How to be Productive in 2021
A student-friendly guide on how to be your most productive self + Bonus Tip!
YES! we have made it to the next level- 2021 with a few bruises and a whole new outlook on life dear, readers here, we are. I hope all are well and feeling swell. My question and probably yours too, “How do we make the most out of 2021?” or at least try to. Here is my guide on how to be productive in 2021. ISTG it works. I have been using it for the past three months and never been more productive and efficient.
- SET GOALS AND BE REALISTIC:
I know this one is a cliche; you have probably read this in a different form. However, it is necessary please do hang on.
Starting a new year without setting goals is a little like going for a road trip without a GPS tracker already in place — you might end up somewhere really great, or you might end up somewhere terrible, but you are very unlikely to end up where you wanted to be!
Start by closing your eyes and imagining where you want to be by the end of the year. We can make those goals into smaller ones as well. Imagine yourself in June or July.
Block by block, brick by brick; make your foundation strong so that even when a god-forbid tsunami hits, you are ready and well-prepared to rock and roll!
Next, open your eyes and write everything you imagined. Finally, set practical goals to help you get there.
When I talk about setting goals, I don’t mean setting numerical targets, like (for example), how many views I will get but practical objectives. Realistic and achievable targets in a stipulated period.
Like(another example), “I will upload two posts a week.” We are much more likely to do something about practical goals AND, as a result, are much more likely to have our best and most productive year EVER.
2. START BY PLANNING/ FORMULATING A MORNING ROUTINE:
You might have noticed there is an ‘/’ (or,) sign it’s there for two types of people.
One is the ‘planners’ for people like moi(me). For us, I suggest you invest in a diary or a weekly planner schedule.
For the other: group of people, it is still planning, but without maintaining a designated diary, planner or journal. Doing this is more of a well- routine. It is all about creating a habit- whether it is a good habit or a bad habit that is up to you. It is essential to have and generate good energy and good vibes in the morning to ensure you have a positive outlook on your day.
Many people start by having a:
- a glass of water,
- opening the curtains and letting fresh air come in, going on their phone.
All I am trying to say is, do what makes you happy. People may say it is “bad” to go on your phone first thing in the morning- I am going to say,
“ Dear reader, do what you gotta do just stay happy.”
Your morning routine should be whatever leaves you feeling relaxed, energised, and motivated!
Here is my morning routine (don’t judge): 7:00 am — wake up, drink 200 ml. of water 7:00–7:10 — Go through the morning news and get caught up (basically, be on the phone) 7:10–7:25 -On my way to use the washroom, open the curtain and let fresh air come in through the windows. Brush my teeth and other morning shenanigans. 7:25–7:30 — Make my bed and get mentally prepared for the day 7:30–8:00 — Have a good breakfast and spend time with the family before everyone gets busy in their day. Then the day officially begins.
3. Spend less time on the phone:
Do spend time on your phone and connect with people but for a healthy amount of time. This tip is for reducing screen time during school or workday. When a teacher is teaching, pay attention or try to. Yes, even if they are very unimaginative. It will be beneficial in the long run. You can switch on the do not disturb mode on phones. It stops the notifications, and it is pretty helpful as it allows you to schedule it as per your timing- I use it all the time.
For a more aggressive approach to unplugging, you could also download Flipd, a free app that allows you to lock your phone for a set period so you can focus on your work or study.
4. Schedule specific times for different tasks:
I am a planner at heart so, I had to sneak it in my guide. It works great and improves efficiency. Suppose you want to check your mails, whether for schoolwork or work.
- Set the first or last 20 minutes of each hour for responding to messages and emails.
- It will reduce stress and boost productivity for the rest 40 minutes of each hour. The mind can rest so, can you!
5. Work in different modes: There are three modes you need to work in throughout the day:
- Working at your own pace: email inbox and other new input
- Work you must do: work from calendars or lists and any meetings.
- Surprise work: work that shows up unplanned
You are already working in these modes, but you’re likely doing them all at once, which is incredibly inefficient. By spending 45 minutes you can process your inbox, and ACTUALLY, get through more tasks and be super-efficient and productive and it also helps with online assignments. Life is unlikely to slow down any time soon. Follow these tips to reclaim your time, attention, and energy.
Stress-free productivity is possible but, only if you control your tasks and existing work rather than let them control you.
6. Take breaks:
We all are only human and need breaks. I cannot stress this one enough- *BREAKS ARE ESSENTIAL* Mental health is crucial honestly, sitting at a desk and a computer all day is sneakily very draining and leads to a bad posture, neck ache and backache. As they say,
“ sitting is the new smoking”
Short breaks must get incorporated into your workday. During that time, try going for a walk and use the lovely spring- time weather to your advantage. Take your little doggies or cats outside, grab a cup of coffee or a healthy snack and check-in with a friend or family member, do a quick at-home working, paint, write, listen to a podcast.
DO what your heart desires and makes you more ~zen~
7. Self- Care is a must:
Self-care is health care. Nourish your mind by practising mindfulness and just taking in every breath and feeling it go. It is essential and helps in making you more peaceful and one with yourself.
Taking a walk, I cannot stress this one enough as well, it is amazing for your brain. Drinking chamomile tea and watching a quick 10-minute youtube video to bring a smile to your face is all your mind needs. In that process eating dry fruits are also great for your body. Please do not forget to hydrate!
8. Make time for the ones who matter:
Let’s get rid of toxic people and throw them out of our life. The past year has taken a toll on everyone’s mental health. This fresh new year we do not need bad vibes and negative people holding us back and making our lives more gloom-ridden. Let’s spread positivity and happiness.
Instead, focus and channel that energy on friends and family. As COVID-19 is still a threat, do video calls with your distant friends and family. Online dinners, date nights, online movie marathons, sleepovers from a distance, and more innovative ideas to create new experiences and have a blast. Reconnect and interact and do enjoy. Let’s truly blow up the innovation box and try new things for entertainment purposes.
9. Enhance your skills and learn:
Learning and education is a never-ending process.
However, in recent years from a decent quote and ideology, it has become an essential task for us to overcome. With new technology to make ourselves and our skillset relevant, it is essential to grow, learn, learn and learn!
Moreover, to be productive, it’s vital to continue to learn your trade, work, or the skills which relate to your job. Coursera and Udemy to LinkedIn Learning and Skillshare, are website with learning tools that offer impressive and educative courses related to your profile, skills, talents, and aspirations. Choose your activites wisely- when you have free time and in turn, enhance skills and learn, rendering you more productive at what you do best!
Just add this to your planner or to-do list and get going.
10. Eat right:
Health is of utmost importance to eat right, try:
- Eating a variety of food,
- Maintaining a well-balanced diet,
- Cutting back on salt,
- Reducing the use of certain fats and oil,
- Limit that sugar intake,
- Along with, avoiding hazardous, harmful and excessive alcohol use.
11. Procrastination is a Foe :
You make your year no-one else does. There may be good surprises or not-so-good surprises. However, it is you who decides how to overcome the problems and make the right decisions. We have laid out a beautiful guide and had great and helpful tips to be very productive. All of this can be a dream or get washed down and become a nightmare. You decide. I believe:
“Productivity's enemy is procrastination.”
It is a deadly killer and can make or break someone’s career or dream. It can be the one thing that can bring your A+ grades down to an A or a B+ :/
So, how do we overcome it?
Defeat it and kill it the moment you feel like reaching out to your phone when you are “studying” or “working”. Procrastination spreads like wildfire. Therefore, it is beneficial to kill the thought and take a quick 15-minute breather and have a glass of water or fruit. Refresh and do a few eye exercises and get back on track. Keeping track of those 15 minutes, get back to your seat and start studying or working again. It almost always works.
I must reiterate that we are only human & those “meh” kind of days happen to all of us. That is completely alright but let’s make sure those “meh” days don’t become months and completely let laziness take over your life.
**BONUS TIP!**
THE BEST ADVICE I HAVE EVER BEEN GIVEN.
I have been using it and loving it. While, this concerns tip one it is nonetheless, *LIFE CHANGING*
While planning in your bullet journal, planner or diary, use a green highlighter and a red highlighter (colours that are bold and will pop) and at the end of each day: when going through your task, make use of the GREEN to highlight the tasks you completed (and be honest) and highlight red with the non-completed chores.
On the next day, when you sit in the morning to plan your day. First, complete ‘yesterday’s goals and tasks. After that, make your to-do list for the day and continue this cycle. These are just a few little things we need to plant as habits and once you successfully do that, observe how productive and efficient you will become. If you are still here… here’s to great health and success!
In conclusion, exercise, eat, work, and repeat should be the mantra to make this your year.
Planning, setting short term tasks along-with realistic goals is crucial. Time management is a great skill to encompass. Remember, “ knowledge is power.”
~Work hard, play hard and don’t forget to breathe~
