TIPS FOR STAYING PRODUCTIVE

I feel like we could all use some tips to boost productivity now and again, I know I certainly could! I've tried to come up with a few things that I try to use to help me stay motivated and achieve the things I set out to do.

- Work out what time of the day you work best, I find I'm actually more productive later in the day so I tend to set myself tasks that require more focus in the evening. Obviously, this isn't always possible but I would recommend you have a think about when you feel most productive!

- Try making lists to keep track of the things you need to do but keep it basic, you don't want to spend all your time creating a perfect list and not actually complete any of the tasks on it!

- Do you prefer to work in silence? With music? Or perhaps you just need some sort of low background noise, setting the best environment for you can really help you to stay productive for longer. For me, I like to listen to music in the background so always make sure I've got a good playlist ready to go.

- Don't try to do things on an empty stomach, you'll just end up giving up quicker because you're too hungry! It's a common thing for people to eat when they're bored, so if you're doing something that you don't find especially interesting then having things like mints handy can be useful. This usually helps me stay focused for a bit longer before getting distracted by food!

- Always, always make sure you have water! Whether you're blogging, cleaning, exercising - whatever it is, staying hydrated is obviously important. I find having a reusable bottle really helpful as it means you can always refill it throughout the day. 

- Set reasonable goals to achieve by taking 5-10 minutes to actually work out what you need to do and break it down into small tasks. Consider how much time you have and that way you’re more likely to complete them.

- Find how long you can be efficient for, it's no point working at something for hours if you're not even fully focused for most of it. Instead, completely concentrate on the task for the time that suits you and take more frequent breaks.

- Try the Pomodoro technique, especially if you're doing tasks that make take some time and require more thought. It's essentially what I mentioned above as you are supposed to work for 25 minutes (consistently with no breaks or distractions) and then you take a short break. After completing four rounds then you should take a longer break (this could be a good time to have lunch or dinner).

- Don’t put pressure on having to be 100% productive all the time as let's be real, that's pretty impossible. Allow yourself time to fully relax and shut off, especially at the end of the day. That way you should hopefully feel more refreshed and ready to go the next day!

- Check social media before starting your tasks, I find that it's better just to spend 10 minutes or so checking it and then you can put it aside without having to worry about what notifications you might have. For me, I like to get it out of the way and then I can focus on whatever I need to do without the urge to check my phone. 

- Take photos of the times when you're really productive, perhaps you've organised and cleaned something or have completed some blogging work. If you document your achievements (no matter how small), it can be nice to look back on when you're not feeling so motivated. 

- If the task at hand is something exercise related, then be sure to give yourself time to wind down and relax. On the other hand, if you're sat down for ages doing work then introducing some form of exercise can be really useful. Even if it's just going for a walk, it's nice to have a change of scenery!

- It really is all about balance. Do give yourself enough time to do the things you need to, but also allow yourself to have fun and to rest as well!

These are all tips I use or at least try to anyway! I'd be interested to know if you plan to try any of these out and please let me know if you've got any of your own things that help you to be productive. Despite this list, I'm still a massive procrastinator so could always do with some more tips!