multi-tasking (which I’m so prone to doing) and set only a specific time for each task to avoid getting distracted and dragging it for hours and hours.

At the same time, when I time block, I ensure I’m being kind to myself by allowing flexibility and unapologetically moving/extending blocks on my calendar if needed.

Journaling

It’s a productivity cliche, but it works for me. It lets me jot down vague thoughts into concrete insights and actions. It is also powerful in shifting anxious thoughts into gratitude and positive energy.

I use Chelsea Kauai’s Notes to Mindfulness as it has daily prompts.

2-Do List

It’s so tempting to make a lengthy to-do list with everything we have to do. But shortlisting it into the top two most crucial tasks each day helps me prioritize and complete the tasks that will make me consider the day a win. If I can finish these two, I’ll feel triumphant.

Setting Boundaries

No work on weekends. No calls or meetings in the morning. No calls or meetings in the evening. Total offline on holidays. Communicating these with clients has been a massive game-changer. It’s okay to set boundaries. The key is to (over)communicate them so there are no surprises along the way.

Rest and Recovery

I need to recharge with the amount of output I produce. I’ve learned that skipping this part is the perfect recipe for burnout, and I’ve learned to be kind to myself and schedule these things. Regular trips and staycations. Hike and beach on weekends, offline at night. Pomodoro breaks in between articles and decks.

Also, if I’m not feeling productive during the day, even if I try, I cut myself some slack and go with the flow. It’s probably my body’s Morse code for burnout.

How about you? Which habits have worked for you in terms of being productive at work?