Does it seem harder to get things done around this time of year? Something about the return of warm, sunny days always does something to my productivity. And it’s not something positive. Around this time of year, I find myself struggling to get things done. And I know I’m not alone. One of my favorite writers, Shauna Niequist recently shared this on her social media: “Good morning from the land of writing deadlines [which] means one thing and one thing only: time for unrelated projects! Let’s organize! Let’s purge! Let’s color code things! I’ll just take a tiny writing break to take everything out of our kitchen cabinets, okay?”
So if you are like me, and you find your productivity dropping, try using one of these 3 productivity strategies.
Scheduled Time
My dad has given me plenty of great advice over the years, but one of my favorites was the power of scheduled time. He said to take whatever it was that I wanted to work on, and to build it into my schedule like I would a class, meeting, or appointment. And then to treat it as such—no cancelling for frivolous things, no showing up late or unprepared, no interruptions. Treat it like you would treat a meeting with your boss. Just intentionality and focus on that thing during that time. This technique can work for exercise, self-development, or finishing a big project like preparing a presentation.
Here’s how to use this method to boost your productivity on your next big presentation. Schedule a few sessions each week, for as long as you need. During that time, turn your attention to only your presentation. You might find that several smaller sessions work better than one long one for productivity’s sake. Once you find the right number and length of sessions that works for you, stick to it.
Lists and Check Marks
One of the most effective productivity strategies is one of the simplest and oldest—making a list and checking things off. Writer and professor Amitava Kumar says this is the way to actually accomplish the things you want to accomplish and to become the person you want to become. The strategy he used for himself and for his students was to “write 150 words and engage in mindful walking for 10 minutes” every day. And then to mark the completion of each daily task with the date and a check mark.
While Kumar enjoys keeping track in a notebook, you might try a productivity app on your phone. For instance, I like to use the iPhone Reminders app regularly. I have a list labeled with each day of the week. On it, I keep up with appointments or tasks I need to complete each day. It also gives me a small endorphin boost to check off and then delete each accomplished item.
If you are preparing for a presentation, make a list of all the things that need to happen between now and the time you are scheduled to deliver it. Then, break those into more manageable lists or categories and start checking things off, one at a time.
Sound Strategies for Productivity
This strategy is a bit more unconventional, but it’s one that works for many people. And it lines up with brain-training techniques. The trick is to pick a song or a sound that becomes your “focus” soundtrack. “Science has shown that a moderate tempo without quick changes or lyrics works best. When the brain fixates on patterns it recognizes, and music stops becoming white noise, it can turn into a distraction.” That’s why many of us can’t work well if the music we are listening to has words. Our brains instinctively try to figure out the meaning. For some specific suggestions of good music for productivity, check out this list compiled by PCMag.
Using sound to focus is really a matter of personal preference. Some people don’t like sound at all. Some like to switch it up. Others like to regularly use the same song, noise, or soundtrack. That’s because it becomes a cue for their brains to focus. It creates a literal pathway in the brain structure that says, when I hear this sound, I know it’s time to get be productive. It works the same way a hype song or visualization techniques might for athletes. It’s a repeated stimulus meant to produce a specific response.
Don’t lose heart. You might have to try a few different things or a combination of the strategies listed above before you get back into your productivity groove. But ultimately, when you put in the work, one hour, one checkmark, one song at a time, your powerful presentation will be the shining culmination of that work.
Need more tips for developing a powerful presentation? We can help.
