Here’s How to Make it Super Easy to Be Productive

This post contains affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure for more information.

Have you been trying to become more productive and get on top of your to-do list, but somehow always end up getting very little done?

You’re not alone, I’ve been there too. The tricky thing about productivity is that even though it sounds very simple in theory, it often proves to be much more difficult than you’d think!

It’s easy to think that simply by making to-do lists and getting a nice-looking planner, you’ll magically be productive. But we both know that it takes more than that.

I definitely recommend using both to-do lists and planners, but you’ll want to have a bit more sophisticated productivity system to finally start getting things done.

In this post, I’m going to help make it easier for you to be productive. These tips won’t take you to Duracell Bunny level productivity, but by following these tips you will start to get things done on time and you can say goodbye to stress and feelings of failure.

1. Create a super easy-to-follow morning routine

How you start your morning has a massive impact on the rest of your day. That’s why you need a simple morning routine that doesn’t take too much time but helps you set a productive tone for the day and ensures you get to work as soon as possible.

Of course, what your morning routine should look like depends on what you need to get done. Do you need to be at work by 8 am? Are you a student or do you run your own business from home?

I want you to create a simple routine that will take you from bed to being ready for the day as quickly as possible, and ensure that you have some time for working on your goals or any important projects you have. A roughly 5-step routine should be simple enough to stick to.

2. Sleep schedule that ensures optimum energy

I know you already know the importance of getting a good night’s sleep and that you’re supposed to go to bed early. But do you actually do that?

If not, it’s time to make some changes. Sticking to the same bedtime routine every night makes it easy to fall asleep early and thus also wake up early – with enough energy to check everything off your to-do list.

3. Get a digital detox app

Your phone is likely the biggest culprit when it comes to distracting you from work. It’s a good idea to first of all get an app that tracks your phone usage, so you have a better idea of how you use your phone and how much time you waste.

But you also need to get an app that ensures you don’t lapse when you’re feeling bored or when you just want to “quickly check something”. Using an app that strips your phone of all distractions is honestly a complete game changer.

I like Digital Detox for Android and Freedom for iPhone. Basically what these apps do, is hide all the apps that are not on your allowed list. The magic isn’t in just making it impossible for you to waste your time on your phone, but also the feeling of freedom and how it makes it much easier to focus.

4. Break tasks down into actionable steps

This is such an important tip that it deserves to be mentioned every time I talk about productivity.

Often the reason you find it hard to sit down and work is that your to-do list is too daunting. If it’s filled with tasks that take a couple of hours each, or you’re working on projects that may end up taking tens of hours altogether, it’s no wonder you don’t feel like getting started.

The simple trick here is to break these big tasks into smaller, easily doable steps.

Generally speaking, one task shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes. When you look at your to-do list and feel like everything on it is easy, the tasks are small enough.

5. Make starting as easy as possible

A great deal of being productive really comes down to sitting at your desk and getting started. Once you start, you’ll usually notice that the task at hand actually isn’t so difficult after all.

That’s why you need to make it as easy as possible to just get started. Make sure that you have everything you need in your work space, easy and actionable tasks on your to-do list, and a clear idea of what you’re going to do and for how long.

Remember, you don’t need to get everything done right now. What you’re going to do is get maybe an hour’s worth of work done or complete three things on your list. Don’t worry about the rest.

Related article: 3 Things I Did to Become More Productive

6. Don’t do everything you think you should do

I know you have a lot on your plate and you’ve also been thinking about starting a new side hustle, reading all the classics, and working out 2 hours a day, but hear me out: that’s too much for now.

You need to choose what are the things you absolutely have to do, learn to do them well, and then maybe think about adding something new to your list.

The problem with trying to do everything is that you likely won’t do anything well, and then you’ll be stressed and feel like you don’t have what it takes.

7. Using timers will make everything easier

This is one of my favorite productivity tips because it makes being productive so easy.

Instead of just going through your to-do list task by task, set a timer for each task. I’m not talking about the Pomodoro technique here (although it’s definitely worth trying) but actually thinking about what a good length is for each task. Sometimes it’s 10 minutes, sometimes it’s 45.

Using a timer helps you get started because once it’s running, you have to work on the task. And when you know you will only write for 20 minutes or tidy up the kitchen for 5, your tasks will suddenly become much more doable.

Feel free to add the same task to your list more than once to get more done.

8. Create a tailored productivity system for yourself

Following productivity tips is all well and good, but you’ll get even more results by designing a productivity system that takes into account your current life situation, what exactly hinders your productivity, and what you are working on right now.

Of course, it needs to be simple and as easy to follow as possible. You can try different techniques, such as time blocking or writing your to-do list the night before.

In any case, you want your productivity system to cover how you stay organized, what tools you use, when you work, how you stay focused, and how you tackle your to-do list. You also need to know what you should do when you wake up, when you get home from work, or before you go to bed.

+ Bonus tip

This isn’t mandatory, but rewarding yourself for being productive can help you get things done. You can come up with little daily rewards that encourage you to finish your to-do list or promise yourself a bigger reward for meeting your monthly productivity target.

Imagine getting yourself a bag you’ve been eyeing for ages after working hard for a month!

You can find more ideas here.

Three items that will help you be more productive

While productivity isn’t always easy, small changes can make a big difference! If you are serious about getting things done, consider investing in these:

• Atomic Habits, my favorite book about productivity

• Cute 60-minute timer, it really does make a difference

• Clever Fox Weekly Planner, which is one of the best planners I know

Being productive doesn’t have to be hard

To be productive, you simply need to know what you need to do, get rid of distractions, and start as soon as possible. The easier you make this for yourself, the more you will get done.

I know the tips on this list sound really obvious, and perhaps they might feel a bit too simple to actually make much of a difference. But I promise you, if you do everything I mentioned here, your life will be much easier, and you will get much more done. It tends to be the tips you’ve heard many times that work the best.

If you want more tips on how to change your life for the better, here’s what to read next:

Why You Need Cocoon Mode to Level Up Your Life

Get Rid of the No Missteps Mentality