9 new things

I’ve added to my work routine - Issue #05

Sep 01, 2024

I’ve written about productivity quite a few times here because it’s something I’ve been struggling with internally and I feel like this Substack is a way to externalize thoughts and feelings.

I wanted to share some changes I did to my routine that have helped me. In case you’re feeling overwhelmed or under-productive, maybe they can help you too.

I have a job that I work remotely at, from home, so it’s tough maintaining a routine when it’s so flexible it doesn’t have set hours. It’s project-based and some days have more work than hours in a day can fit while other days I’m just online on standby.

Ever since I decided to really focus on my own production company on the side, a few months ago, I’ve had to balance this remote work with my own company’s objectives (as well as my own). It’s exciting at first, setting your own goals, being your own boss, happily working late because this time it’s for myself and not for others.

As my company started getting traction with potential clients and meetings and cost estimates, exciting as it all was, I felt like I needed to include some structure in my routine. Here are some things I’ve started doing in order to keep me focused.

Opal - I wrote about Opal a few weeks ago and it really is a life changer. I set up time limits for multiple apps and have since extended my Instagram block from 10:45 pm to 11 am. Since I need to use Instagram for work sometimes, to look up people or references, I’ve gotten into the habit of using it more smartly, because I know my time there will be cut short after 30 minutes. If you struggle with spending too much time on your phone, but deleting an app is too drastic of an action to take (as it is for me), I highly recommend using Opal.

Leaving my phone in a different room - I use Opal to block distracting apps like Instagram, TikTok, Farfetch. But sometimes I just need to get shit done and not having my phone around is the best strategy. I have to literally get up from my chair and walk into a different room if I want to look at anything on my phone, and thankfully my addiction hasn’t reached that point yet. I don’t use messaging apps on my iPad, where I work from, and I’m not logged in to any social media so if you wanna reach me it’s gotta be by email.

Leaving my phone on do not disturb - when I can’t leave my phone in a room far, far away because I’m expecting a call or text, I leave it on do not disturb. Yes, I still tap the screen to light it up and see if there are new notifications, but just not being distracted by push notifications is already a huge productivity win.

Waking up naturally, no alarm - as you can probably already tell, doom scrolling is a big issue for me. I’ll do it before bed or as soon as I wake up. If Opal is blocking some apps, I’ll find a way to scroll through anything. I’ve replaced my phone’s alarm with my iPad’s alarm. It serves the same purpose with the benefit of not having me glued to the screen before anything else. In addition to that, I have a terrible time waking up early. If I don't get enough sleep, I will snooze for longer than if I just set an alarm for 30 minutes later. Seriously, it’s bad. So, whenever possible, I decided to not bring my phone or iPad into my bedroom, and wake up naturally. If I don’t have an early meeting or appointment, I wake up and get out of bed whenever I feel ready. It sounds very undisciplined, the opposite of productive, but I know I will eventually get into the habit of it and hopefully start waking up at a reasonable hour every day. I’ve woken up at 7, 7:30, 8:15, 10:15, and everywhere in between. It feels good to give my body control of when to start my day.

Having a to-do list for a given day only - I have a list with everything that needs to get done, for all the jobs and projects. If I keep looking at that long list, things get overwhelming and I end up prioritizing the wrong things. So each day I write my to-do list for only what I’d like to accomplish that day. Usually I get it all done, because I know what to focus on and am not trying to over deliver. Bonus: something that really helps is writing the to-do list for the following day in the evening, instead of in the morning, because you wake up and already know what needs to get tackled.

Shower in the morning, always - my loose daily routine allows for morning, lunchtime, mid-afternoon, and before bedtime showers. While this flexibility is great to have, by adding some discipline in a daily task, I feel fresh and ready to face the day after my morning showers. It’s what I used to do pre-pandemic before going to the office, so why not apply that now?

Put on clothes that aren’t PJs or sweats - there is no need to dress up or wear make up at home. But wearing an outfit that would be appropriate to leave the house makes me take the work (and myself) more seriously.

Not having a set time to start or end work - I mean, I don’t even have a set time to wake up. But in all seriousness, I don’t feel the need to start at 9 and end at 6. Sometimes I start at 10 and end at 4. Other times I start at 7 and end at 9. It depends on my physical disposition that day, the urgent items in my to-do list, and whether I’m on back to back meetings, which also get in the way of productive work.

Not multitasking during meetings - the urge to do many things at once during meetings can be hard to control. If it’s a meeting I don’t need to participate in, it’s easy to start working on the next item on my to-do list or messaging my co-worker or drafting that email. Even if my meetings feel like I could be doing something else, I don’t. I pay attention and remain present and in the moment. At times, I feel unproductive, but I’ve gotten used to focusing on one thing at a time.

Let me know if you’ve tried any of these tactics and what’s worked for you. A 10th thing I’d like to start doing is working out in the morning. I’ll keep you posted on how that goes!