5 Schedule Hacks to be More Productive

1. Wake up early (or don’t)

One of the biggest keys to being productive is finding out what time of the day you are the most awake. It’s incredibly important, but it can be hard to figure out what that looks like for you.

If you’ve been in business for long, you know that countless business owners swear that the key to productivity is getting up before the sun to get work done. While that might be true for a lot of people, it’s not true for everyone. You need to figure out what time of day is best for you to be most productive. For some people, that’s before the rest of the world wakes up and becomes a distraction. For others, it’s right after a meal. Here are three questions to ask yourself to determine when you’re most productive:

• When do I feel most awake?
• When do I get the most work done?
• When do I feel the least distracted?

2. Write it down

Something big happens in our brains when we write down the things we’re working towards. Writing might look like creating a handwritten list, putting a sticky note above your computer, or finding a digital app that works for you. Regardless of your methods, three things are true…

• Start with writing – If you have a deadline you need to meet, a goal you want to reach, or something that just needs to get done, start by writing it down.
• Create a visual – Put your written thing in a place that you can see so that you’re reminded of exactly what you’re working towards and can eliminate distractions when you notice you’re getting off task.
• Follow Up – Every time you see the goal you’re working towards, ask yourself if you’re on your way to getting it accomplished. Follow up whenever possible to make sure you’re being productive and staying on track.

3. Snack throughout the day

Okay — this might seem silly, but stick with us. Snacking throughout the day is actually a great way to keep your energy up and stay productive. Try not to skip lunch and survive on coffee alone. Fuel your body on good, healthy food, and watch your mental, physical, and emotional energy skyrocket. A few of our favorite snacks …

• Apple slices 
• Celery with peanut butter
• Pita chips with hummus
• Grapes and cheese
• Salami and crackers

4. Exercise

Hold it right there. Before you skip this one with the thought of, “I don’t have time to exercise.” Let us assure you — you actually do. Exercise doesn’t have to look like a five-mile run or a 60 minute yoga class. It can look like doing 50 squats between calls or dancing around your apartment for 30 minutes to your favorite song. These little breaks to move your body will release tension and help you stay more focused when you get back to work. This is our favorite routine (and it usually takes about two minutes) …

• 10 jumping jacks
• 50 squats
• 30 second plank

5. Take breaks

Need to run an errand? Fine. Want to grab a cup of coffee? That’s great, too. When you give yourself little chances to take breaks, you’ll actually return to your work in a better headspace. Taking breaks allows you to feel refreshed, refueled, and ready to enter back into your work doing better than ever.

You Can Get More Done in A Day

You can get way more done in a day than you could imagine. When you learn to hack your schedule, your productivity will skyrocket. Next time you find yourself in a productivity slump, try one of our tips from this list. Then let us know how it works for you!