Finding productivity no matter how busy (or not) your day is

Have you ever found yourself with a full workday with only one meeting scheduled?  Have you been excited to have a day to catch up on tasks that have been waiting for long stretches of time? But as the day goes on, you find yourself distracted more and more and have a hard time concentrating.

Why are we more productive when we have less time to work on to-dos than when the day is open?

Refining Workflow recommends the following methodologies to keep productivity up when you are not balancing meetings.

• Use time blocking - Make calendar entries for the items that you want to work on and timebox them. If you are trying to finish 3 items from your to-do list, make three calendar entries to set the time you want to take on them.

• Eliminate distractions - Set a timer for 20 minutes and see what you can accomplish in that time. Before you set the timer, put your Slack/TEAMS and even email on do not disturb. After the 20 minutes is up, stand up and take a break for 5 minutes.  Keep repeating this pattern throughout the day.

• Find your peak productivity time - Figure out when you are the most productive and work on your to-dos during that time of day. For example, if you are a morning person, make sure to set a few work blocks for yourself during the morning. If you prefer to work at night, set up work blocks at that time.

• Prioritize tasks – Review your to-do list every day and make sure the items that are critical are being done first.

• Schedule breaks – Stepping away from your desk and computer for just a walk around the office or 10-minute walk outside can help your brain recharge and reset.