Productivity and time management, two things I definitely need to work on this year. I like to think of myself as an organized person and while I may be organized I often struggle to focus and manage my time well.

I have been trying my best to improve my time management and productivity so far this year and while we are only 3 weeks in, I think I am off to a decent start. I wanted to share a few tips that have been working well for me.

Calendar/Planner

My planner was my life line in high school and college. It was how I kept track of EVERYTHING. From assignments to my work schedule and any campus activities. While I no longer have assignments to keep track of I still plan out my days and keep track of important events. It is so helpful to have everything written out to plan ahead.

Make Lists

I probably take list making to an obsessive level but I find it extremely helpful. I make lists everyday; grocery lists, to-do lists both long-term and short-term, reminders, etc. Not only do the lists help me keep track of all that I need to do, but being able to check things off of a list is satisfying and keeps me motivated to stay on task.

Have a “Schedule”

I am someone who thrives on structure, I NEED it in order to function. So having a schedule for certain tasks like housework, laundry, grocery shopping, etc. makes it easy to use my time wisely and make sure things get done.

Set a Timer

I get distracted much to easy. Staying focused is something I really struggle with so I have to schedule breaks or set timers to keep me on track. Depending on the task I will set a timer for 30-60 minutes and then allow myself to take a break. I also recently learned about an app that not only helps you stay focused with a timer, but encourages you to stay off of your phone during that time. The app is called Forest and if you set the app and don’t leave it or use your phone for a set period of time, your tree will grow. But if you lose focus and try to leave the app your tree dies. It turns it into a game and not only challenges you to stay focused but the app also plants trees as a reward for being successful. How cool is that??

I am hoping that my time management and productivity will continue to improve this year. What tricks do you use to better manage your time and increase productivity?