If you are a freelancer, work from home, or even run a business, you are likely familiar with the struggle of feeling like you are stuck on a “productivity rollercoaster.” You might be working for hours and not making any progress, then suddenly have an idea that makes the whole process feel more manageable. It can be difficult to know what is going to work for you and what will give you the best results.
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It can be aggravating; there’s this wild ride where some days you’re productive, and other days nothing is just happening. This alone can really get in the way. So, what can you do? Here are some tips on keeping your productivity up so work can be a breeze!
Reduce Your Scope of Work
The scope of work is a whole lot more than just tasks. It also includes the amount of time it will take for you to finish each task. When your scope increases, so do your workload, stress and anxiety levels, and overall productivity. One major way people, specifically business owners, reduce their scope of work is by mitigating tasks. For instance, why not look into hiring someone to take care of the green foliage outdoor plants rather than doing all of this yourself?
Take Breaks
Taking breaks is important when it comes to being productive. It allows you to rest your mind and body to prepare for the next task. Breaks also help with creativity, which is why some people use them for brainstorming sessions or as an escape from the daily grind. Some people like to take their breaks in nature or on a walk, while others like to play sports or do creative activities. The key is finding what works best for you and sticking with it! You need to take breaks, they help, and they do not make productivity worse!
Break Down Your Work Into Manageable Chunks
A common tactic to help people manage their workload is to break down the work into manageable chunks they can handle at a time. This way, they are less likely to get overwhelmed. Sometimes, it’s just hard to be productive if you’re too overwhelmed. For example, if you have been assigned a long project with many tasks and deadlines, it might be easier to do them individually and not try to complete them in one sitting.
This is ideal if you have a major project that needs to be tackled for your business or even something that helps improve your business, whether it be improving the appearance or hiring a new team member.
Keep Track of What You Have Accomplished
Sometimes it is hard to keep track of what you have accomplished. This is why it is important to use a tool that can help you keep track of your accomplishments. There are many ways to track what you have accomplished. You can use a planner, post-it notes, or even create an Excel spreadsheet. But if you want something more automated and convenient, tools such as Trello, Asana, and Todoist will allow you to organize all your tasks in one place. This is basic enough, and it’s something that tends to be taught at a young age. However, this can work!
Know When to Cut Your Losses and Move On
In life, we must learn the importance of knowing when to cut losses and move on. It is important to know when something has gone wrong, and you should not put in more effort than what is needed. The same applies to your business. It is important that you know when it’s time to cut your losses and move on from a project or a partnership that may not be working out as well as expected. Sometimes, you need to take a step back and see what’s getting in your way to stay productive.
