Welcome back to The Legal Confidential! Today I’m sharing my top 10 tips for increasing productivity, especially while working from home. It can be so hard to focus outside of the office/ school environment, but these tips can help!

Use Focus Apps

This might not help everyone, but it has helped for me! I like the app Be Focused which helps you time your tasks so you can make sure you know how much time you are actually spending on a task. This helps prevent me from zoning out and multitasking.

I also love Freedom which blocks websites and apps while you’re working. Say goodbye to mindless Instagram scrolling while working!

Make a To Do List Every NIGHT

Most people like to make to do lists in the morning, which is what I used to do. But I’ve found it works better for me to make a to do list every night for the next day. This allows me to start the day off knowing exactly what I need to get done, and I’ve found that it eases my anxiety a bit.

Switch Up Your Work Environment

This can be hard if you live in a small apartment like I do, but do what you can. I sit at my desk a lot, but also like to sit in my chair sometimes, at the kitchen counter, or outside when the weather is warmer. I have ADHD and get bored easily, so this can help get me back into the working zone.

Actually Time Yourself

As I mentioned with the Be Focused app, I like to time myself. For example, if I am doing a research task for work, or reading for school, I like to time myself. This helps keep me aware of how long things take me to complete, and discourage multitasking.

Start Time Batching

Time batching is a GAME CHANGER. Stop trying to get a million things done at once, because chances are, it is actually decreasing your productivity. Instead of responding to each email the second you receive it, have scheduled times for responding to all of your emails. Create “blocks” of time for each specific task, and I swear you will notice a change in your productivity.

Have Everything You Need at Your Workspace

When you sit down at your workspace, have everything you need. For me, I sit down at my desk in the morning and have everything I need: a sweater in case I get cold, my water, my coffee, all of my school supplies, etc. This way, whenever you get up, it can be for a mindful break, not to go get something which could cause you to get distracted.

Figure Out When You’re Most Productive

Not everyone is productive at the same time, and this is crucial to remember. I’m a morning person, and I’d rather work at 5am instead of 8pm. Forcing yourself to get up early or stay up late isn’t actually going to help you, if you’re working at the wrong time for you. So experiment with what works best for you, and when you are the most productive.

Listen to Inspirational Podcasts

I love to kick off the day by listening to an inspiring podcast while getting ready, making breakfast, and walking my dog. I’ve found that this gives me a little boost and puts me in the right mindset.

Start Using Evernote

I have been LOVING Evernote lately. I used to write down tasks and things I needed to work on throughout the day on the Stickies app on my computer. But with Evernote, I can have my to do lists on my computer and phone, and I’ve found that there is a lot of features that help me stay organized and productive.

Take Enough Time to Rest

I know I know, you’re rolling your eyes reading this. But you have to remember that exhaustion hinders productivity. Pulling an all nighter or wearing yourself out will only lead to tasks taking longer, because your cognitive abilities will be affected. Get enough sleep, and also take enough mindful breaks to set yourself up for success.