We’ve been in an on-again-off-again relationship with quarantine throughout 2020 and there has been ample opportunity for the procrastinators to improve their productivity. You see how I started with “ WE” and ended with “THEIR”?Have a chuckle. If some of you missed the memo stay tuned to learn a few ways to improve your productivity coming into the grand year of 2021!

Here are a few ways to be more productive:

• Record yourself doing work, studying, trying to get things around the house done. In a way, it’s kind of holding you accountable. You can review the footage and see what’s your biggest distraction. It actually makes you want to not pick up your phone, or look down at your apple watch.
• Make a REASONABLE list of errands you have to run, assignments you have to get done (school or for work). Write that list down on paper so that you can physically check the items off. Sometimes that can give a sense of accomplishment, with each checked off.
• Turn your phone off or turn it on “DND” (Do Not Disturb) mode so that you can’t hear your notifications or see your phone screen light up. Seeing those things can create a sense of temptation/curiosity/anticipation for what’s to be seen once you pick that device up.
• Let your friends and family know that you have some important things to get done so that they won't create a distraction.
• Cut your tv off! I know that it’s almost a reflex to cut the tv on because it can be great “white noise” because some people can’t weather the silence. Trust me I do understand. Noooo that movie won’t be great to kinda look at while working! Think about this: what are the chances that you’re going to look up during that action scene or that sappy part of your favorite movie that you can’t resist. Now here you are, 3–4 hours later and not only did you rewind and finish that movie, you now have your cellphone in hand, scrolling through Tik Tok, AirPods in-ear. STOP IT! YOU'RE DISTRACTED SIS/BRO!
• Set an alarm. I know a lot of you have families and friends that you have to fit into your time management, so setting an alarm or timer will create motivation to get the things you need to do DONE! Give yourself 2–4 hours to get those errands ran or to do that paper that you’ve procrastinated to do for the last 2 weeks. GET THE WORK DONE.
• Turn on some music! Yes. I said cut music on. That’s IF it’s not a distraction for you. I highly recommend Jazz, Classical music, something low and soothing.
• Stop multitasking! You may feel like starting several tasks and bouncing between them is productive but you may be wrong. Let’s think about this: Do you ever complete all of the tasks that you start simultaneously? I’m sure you experience a sense of accomplishment. At the end of the day, you may reflect and realize that you really didn’t accomplish anything. You merely shuffled a bunch of stuff around and at this point, you may have even created more of a mess!
• Stop confusing productivity with LAZINESS. PERIOD. Watch my Youtube video below to get more information on this tip!

• Tackle your most time-consuming/challenging tasks first! Take that list suggestion and make a list of the most time-consuming tasks you have and work from the top to bottom. Check each task off as you complete them. Trust me! You feel so accomplished and satisfied afterward!

Becoming more productive won’t happen when you want it to. It is definitely something that requires consistency, accountability, patient, and drive. You have to really want to make that change. I’m not gonna lie time management is hard! Who wants to live off of strict schedules day-to-day?? BUT IT BUILDS DISCIPLINE.

I’m out.

E