Who wouldn't love to work where they want, when they want, and still be absolutely in love with their job? It took many years for this to happen, but I've recently been blessed with the opportunity to experience this kind of professional nirvana and I must say – it's unbelievable.
I can show up to work (by simply signing into Slack) whenever I want to and work for as much or little as I want to, as long as I get my tasks done and attend mandatory meetings. Seems easy enough, right? Well, with great power comes great responsibility.
So, how do you stay organized and productive when you have complete freedom over your schedule? Let me share some valuable tips that'll empower you to truly thrive in your dream job. Trust me, you'll level up your career game once you apply these golden insights. You got this!
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Plan, Plan, Plan!
Set Your Goals Straight:
Organizing your day starts with having a clear understanding of your goals. Write them down, rearrange them, and prioritize! I'm a firm believer in the power of sticky notes (especially lined ones) – they're cute, colorful, and effective.
Create a To-Do List:
I cannot even begin to fathom a day without my trusty to-do list. It keeps me sane and helps me remember important tasks. Use an app on your phone (TickTick has been my go-to for years) or simply jot it down in a notebook – just make sure you stick to it!
Find Your Groove
Identify Your Peak Productivity Hours:
Not a morning person? No worries! Find out which hours of the day you are most productive and schedule your work hours accordingly.
Honestly, I'm not a morning person myself, but I'd prefer to get my work out of the way so that I can have the evening with my husband. So, I tend to start around 8:30/9:00 AM, which is early enough for me (it even gives me time to work out before I start)!
Establish a Routine:
Wait, didn't I just say I love my freedom? Well, yes. But too much of anything is never good. Having a general routine in place keeps you grounded and ensures your work won't slip through the cracks of chaos.
One thing I like to do is set myself as "Out of Office" in Google Calendar when I'm gone for the day, which also syncs with my Slack status. That way, it's truly official that I'm done for the day, and it also lets everyone know that I'm unavailable.
Embrace Technology
Utilize Productivity Apps:
With a plethora of productivity apps (and Chrome extensions) available today, there's no reason for your schedule to go haywire. My personal favorites include TickTick (also mentioned above), Notion, Google Docs, and Google Calendar. Don't be afraid to leverage technology, but also watch out for too much screen time!
Set Communication Boundaries:
As great as technology is, constant notifications are super distracting and eat away at your productivity. Establish rules for when you should and shouldn't check your inbox or social media, so you can concentrate fully on the tasks at hand.
Better yet, enable focus mode on your devices (most support this now) and only allow notifications from important apps - block all of the rest! I have it enabled for my Android device, iPad, and Macbook Pro.
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| Focus Mode on Android |
Don't Forget to Unwind
Schedule Breaks:
Productivity experts claim that working in short bursts followed by breaks can improve creativity and focus (aka the Pomodoro Technique). Schedule frequent breaks - just don't forget to set a timer, or else your 15-minute break could easily turn into an hour-long YouTube rabbit hole (or even worse, a nap).
Close Your Days with a Graceful Exit:
Regardless of your work location, sign off at a specific time. This allows for decompression time and helps you maintain a healthy work-life balance. It's tempting to check back in every two to three hours, but you've got to resist. This is why I use a completely separate device just for work, and I keep it out of sight when I'm done for the day.
Trust me, anything you've missed after "clocking out" (or signing out, in my case) will still be there the next day. Go get some rest, work on a hobby, and spend time with the family!
It's All In Your Hands!
With some careful planning and intention, you too can master organizing your day at your dream job. The freedom to work when and where you want should create opportunities for growth and success – not stress and confusion.
So, how do you stay organized and productive during your workdays? Share your tips and tricks in the comments below – we could all use some fresh ideas!
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