Work from Home during Coronavirus: Why Writing Things Down Can Help You Be More Productive Now Than Ever
This time is full of uncertainty, and with most of us stuck at home, it can get very tricky to stay focused and reach your goals. Somehow even on our best days, tasks seem to take more time than usual.
But why, you might ask?
Turns out most people make the mistake of not writing our goals down, and thus their mind is not prepared to take on what’s coming their way.
We have written about why planning on paper is better than using digital calendars or notes before, but this week we break down the topic of why you should rediscover the productive order and peace by writing things down.
So buckle up, grab your pen and planner, and check out these 5 reasons writing things down can help you be more productive!
1. You’re more likely to actually check to-dos off your list
It’s now more important than ever to try and establish what is and what’s not worth doing . When you have to focus on work from home where your kids and puppies are distracting you, your to-dos and goals should be very clear.
But most of us are used to not actually writing the to-dos down, we rather just think about them. In that case they are merely thoughts that run through your head and are gone the moment your Slack chat notification bell rings.
That’s why it’s important to actually write the to-dos down, so you could reevaluate them, sort them and maybe even realise something is not worth your time.
Here are some tips on how to create a good to-do list:
- "Eat the frog first" – always start with the hardest task.
Choose one thing that you must do but are not so keen on doing and start your day by dealing with exactly that. This way you ensure everything you do afterwards brings you more joy and satisfaction.
- Set a limited number of items on your list and stick with it.
We advise a set number of 1 Most Important Task, which can be followed by a maximum of 4 more tasks per day. There is no point in having too many items on your to-do list, as it’s a bulletproof way to never check everything off your list.
- Use the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks by importance and urgency.
- Prepare the list in advance.
Best time to prepare for the next day is just before bedtime, so you sleep better and don’t have to start your morning with making decisions on what to do.
If you’d like to find out why your to-do list is not working for you, check out the article on 7 Most Common To-Do List Mistakes and How To Fix Them.
2. You discover your real goals and ambitions
So you have a to-do list in place and are excited to finally get on with your day. What this does is actually creating head-space for new realizations. To-dos are steps you take towards your goals, and can even showcase your ambitions you’ve been surpressing.
Now is the best time to reevaluate your ambitions and establish goals you want to achieve.
Here are some great ways to steer your thoughts toward discovering your real ambitions during Coronavirus:
- Let yourself dream through visualisation.
- Based on what you discovered in the previous step, break it down into smaller, actionable steps.
3. You feel more in control
Nothing fuels your productivity more than the feeling of control. Once you have a grasp of what you must accomplish daily and monthly, you will sense the power over your distractions, power over your excuses and power over lack of resources.
Here’s how you can feel more in control of your daily life by writing things down:
- Plan your day ahead.
- Evaluate how your day went.
- Take notes during the day
4. Your stress levels are lower
When things are written down, it means you thought about them and had to spend time with your thoughts to organize them in a way that makes sense to become written words. According to research, this process is amazing at lowering your stress levels purely because your sense of control is higher and it brings peace to your mental state.
Here are some great ways to lower your stress levels while stranded at home:
- Write down affirmations.
- Doodle or draw something.
5. Your personal and work life are rebalanced
By writing stuff down and prioritizing tasks and goals, you optimize your workload and thus improve your work-life balance. It’s always been tough to weigh between private life and work life, and now the lines can get more blurred than ever before.
But worry not, as by writing things down you can clearly set these two apart, and see the distinction between them more clearly.
Here are some great ways to recover your work-life balance when working from home:
- Write down the exact time you will stop working (and stick to it).
- Plan your “non-work” tasks as well.
Some final words
Even if working from home is not a new turf for you, a new approach to it could never hurt. And what better way to take back control over your life than with a clear plan written down in front of you that gives you peace of mind that nothing is missing from the bigger picture.
