Productivity Tip- This One Was a Game Changer for me!

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Do you ever feel like you are putting in so much time and effort and not getting the results you want?

Well, I used to think that too!

Then I started tracking my time, and guess what...

I wasn't doing half as much as I thought. Seriously!

I used to think I was spending 2-4 hours a day working on my website when I had a full time job.

Then I tracked it and...

I was actually spending 1 hour a day on average!

How to Track your time

I've started using a free tool called clockify... I track where I spend my time (I've been on WA for 18 minutes now)

You can just Google tracking time or something if you want to find another one.

But I find this helps in a couple of ways:

1. I can see where I'm spending my time

2. It keeps me more focused

This also helps me plan what I want to achieve each day, week, month (you get the idea!)

25 Minute Workloads

I also use the "Pomodoro technique", with 25 mins work then 5 mins off (Google that if you've never heard of it, this was a huge help for me!)

Since I have quit my full time job and work from home I realise I spend around 6 hours working in a 9 hour stint. I used to think... ah that sucks!

But...

Those 6 hours are productive and focussed.

Whenever I continue working for longer than 25 mins my productivity massively reduces and it makes me more tired later.

Just using the tracking tool has had a big impact on getting more done.

I hope this can help you too in some way!

...ooops that's been 28 minutes now... time for a 5 minute break

P.S. here's some of the things I do in my 5 mins... Sitting in silence, doing pressups/ sit ups/ yoga, playing the guitar, trying to do handstands...

Apparently watching wildlife is the best way to spend these 5 minutes, but that doesn't always work for me... the aim is to try to switch your brain off

30 mins now! Bye for now!


UPDATE-

I forgot to mention the Chrome extension noisli (free too)

Apparently listening to white noise helps when you work, rather than music with lyrics.

You can set all kinds of white noise like traiin tracks, coffee shop, birds etc.

This also stops playing the noise after a 25 minute timer. So if you are finishing off a sentence you don't get rudely interrupted!

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Recent Comments

36

Thanks, Mike! I was just thinking that if I sit too long, I get a bit stiff, even though I do yoga- I may havestretched a bit too far yesterday. So the Pomodoro thing 25 on and five off sounds just perfect I’m gonna try it today thanks so much for the tip. Practicing handstands too! Yes!

Glad it could help! Always cool to meet other yogi’s... although I hardly call myself one ;)

I’m getting there with the handstands though I reckon by the end of this month I could hold it for a bit without a wall!

This is a great idea, Mike. We use productivity tracking tools in my day job all the time. I never actually thought about using it to track what I do here or in my website.

Do you use it as an app on your phone while in WA on your computer or is all of it on the computer?

I need to check it out for myself- it would guarantee that I am actually putting my time to good use and actually being productive.

Thanks for this!

Bob

Just on the laptop.

I don’t think it matters what you use though, the tracking it is more important (although I’m a massive stats guy I love all the data!)

That's great advice Mike, thanks for sharing. I have always worked time on , time off, just not by a clock!
I find if I work too long without a break, I get frustrated and put it away for the rest of the day.
It really does work to have multiple breaks.

All the best
Jenny

Yeah, exactly Jenny. I'm not a massive fan of having the timer either, to be honest. But without it, I have no idea how long I've been working for.

Hopefully, in time, you'll be able to know when to stop, but as I'm still learning I will keep using the timer!

Hi Mike, I just go on how I'm feeling, as soon as I feel any stress, frustration or writers block, I stop.
Sometimes I will go have a ten minute break, sometimes I need to walk away for a couple of hours.
The trick is to NOT keep thinking about what is giving you trouble, don't try to figure out the problems while you are on that break, otherwise you go back to work feeling no better. I do sometimes make an organised plan of action. That's just what works for me:)

Jenny

Amazing Jenny, thanks for the tips!

Wow, I need to give these apps a try! It is sometimes hard to focus when we are naturally distracted by other things. I don't even realize how much time has gone by, and then it feels great to just stand up and stretch or go outside for a walk. Our brains need the rest too so we can continue working as efficiently as possible.
Thank you for sharing this!

Best,
Eva

Thanks Eva, I hope it helps. You’re so right about our brains needing a break. I genuinely didn’t realise how inefficient I was before using the Pomodoro technique, I just presumed that’s how I worked!

Thanks for stopping by

Hi, Mike, total value, the figures are what keeps us honest, what we think we are doing and what we are actually doing can be poles apart that is until we start to measure what we are doing.

One of my first mentors used to say;

" What is measured can be managed ".

That has stood me in good stead, thanks for sharing your processes, a great reminder and WA working at it best.

Alex

I love that Alex!

" What is measured can be managed "

I will write that on the front of my notepad and remember that one!

Thanks for stopping by!

You are most welcome, Mike, great app you shared.

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