Simple Ways to Be More Productive Every Day (2024)

JESSICA PETERSON

Wake up at the same time every day

Getting into a routine can be one of the best ways to stay productive—especially while working from home, says Rhiannon Staples, a corporate culture expert and CMO at people management platform Hibob. "Try to wake up at similar times each day, exercise if you’re accustomed to it, eat breakfast/have your morning coffee, and then sit down at your computer to start the work day." Sticking to a schedule will help you stay regimented and as alert as possible, because when you know what to expect, it's less daunting to start your day—no matter what you have on your plate, she explains.

Do something nice for yourself to set the tone

And start each day with a plan

Before you get to work in the morning, create a prioritized to-do list, says Staples. "It’s always best practice to tackle the toughest, most difficult items first. The tricky things are easy to push off and procrastinate, but if you're successful, you'll gain the confidence and momentum to get through the rest of your list.

Unplug in the morning and the evening

While you're at work, make your phone less distracting

Set an intention before each activity

Morgenstern advises you to be mindful before switching tasks. After putting the kids to sleep, for example, take a minute to decide how you’d like to connect with your partner, be it by talking about the day, watching a movie, or getting to know each other even better. At work, choose to really enjoy a lunch or coffee break. This will help recharge your mind and increase your effectiveness before the next transition.

Stick to one master calendar

Forget Post-its and scattered notes. Morgenstern recommends merging all of your tasks and appointments into one calendar or scheduling system that makes you comfortable. “A to-do list that is not integrated into a schedule rarely gets done,” she says.

Plan your weeks every Friday

Vanderkam recommends taking stock of next week’s schedule every Friday afternoon in order to delegate tasks, move unnecessary meetings, and leave room for anything time sensitive.

Limit meetings

With work from home inevitably comes a flurry of Zoom meetings throughout the day—it’s an important part of staying connected—but too many mismanaged appointments on your calendar can negatively impact productivity, says Staples. Try to limit meetings to 30 to 45 minutes to keep attention focused on the task at hand, she suggests. And be mindful of invites you accept. "If your role in the meeting is unclear, or you don’t have an active role in the meeting, it’s fair to ask the organizer if it’s necessary for you to participate." Find you're getting invited to way too many meetings? Block some of your most productive hours out on your calendar.

Download an organization app to help you at home or work

If the calendar method hasn't been helping you achieve peak productivity, it might be time to download an organization app. According to executives and productivity coaches, these apps help you manage multiple to-do lists, organize your address book, track your time, easily access your passwords, prioritize your well-being, and track various assignments—all of which will increase focus and productivity.

Schedule time just for checking emails

According to a 2017 American Psychological Association survey, constantly checking and responding to emails—even on your days off—leads to increased stress. If you find yourself becoming one of those "constant checkers," try setting pre-determined time frames for opening up your inbox. Allotting 20 minutes every hour for responding to messages might just lower stress and help you get more done for the remaining 40 minutes.

...and spend less time responding to emails

When you are in e-mail mode, whittling down your email responses to five sentences or less will help you succinctly deliver the thoughts you’re trying to convey—and cut the time spent writing them. To prevent co-workers or friends from thinking your responses are rude, Chris Bailey, author of Hyper Focus, recommends letting people know you’re doing this by adding a line in your email signature, like "To respect your time and mine, I’m keeping every email to five sentences or less."

Take frequent breaks every day

“If you don’t give your brain a break, you may end up in an internet rabbit hole instead of working,” says Off The Clock author and time management speaker Laura Vanderkam, who suggests incorporating short breaks into your workday. During that time, go for a walk, take the dogs outside, grab a cup of coffee or a snack, check in with a friend or family member, do a quick at-home workout, or listen to a new podcast.

Prioritize self-care

Make the most of the weekend

Decide whether you'd like to conquer demands in the mornings, afternoons, or evenings. Morgenstern says this can help you juggle your relationship with family, friends, and yourself, while also weaving in moments for pesky chores and overdue professional tasks. Be sure to also outline time to do, well, absolutely nothing.

Coordinate to-do lists with your partner

Getting in the habit of making and sharing to-do lists within your household will make things run smoother–and may even help spark more feelings of gratitude. "When we got married, my husband and I wrote out every household chore in a shared spreadsheet. When I finished a task, I would put a check next to it–and when my husband noticed it, he would send a simple thank you note (and vice versa)," wrote organizational guru Marie Kondo.

Make time spent with friends and family count

It’s called quality time for a reason. To be fully present with your loved ones, Morgenstern suggests relying on daily “reconnection points” like dinnertime. She says it’s not about spending more hours with the people you care about, but rather ensuring that those moments are filled with focus.

Plan a vacation

Employees—yes, even work-from-home employees—should leverage their paid time off if they're able to take an extended vacation or a long weekend road trip, says Staples. "Vacation, even if you don't actually go anywhere, is necessary to unwind following a difficult or particularly taxing couple of months at work." Hitting the pause button may make you feel lazy, but ultimately, taking that time off to completely decompress will result in higher levels of productivity and a generally more positive attitude toward your job when you return, she explains.

Write down your accomplishments

At the end of the day, instead of focusing on what’s left to do, be kind to yourself by making a list of your day’s successes, Bailey says. Comparing your list daily, and then weekly, will help you realize just how productive you’ve become.

Establish a firm end to the day

Just as its important to start your day at the same time, setting a hard stop for the day is crucial for lasting productivity—especially during quarantine. "It's easy to work extra-long hours, especially if you aren't commuting right now, but that can lead to burnout and ultimately, a dip in productivity," says Staples. "Create the same sense of rigidity in clocking out as you would if you had a train or bus to catch."