Introduction
You're probably familiar with the pressure to excel in your career while maintaining a semblance of work-life balance.
In the whirlwind of hustle culture—juggling work demands and squeezing time for a social life—that can feel like an elusive dream.
And now, whether you're being pushed back into the office or operating with teams from different time zones, it's hard to feel like you know what to prioritize and when.
We've chatted with some experts to put together different productivity hacks that you can use to stay on top of your game.
Let's get into it.
Prioritize your tasks
Quite often, we assume that being productive means crossing off as many tasks from our to-do lists in a day as possible, but that isn’t the case. Frankly speaking, not every task demands all of your energy and attention. This is why prioritizing tasks is important. And here, the Eisenhower Matrix, also commonly known as the Urgent-Important Matrix, can really help you.
It is a productivity tool that was designed by Dwight D. Eisenhower, the United States’ 34th President. The tool uses a two-by-two grid to divide tasks into four quadrants.
- Urgent and important: remove all the distractions, and do the task now.
- Important but not urgent: schedule a time in the day to complete the task.
- Urgent but not important: assign this task to an assistant or outsource it.
- Neither urgent nor important: remove this task from your to-do list to preserve your energy.
With this, you can prioritize your tasks by looking at their category and then tackle them in the required order. Doing so not only gives you a clear direction but also helps you feel less anxious during the day.
Besides the Eisenhower Matrix, you can use the 80/20 rule to prioritize tasks to free up more time from your day. The rule states that 80 percent of your results come from 20 percent of your efforts. So, identify those high-value tasks and pour your energy into them.
Not only will you accomplish more, but you'll also be working smarter, not harder, and getting closer to achieving that coveted work-life balance.
Do time blocking
With all the social media notifications popping up on our gadgets, it’s impossible not to get distracted during the workday. But, the time-blocking method is super effective as it helps you accomplish sufficient work every day.
Cal Newport introduced this method of time-blocking, where he asks you to give every minute (of your working day) a job. You can write those tasks on a digital or physical notebook, whatever your preferred way and then allot an hour (or hours) for that task. You can use a free time clock app to track how much time you spend on specific tasks and projects.
Next, put your phone on the “Do Not Disturb” mode and activate website blockers to minimize distractions during the time block periods. And between all the work, don't forget to take breaks to recharge yourself.
Limit multitasking
Ah, multitasking — the supposed hero of modern productivity. But instead, it’s a villain that sabotages your focus and efficiency. Why? When juggling between meetings, emails and writing that first draft of your blog, your brain switches between those tasks, reducing your overall cognitive capacity.
In fact, one study found that 97.5 percent of people can’t multitask. So, as much as you’d like to believe that you're being productive by tackling two or more tasks at a time, the truth is far from that. By doing so, you hinder your brain’s capacity instead.
However, channel your energy into one task at a time to get closer to your work-life balance goal. You'll be amazed at how much more you can accomplish when you give your full attention to every task on your to-do list.
Set SMART goals
When you try to pack in as many tasks as possible in a day, chances are you’re just ruining your productivity by not doing anything efficiently. That’s why you need to set SMART goals for yourself.
- Specific: be specific about what goal you want to achieve and why.
- Measurable: make it measurable by tracking the progress of the desired goal.
- Attainable: make the goal challenging enough to get you started, but ensure that it falls within your capacity.
- Relevant: set a goal that's relevant to your work or life so you see yourself going forward.
- Time-based: give yourself a deadline to achieve the goal. Otherwise, you’re never going to do it.
When you get to it, you’ll see how much pressure it takes off your chest and makes you feel more productive.
Eliminate distractions
Your workspace is your sanctuary for productivity. Treat it like one. Declutter, organize your materials and create an environment conducive to focused work. Maybe add a plant to your desk or some wall hangings for color. Transform it into a space that you look forward to entering every workday.
Digital distractions can be the bane of your existence. But using website blockers, turning off non-essential notifications and designating specific times for checking emails and social media can work wonders.
When you minimize distractions, you get more done in less time, freeing up hours for rest and leisure. This can help you maximize efficiency and attain a work-life balance.
Use the Pomodoro technique
If you often find yourself procrastinating, feeling tired or struggling with meeting goals, there's a time management technique that can really help. It's called the Pomodoro technique. This technique helps you to be more aware of distractions and use your time wisely.
Here's how it works: Set a timer for 25 minutes and fully focus on your task, goal or important milestone. Once the timer goes off, pause for a five-minute break. Stretch, walk around or grab a bite and dedicate that break to your personal life.
Then, start the 25-minute cycle again. This technique helps you get things done efficiently and be more productive.
And the best part? You also get to enjoy a healthy work-life balance by taking breaks and not working all day long.
Automate processes
Quite often, administrative tasks take up a lot of your time, draining your energy and leaving you frustrated by the end of the day. They can be even more bothersome if you have a habit of doing everything manually. For example, sticking to the old style of taking notes by hand and printing materials on paper.
To save time on menial tasks, you can automate them by using tools like board portals that offer a secure environment to access documents, data and meeting materials. It’s pretty much the same items as you would’ve printed. But this allows managers and board members to communicate in that space and execute tasks more efficiently by speeding up processes.
Apart from the menial tasks, teaching new joiners about different operations or giving product demos can also be of great distraction. The result? You stray away from the important, urgent and high-priority tasks at hand.
But there’s a tool for that as well. It’s called Scribe.
The tool lets you screen record as you work. And once you’re done, you can stop the recording. The end product is a customizable step-by-step guide you can edit as needed and even embed in documents like Notion.
Adding Scribe to your tech stack removes the need to do everything twice for the new members. You save time, maximize efficiency and attain a healthy work-life balance.
Set clear boundaries
If you’re working day in and day out without giving yourself much time for self-care or relaxation, then this is a recipe for poor work-life balance. To prevent yourself from falling into the hustle culture trap, you must dedicate time to your personal life and define hard NOs for your professional life.
Between all the work tasks, take time out for yourself and log out of work both mentally and physically after your typical work hours are over. If you are a remote worker or an entrepreneur, you must be even more rigid with your boundaries.
You'll never achieve a work-life balance if you're all work and no play. So, designate time for personal life, hobbies and physical activities and spend quality time with family and friends.
Delegate & outsource tasks
Productivity doesn’t mean doing everything on your own. You need to know that you earn some free time in your day or calendar if you're delegating tasks. So think of it as investing in yourself.
As a busy professional, you can significantly benefit by automating processes and leveraging AI by streamlining your workflow and enhancing productivity.
While this concept isn't novel, many business owners may not know how much automation they can apply. There are several areas in which they can harness automation to their advantage on a daily basis.
For instance, one area ripe for automation is the payment process for independent contractors who contribute to projects. By implementing automated payment systems, professionals can ensure timely and accurate compensation, making space for personal time and minimizing administrative burdens.
Prioritize your mental health
In the fast-paced and demanding world of busy professionals, maintaining good mental health is paramount to sustaining productivity and overall well-being. The impact of mental health on productivity can't be overstated, as it directly affects focus, creativity, decision-making and the ability to handle stress effectively.
Busy professionals must address any mental health challenges they may face proactively, including the need for antidepressants if required.
A healthy mind fosters clarity and resilience, enabling professionals to navigate complex tasks efficiently and precisely. When mental health is compromised, productivity may suffer, leading to reduced job performance, absenteeism and burnout.
Consequently, understanding the importance of mental well-being and being prepared to seek help, including considering the use of antidepressants in the right way, becomes essential for busy professionals to thrive in their roles.
Seeking the right antidepressant treatment, when appropriate, can be a key component in regaining control over mental health. However, professionals must approach this matter with diligence and knowledge, including how to get antidepressants the right way.
Consulting a qualified healthcare professional, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist, is paramount to receiving an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan tailored to individual needs. Understanding the potential side effects and interactions is essential to ensure safe and effective use of any medication.
Therefore, it’s vital to prioritize your mental health and well-being. As a busy professional, it’s not always easy, but self-care is necessary to maintain top productivity without racing toward burnout.
Final thoughts
Keep in mind, being productive doesn't mean doing a lot. It means focusing on what really counts and striving to achieve a balance.
By doing laser-focused deep work, taking time for personal activities and committing to continuous improvement to attain a healthier work-life balance, you'll find yourself not just thriving in your career but also savoring the sweet moments that life has to offer.
No matter what team productivity strategies you decide on, you can make your life easier by turning every task into a step-by-step guide using Scribe's productivity Chrome extension, so you don’t have to stress about the extra hand-holding and make time for your personal and social life.
Author Bio:
Khaulah Ahmed is a freelance content writer. She specializes in writing about marketing, eCommerce, and entrepreneurship. Outside of work, she spends time reading books, binging on Netflix, and exploring different dine-out places.
