Tips for Productivity

Tips for Productivity

I have many weaknesses, but for the sake of time, I will cut to the chase and tell you one of them is not productivity.  I am a fairly motivated person who likes goals and deadlines and just getting stuff done.  I am a procrastinator by nature, but after years of practice, I have learned to value efficiency and productivity.  I am a mother of 3 small ones and I work from home.  I cook 6 nights a week and I still put 3 meals on the table…and I’m not crazy or pulling out my hair by the end of the day.  It’s not that I’m amazing or particularly gifted, but I have learned a lot since working and writing from home 4 years ago.

Step 1: Getting rid of distractions

I can’t exactly tell my kids to quit crying {though I have instituted taking turns on who gets to cry}, but I can set up some good boundaries for actually getting work done at home.  I believe in a good home officewhite noise, and general organization.  But what do you do when you have writer’s {or worker’s} block?  Even if you do everything known to man to get to work, that doesn’t mean the muse fairy will hit you over the head with a brilliant idea or plan that will set you on a pedestal for the rest of your life.  While it’s crucial to clear your mind, ears, and desk of distractions, bottom line is you still have to work.

Step 2: Getting rid of writer’s (worker’s) block

So, here are few tips for breaking the barrier when you’re staring at a blank screen:

  • Sit and think for 10 minutes.  Seriously, before you give yourself (another) break, try to come up with a starting point.  It’s not that I don’t value breaks- in fact I have a lot due to the nature of my work day and kids.  However, I think it’s easy to procrastinate by allowing yourself too many.
  • Make a list of things that need to get done and start doing them- it may be that you have a break-through as you make the list or start checking things off.  Sometimes, the feeling of accomplishment is enough to get your mind going.
  • If you’re writing, do a google search and see what others have written.  Sometimes this is good fodder for a new idea or a response to someone else’s.  I find that I write best {i.e. not plagiarize} if I read an article and then close it, whether I agree with it or not.
  • Since I do work from home and also have small children still at home, I don’t work 9-5.  So, I have a couple hours a couple times a day.  I push it hard while I have the peace and quiet to do it, then when I’m on with the kids, I keep a pad and paper by me so I can jot down any ideas that come to mind.  That way, I’m not working while the kids are around and I also don’t lose an idea.
  • Take breaks.  See, I do value breaks.  I just think they need to be earned.
  • Frequently, I work on an idea in the back of my head…maybe it’s a real life experience, maybe it’s not, but either way, I find that my best ideas come when I am not technically working.  I usually mull them over in the back of my mind as I wash dishes {we live in the UK- no dishwasher, so there’s lots of that} or pick up toys or even play with the kids.  Then, I either work on it the next chance I get, or I at least write it down so I don’t forget.

Step 3: Go Ergonomic

 I’m in my 30′s, I have 3 kids, and I have worked during all 3 pregnancies, up to the day before I delivered.  As a result, I believe in supporting all the work your mind is doing with ergonomic principles for your body, too.  I’m not talking about yoga or weird meditation stuff- really just taking care of your muscles, joints, and tendons so you are comfortable and efficient and certainly not pain-ridden.  Having the right tools can make all the difference in your productivity, especially when they minimize movement and over-reaching.
  • Try some back support.  Ergo chairs aren’t for everyone’s budget, so a good go-to is portable lumbar support.  This is particularly helpful for those of us who don’t always work in the same spot.
  • Upgrade to an ergonomic work station.  Dock your laptop, elevate it to eye level, and plug in an ergonomic keyboard and mouse.  Your back, eyes, hands, and wrists will thank you.  We put so much strain on our bodies when we work from a too-low screen or cock our wrists to type.
If you’re struggling to be productive, rework your work space for minimal distractions, discipline yourself to actually work, and upgrade to efficient ergonomic products.

Tips for Jet Lag {with kids!}

Our Background: Moving Overseas

My family of 4 moved from Iowa back to Texas in 2008 for the summer, and then to Scotland.  We’ve been overseas for 3 1/2 years now with crazy amounts of jet lag numerous times a year.  Jet lag is hard enough on adults who can mentally power through it.  It can be devastating for a family- especially if you really need to function pretty quickly.  For some, they’re on vacation and want to make the most of their days.  For others, like, us it was a matter of finding grocery stores and linens and basics for our new home….all with a 2 year old and a 4 month old who still woke up at night on a normal schedule!

Tips for Jet Lag Reduction

In my opinion, protecting sleep is essential.  Here are some of the ways we ensured our kids (and therefore we) got good sleep:

  • Count on 1 day for every hour of change.  We had a 6 hour change- therefore, it took about 6 days for everyone to be completely back on track and feeling well.
  • Be reasonable in your expectations- you can’t expect to regain 6 hours in 1 night, no matter how tired you are.  (see #1)
  • Eat meals on the NEW time schedule.  This will help your (ahem) bowels, as well as your ability to sleep at the new times.
  • Shorten naps- don’t allow yourself or your children to nap for long periods during the day (unless they are infants).  This will only prolong the nighttime troubles.
  • Decide on a course of action for middle of the night wakings- will you snack a bit, get a drink of water, watch a movie, etc.?  You’ll make better choices ahead of time than in the moment.
  • Get black out blinds- almost everyone sleeps better in a dark room.
  • Use white noise.  Chances are you’ll be sleeping at odd times, possibly when the world around you is up and about (and therefore making noise).  Thus, mask it with white noise and they even have jet lag sound machines.
  • Be patient- you’ll get on track, I promise.

Check out these tips for reducing the effects of jet lag with simple things such as reasonable expectations and a few products, like a jet lag sound machine.

 

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