Maximize Your Productivity: 4 Ways to Identify What Works for You

Small post it flags with "productivity" as the highlighted flag. Also Teamwork, Planning, Customer, and Relationship as the other words on the flags. There is a pen in the corner.

I’m a bit of a productivity junkie. I’ve read multiple books and articles and listened to countless YouTube videos on the subject. I’ve tested task systems and apps and planners. I even write about productivity (as well as other topics) on this blog. It's not surprising that the definition of productivity looks different to different people. One thing that I think is common and incredibly important: doing what matters to each person.

How we do anything is how we do everything -Martha Beck

How can we figure out how we do our best work? How can we make progress? Think about how you currently manage your time and tasks, what works well for you, and what areas you could improve on. There is no one correct answer to these questions. There is no single correct way to be productive! These questions will help you reflect on your current style.

Question 1: When do I do my best work?

Am I a morning person or a night person? Or do I work best somewhere in between? Am I at a season in life where mornings are better for me or do I have more time over the lunch hour or later at night? Do I have ongoing commitments? Are my activities spontaneous? When am I least likiely to get interrupted?

I’m at a season in life where early mornings work better for me. I work on this website and other associated business tasks. In my regular 9 - 5, I feel most focused at the start of the day and the last 90 minutes of the day. I try to reserve those times for things that require the most focus and clarity. There have been other seasons in my life when I liked the quiet that I could find later in the evening.

Question 2: What kind of accountability do I need?

Am I good at motivating myself? When does my motivation lag? Do I work better with deadlines? Do I need some kind of accountability or a mentor?

I once had a learning and development job. There were necessary trainings that I provided. I also liked creating training that I thought could be very helpful to people - things that would introduce new ideas for how people could work better. I worked best (or to completion) when I had some a