When you are productive, you have a sense of direction in life. Your self-esteem soars after a goal is achieved because it gives you a reason to get out of bed in the morning. In order to be happy, one needs a goal to strive toward. People who lack a clear goal in life are rarely content. It is a win-win situation. There are many ways to become more productive, but the most important is constantly challenging yourself and your abilities. Even if you do not feel it, you are constantly growing if you are on a path that's always moving forward.
Your mood improves as a result of increased productivity. To the point where some people consider it a form of medication, regular exercise releases endorphins into the bloodstream. The more you accomplish, mentally or physically, the more energized you will feel. Here are some productivity hacks you should try, as explained by some of the virtual assistants at Ripple.
Prioritize your Tasks
When Tirzah Joy S. Manzano gets to work, she divides her responsibilities into three categories: high, medium, and low priority. This will aid in indicating the urgency of tasks and the deadline by which they must be completed so that it is easy to distinguish which tasks should be completed first at the start of the day and that you are not overwhelmed by the flooded tasks. Prioritizing tasks will also aid in your organization and prevent you from missing deadlines.
Make a list
You are more likely to juggle multiple projects when you are just starting as a virtual assistant. This was a challenge for Tirzah, who discovered that learning to drop one task before hopping to another decreases productivity. One way to avoid memory problems is to organize your tasks, not just those on your to-do list. As you try to list the tasks that have been assigned to you, you can use a digital notepad, sticky notes, or good docs, but always remember to keep everything in place and organize it into categories according to its deadline. If you arrange your tasks according to the time you have to complete them, you will be able to break the cycle of interruptions that plague your day.
Do Difficult Tasks First
For Reychemver Credo, the first thing he does is the thing he dislikes, and then he finishes it quickly without compromising quality. You can do this by focusing on your most productive hours and avoiding working outside of them. To avoid feeling overwhelmed at the start of the day and have a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day, limit yourself to a small number of realistic, objective, practical tasks. This way, you will have enough energy to tackle the most difficult task first.
Know when you are productive
Similarly, some people work best in the early morning, while others thrive at night. Everyone works differently, and one of the most important steps you can take to improve your work-from-home productivity is to listen to your body. Tirzah keeps track of how energized she feels at different times of the day. Then she discovered that nighttime is when she is most productive and focused.
Try the Pomodoro Technique
When it comes to productivity, Jayne Caranto recommends the Pomodoro Technique since it teaches people to work within the constraints of their available time rather than against it. This method divides your day into 25-minute blocks, with five-minute breaks in between. When you have completed four pomodoros, you will take a 15- to 20-minute break. Using a timer is to create a sense of urgency in the user. Jayne Caranto extensively uses the Pomodoro Technique, and she does 25 minutes of focused work and 5 minutes of a short break; then, after the fourth round of a 25-minute focused work, she takes an hour-long break.
Motivating Workspace
In Joe Penny Equito's case, he wants to have a minimalistic look on my workspace. This helps him breathe, thinking that this is a big comfort zone which makes him have that drive to get working. You are more determined to do something if you think you are in a comfortable place.
Reduce Distractions
Working remotely in your home can get you easily distracted. You can get distracted either from your phone or bed since there is no one to supervise you during your work. Tirzah recommends eliminating distractions as one way for her to focus on working. Discipline yourself to not grab your phone and scroll down on social media. She also finds a good place in her home where she can set up and work, away from my bed. Make sure to establish a workspace that helps you focus and get things done.
Task Management Tools
Notion, a productivity app/website, is Joe's go-to tool for keeping track of everything he needs to do, but he also uses his phone's notes. It was a huge help to him when it came to organizing my to-do list, setting priorities, and generally putting everything in its proper place. Meanwhile, Trello, Asana, and ClickUp are some of Tirzah's favorite apps to use with her clients because they are user-friendly. It also has a feature that allows users to prioritize tasks as high, medium, or low priority. It benefits both the client and the VA because all information and ongoing tasks are easily accessible.
Always remember to take a break.
Remember to get some rest and stay hydrated regardless of how busy your schedule or how productive your day is. Workplace productivity rises when people are mentally and physically healthy. As a result, you must look after yourself. Sleep is critical for your mental and physical well-being. Eat healthily and limit your caffeine intake. Getting through night shifts requires both discipline and practice. Remember that self-care is essential if you want to be dependable, focused, and productive. After all, if you want to stay in this industry, you must strive for these qualities.
