Let’s face it, being productive in this age where streaming platforms are always luring us to binge-watch the latest TV shows they’ve acquired can feel like trying to make your coworker on a caffeine buzz settle down. One second, you’re laser-focused, and the next you’re on YouTube searching for “how to crochet a beanie” when you live in California.
Fortunately, there are productivity methods you can try even if you get easily distracted. Here are some tips to help you get your life together when every distraction is at your fingertips.
The Pomodoro Technique (No, It’s Not a New Pokémon)
One of the favored productivity methods is the Pomodoro technique which is a time management method that’s been around since the late 1980s and developed by Francesco Cirillo. According to its website, this technique “is a structured method made up of processes, tools, principles and values to learn how to deal with time and turn it from a vicious predator to an ally to boost productivity. It is based on a series of principles built on self-observation and awareness. Developing these skills makes it possible to change the relationship with time and reach our goals with less effort and anxiety.”
It’s a reward system of giving yourself a 5-minute break every 25 minutes. After you have repeated this cycle four times, you can then take a longer break of 15-30 minutes.
Why does it work? This technique tricks your brain into focusing for a short time only which feels a lot less overwhelming than struggling to work through three hours on a report. Just remember that for this technique to work, don’t spend your breaks doomscrolling or watching videos because, trust us, you won’t be able to stop after 5 or 30 minutes.
The “Two Minute” Rule: One of the Easiest Productivity Methods to Try
According to this blog post from ClickUp, a project management software provider, the history of this method began in the 1990s when Time System International trained their employees to increase their productivity. They taught the two-minute rule as a tool for managing the workflow.
The idea is simple: If you can do a task in two minutes or less, do it ASAP. Don’t include it in your to-do list; just do it now. Whether responding to an email, calling someone just to confirm something, or watering your seriously dehydrated office plant, the two-minute rule helps you avoid procrastination. If a task takes longer than that, either set it aside for later or break it into smaller, more manageable tasks. For example, you have a ton of papers to file. Take two minutes to segregate them into piles. Then, when you have another two minutes, tackle one pile at a time and file them away.
Why does it work? This rule helps keep your to-do list from growing and spiraling into a nagging monster that lives in the back of your mind, wanting to overwhelm you.
Eat-The-Frog Method (Not Literally!)
In fairytales, we need to kiss a frog to turn it into a prince. In real life, we must eat it. Asana, a work management platform, suggests that “eating the frog is the process of identifying your most difficult task of the day and completing it before you do any other work. If you have to eat two frogs, eat the bigger one first. Identify which task is more challenging, and do that first thing.”
Consider doing the task that makes you squirm the most, whether it’s a massive report, or cleaning out the fridge and throwing away those rotting vegetables. By knocking out the hardest task first, you’ll go through your to-do list after, easy-peasy.
Why does it work? After eating the frog, everything else is dessert.
Time Blocking: A Scheduled Date with Productivity
One of the effective and no-fuss productivity methods you can try is time blocking. Time blocking means sticking to the activity or task you have scheduled for that hour. No flaking allowed! Otherwise, you’ll eat up the time you have set for other tasks. In the end, you’ll realize you did not finish any of your scheduled chores. Pro tip: Pencil in some R&R so you won’t feel guilty about taking that 15-minute nap (it’s on the agenda!).
Why does it work? The beauty of time blocking is that you know when to focus, and you always know what you’re supposed to be doing at any given time.
Staying productive when you’re easily distracted isn’t about trying to turn yourself into a robot or a well-oiled machine. It’s about setting yourself up for success with the right mindset and one of the best productivity methods for you. Work around your short attention span instead of going against it. You don’t have to be perfect; you just need to stop scrolling through social media for 25 minutes. Baby steps, people, baby steps.
