How to Be More Productive in 2021

A new year is approaching! I always love the beginning of a new year, month, even a new week! The beginning of something always fills me with excitement and the idea of a fresh start. While obviously you can start something at any point in time, there’s nothing like starting fresh at the beginning of something like a brand new year. Maybe it’s just the type 3 in me, I just love it!

Today I wanted to share some tips on being more productive in the new year. While we’re obviously still in the middle of a pandemic, productivity may mean something different to you now than it did 12 months ago. Before I get into these tips I want to put a quick disclaimer: you do not NEED to be extremely productive during this time. Waking up, eating, and making it through a worldwide pandemic is productive. So if you’re struggling with doing anything more than that do NOT be hard on yourself. I personally love writing about productivity and the idea of “work smarter not harder,” which is why I wanted to make this post. I need to stop rambling but the moral of the story is: you don’t need to improve your productivity this year. This post is just here if you want to. Let’s get on with the tips!

1. SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS IN THE MORNING

Having a solid morning routine is key for a successful day. Starting your day off right just puts you in the mindset you need to achieve all that you want to. My grandma always says that making your bed in the morning is the most important thing to do so you can feel put together and ready to tackle the day, and she’s so right! Even if your morning routine is to simply wake up, wash your face, and make your bed, you’ll still be setting yourself up for a great day.

2. PLAN YOUR DAY WITH TO-DO LISTS

I am a HUGE fan of writing down everything I need to get done. Being able to check things off of my list is so satisfying and helps to keep me on track. Not all of us can remember everything we need to do. Writing things down is the easiest way to make sure you never forget tasks that need to be completed. Try putting your most important tasks at the top of your list and the less important or urgent tasks lower down to keep everything organized in a hierarchy of urgency so you know what needs to be completed that day and what can get pushed off.

Did you know I sell printable planners? Check out my Etsy here and get your hands on my productivity printables to help keep yourself productive and on track this year!

3. PREPARE FOR THE DAY THE NIGHT BEFORE

Pick out your morning workout before you head to sleep. Lay out your outfit and accessories before bed. Write down what meals you plan on eating the next day. There are many things you can do before bed to prepare yourself for the upcoming day. This is extremely helpful for when you wake up in the morning and don’t have the mental capacity to make decisions yet. You can wake up and get going right away because everything it already sitting and ready for you!

4. MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS WHILE WORKING ON TASKS

When you start on a task, try putting your phone somewhere else or turn airplane mode on. I know I can easily get sucked into social media or checking my email when I’m meant to be working on something else. Putting your phone out of reach is so helpful when you need to just put your head down and get something done. You can split your tasks up by working on something, taking a 5-minute break and going on social media or responding to texts, doing another task, then taking a break, and so on.

5. START SAYING NO

Don’t spread yourself too thin. Always remember that busy does not equal productive. It’s important to be able to say no. You don’t have to please everyone and you don’t have to do everything that someone may ask of you. Ask yourself if it will align with your life and your goals and decide from there. Like I said in the beginning of this post: work smarter, not harder.

Implementing these 5 tips into your life will easily set you up for an extremely productive year. I hope that you found these helpful! Having a productive day is just always to satisfying to me and makes me feel really good. Cheers to a productive new year!

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