Lifestyle Changes to Boost Productivity
In the realm of professional writing efficiency, the utilization of productivity-enhancing tools is paramount. One such instrumental method is the incorporation of meticulously designed Bullet Journal spreads tailored to elevate productivity. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the serious business of optimizing your writing processes. Explore strategically crafted productivity bullet journal spreads to augment your lifestyle, providing you with a structured and focused approach to your tasks. Learn more about improving your productivity here.
Brain Dumps – Creating Order through Chaos
The original Bullet Journal method refers to this process as “rapid logging.” I like the term Brain Dump better because it’s more accurate. Whatever you choose to call it, a brain dump is one of the best bullet journal hacks and productivity tool. To create a brain dump you take a page of your bullet journal and free-write about everything you need to do, want to do, or anything that’s on your mind. Get messy and let it flow. Not only will you feel better having written everything down, but you’ll also be able to clearly see all that garbage that was clogging up your mind.
Once you have transferred all of your tasks from your brain to the page, it’s much easier to create a plan. It’s all there in front of you. A good idea after doing a brain dump is to group your tasks into categories, or even transfer them to a goal’s collection page. Use your key and your color-coding system. Spend a bit of time with your brain dump and it will be transformed into a valuable productivity toolkit you can use all the time.
Batch Your Tasks
This productivity hack can be applied to pretty much any area of your life. Instead of doing things piecemeal, try batching your tasks. For example, instead of writing out your tasks day by day, try setting up a weekly spread and record everything you need to do for the week all at once.
Similarly, if you have a website, set up a time to write a batch of blog posts all at once. Plan out your social media posts in groups so you don’t have to post every day. Dedicate outlining time to plot everything for your novel in one go (characters one week, world-building the next, etc…). Pump out a set of short stories. Meal prep for the week. There is no limit to task batching and its effectiveness. Give this a try and I promise your productivity will improve.
Make Planning Part of Your Routine
Whether you’re a night owl or an early bird, it’s a good idea to include planning as part of your routine. Before you go to bed or right after you wake up grab your bullet journal and plan the day ahead. This is also a good time to do a brain dump or rapid log session. Clear your mind, then make a plan.
This is beneficial in a number of ways. First, it brings you clarity and peace of mind. You’ll be tackling your busy day with a fresh and clean slate. Second, you will be more prepared to handle the challenges of your day because you’ve already reviewed everything that needs to be done. Finally, pre-planning will help you cope better with unexpected changes. If you hadn’t already known what you needed to do that day, an unexpected interruption could prove disastrous. Avoid the chaos and start making planning part of your routine.
Create a Motivational Goldmine & Get Creative
Creativity reduces stress which increases productivity. Creativity is motivating and empowering. Using a bullet journal combines all of these things to provide you with the ultimate productivity tool. It’s better than a pre-made planner because the bullet journal is totally customizable. Plus, if you don’t use your bullet journal for a week or so, you won’t have blank pages screaming your failure. You record only what you need, reducing distractions and unnecessary writing. The best part is how creative you can be. Try to include motivational and inspirational pages for when you’re just not feeling it.
Some people transform their bullet journals into works of art. You don’t have to go that far, but try to have fun with it. Make being productive something you enjoy. Use your bullet journal as a tool. Don’t let it become a burden by feeling pressured to make it “look perfect.” It is meant to serve a purpose, to help keep you organized and focused, thus reducing stress and improving productivity. If you find yourself stressing about bullet journaling, you are going about it the wrong way. Take a step back and relax. Remember, your bullet journal works for you, not the other way around.
Work Your Logs
Yearly, Monthly, Weekly, and Daily Logs can all be used for tasks, appointments, and reminders. But you can turn them into bullet journal hacks. Use them as goal and project planning phases:
- Yearly logs are your largest goals and projects (the main ideas)
- Monthly logs can be used to break your goals down into tasks and action plans
- Weekly logs are smaller action groups – tasks to complete and next steps in action plans
- Daily logs are records of what’s been accomplished and what still needs to be done
- You can also use quarterly reviews to reevaluate your projects and goals.
You can also use your logs to your advantage by simply recording and analyzing tasks and appointments as they occur. This helps you stay productive because you don’t have to remember everything. It’s all laid out neatly for you. Checking things off a to-do list is both satisfying and motivating.
Bullet Journal Spreads to Increase Productivity
Collection Page ideas to help you be a more productive writer:
- Start by Defining Your Purpose (Create an “About” page for you and your projects.)
- Habit Trackers
- Project Trackers
- Goals & Motivations
- Review Pages (Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, etc…)
- Time Logs (aka Time Blocking)
- Budget / Finance Logs
- Routines & Rituals
- Focus Trackers
- 15 Minute Task Lists
- A Year in Pixels
- Level 10 Life Spreads
- Gratitude Logs
- Memories Collection Page
- Affirmations
- Brain Dumps
- Mind Maps
- Bucket Lists
