Top 4 Ways to Stay Productive

It can be so difficult to stay productive at the moment- particularly if you have more time on your hands, if you’re busy working, or if your routine has been disrupted because of the pandemic.

I work part-time, and before that I didn’t have a job as I had just graduated University, so I often find myself with some time on my hands.

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase using one of the links, I make a little commission- at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own 🙂

If you’re in a similar position at the moment- or you’re just trying to be a little more productive in your day-to-day life- check out 4 Ways to Stay Productive!

Set Reasonable Goals

I think this is an important one. Setting goals for your work and time is super important, but it’s also important to set yourself goals you can actually reach, instead of unrealistic goals that are bound to fail. That way, you have reasonable expectations for your time, and end up feeling good about the time you’ve spent working, job-hunting, or blogging.

I think making sure you’re not too hard on yourself is also important- if you’re not a natural early riser, work around that rather than forcing yourself to wake up early. Likewise, if you know you get nothing done after 6pm- remember that when planning your time.

Open page reading "to do list" with a pen resting on the notebook.
Photo by Breakingpic on Pexels.com

Get into a Routine

I think there is so much to be said for getting into a good routine. This is something that helped me during lockdown, and I think even if you just have a few things on your schedule per day, getting into a healthy and regular routine aids your overall productivity.

If you’re working from home, getting into a routine is central to getting all your work done- and so this tip can apply to you too.

If you’re struggling to effectively manage your time, I really recommend checking out Emily’s book *”Perfect Productivity“. She writes about avoiding procrastination and meeting your goals.

Invest in Your Hobbies

If, like me, you try to work on your blog during your free time- investing in this blogging is a must. And this applies whatever your hobby is- if you don’t feel invested in something, you’re not going to commit as much time to it.

For example, in May I knew I wanted to spend more time on my blogging, so I bought a domain and Premium WordPress plan- and this has definitely encouraged me to work harder on my blogging, my engagement, and building my blog into an earning endeavour.

Another way to invest is using the right stationery and planners, making sure to plan ahead, use the right tools, and find a passion for something so that any time when you might not have a job, can be spent doing something productive.

Wake Up at a Reasonable Time (it doesn’t have to be that early…)

I’m not a natural early riser, and so when I say “reasonable” you can take that with a pinch of salt… But I do think waking up at a similar time everyday, and getting into a routine, is central to working well and being productive.

I work best in the afternoon and evening, as I stay up later than my family and so the evening is a few hours where I can have uninterrupted blogging time. I still try to wake up relatively early, but I become more productive as the day goes on. And that’s not a problem, because on days when I can just focus on blogging, that’s fine. The key is to know what works for you and run with it.

Double bed with a blue cover and pillows.
Photo by Maria Orlova on Pexels.com

Do you have any recommendations of ways to stay productive? Do you enjoy finding new ways to be productive in your day-to-day life? What do you think of my 4 ways to stay productive?

Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below 🙂

Happy reading x

72 thoughts

  9. I love that you included the importance of investing in your hobbies! Sure, you should invest in your personal growth, your career/business, your physical health, etc. But you should also invest in things that make you happy outside of that. I think it should also be mentioned that you don’t have to try to turn every hobby into a side hustle. Taking that time away sometimes is what you need in order to boost your productivity on the career/business side. For example, I LOVE cross stitch but I don’t sell it… That’s what gives me a short break from everything else.

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    1. Yesss investing in my hobby is definitely what I’m trying to do at the moment, but I completely agree it should definitely be clear that any kind of hobby is important, and that’s so true about having that balance! I think that’s lovely, it hasn’t become a “business” it’s just an enjoyable activity x

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  12. Investing in hobbies is one which is generally not told and I’m really glad you did! Also yes to reasonable time haha. Even though I work fine in the morning, doing hobbies before work starts doesn’t go well with me because I’m always looking at the clock. Hence staying up late nights helps.

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  15. Thankfully productivity hasn’t been an issue for me as I work for myself and I’ve still been busy but I know it’s been a struggle for a lot of people this year! Getting up at a reasonable time is KEY for me. I’m a very early riser but I know that if I wake up too late, that’s essentially my day gone!

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  16. Helpful tips! Establishing a routine is definitely important in being productive but I also make sure to take breaks when I can so I don’t stay glued to my desk and computer screen. I find that helps to refresh me so when I come back to work, I’m reenergized and ready to tackle the workload again.

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  17. Great tips! I find time management my biggest challenge so I have an agenda where I block of time for certain tasks like checking emails, clients tasks, writing, etc

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  19. Four very valuable ways to stay productive! I always struggled to create a routine until I started using an academic planner during Uni. Now, even though I graduated a while ago, its the one thing that keeps me focused and allows me to plan and jot down realistic goals.

    Thank you for mentioning the final section, as I also work the best in the afternoon and evenings. I often got teased by early risers, who thought I was lazy. Find the best routine that works for you, and you’ll see that your productivity improves, it doesn’t matter what other people are doing. 😊

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    1. Thank you! I think planners are so helpful- the Mal Planner I linked in the post is so useful for keeping track of my blogging 🙂 I’m glad it still helps you day to day! Noo it’s not lazy to know how you work- I still get up relatively early because I like to start early-ish but I get better as the day goes on 🙂 thanks for sharing your thoughts

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  20. Great post! I am in the process of figuring out how to organize myself and my life a little better, especially since I started my own business and am working from home, currently from my bed lol. Waking up earlier is on my grand to-do list, because I know it’ll set me off on such a better note. I’ll get there! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

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  29. Investing in your hobbies is something that is so underrated yet so important! I have actively set aside time to invest in my hobbies, and it makes me happier, and when I am happier, it is easier to e productive! I also agree with your other tips!

    Thanks for sharing 🙂

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  30. These are great tips! Waking up and actually getting up at a similar time every day really helps me be more productive

    Nicola | nicoladaletraining.com

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  38. This is an amazing post. This is just what I need to read right now. I am trying to set a new routine, hoping it works. Thank you for sharing.

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