These Sunday productivity videos are becoming part of my weekly planning routine! 1.) Get tasks down in calendar blocking 2.) Make sure every task and errand has been assigned a day/ slot in the schedule 3.) Meal prep 4.) Tea & AmyTV Then, and only then can you start the week! :)
Those time cubes are genius!!! That would be so great for teaching...instead of me yelling "One minute!" to every group they can just wait for the beep. A beautiful potential classroom management tool. I'm still learning SO much about how long things actually take. I can't work with music. I just want to listen to it! Plus most of my work is music-based. 😄 To answer your questions - SPOTIFY all the way! My friends are on it. Small artists are on it. I love Discover Weekly. I've never heard of Focus Mode. I'll definitely be looking into that for my work computer. I really appreciate your caveat about priorities. I as an individual (weirdo) need my unstructured time to do my weird projects. Mmm...coffee and creativity. I like creativity and chocolate smoothies. 😄 Tasting something yummy as I create something yummy. What keeps me focused? Deadlines. Self-inflicted or not. I am not stressed by procrastination. I know my best work comes from knowing I worked on something through to the very last possible minute. #TweetOnYourFeet!
I was an English teacher for 2 years in Seoul, and would have LOVED those cubes! Two for team games. Wish I had seen them sooner. There's a great quote: "To acheive great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time" - Leonard Bernstein. Setting deadlines are vital to completing a task :)
Love the timer!! I've done the timer for years & sware are by it! When I do a timer, I also immediately set the timer for a short amount to go the bathroom, grab a new drink, etc. Also to do a 5 min "enjoyable reward" right after the productivity is also helpful. If I know it will be a high desk day, the timer will go off every hour or 2, I will then set the timer for 15 minutes of standing time, to stretch, clean something, take the dogs out, etc. Refreshes you!
Really great tips ! Here is mine : As a writer, my creative time in the day is really important. And let's be real, sometimes it's hard to keep going, especially when you feel distracted or stressed. So of course I try to prepare my body and mind early in the morning (yoga, walking the dogs, meditation) but some days, it's just hard and the creative flow gets stuck. So what I do is... I change "position". I go work in my bed, or sit on another chair or even in the kitchen. The change of "scenery" always restarts my brain. And when I get really stuck, I just go out, take a drive somewhere to change my mind. I have a question though about something I've been struggling with, especially when I calendar block. Sometimes, I have "urges" to do something, even if it's not in my calendar. You mention cleaning the kitchen but it can also be the urge to make that phone call, or to get rid of an administrative task or something. What do you do when that happens? Do you ignore the calendar and get to it ? I mean, I prefer to do these boring things when I feel like it but it can also be a distraction and it disorganizes the whole day... Will love to hear your opinion on that!
I love the idea of those time cubes! Personally I keep a running list of tasks that will take 15, 10, or 5 minutes. When I'm feeling unmotivated or overwhelmed, I pick a time, roll a dice, and do whatever that task is. That helps me then get moving and get started, and once I'm started, it's easier for me to get into the zone and follow my calendar blocks. When I'm feeling really organized, I have categories of types of tasks. So that way maybe my one hour block is for writing, but I am feeling a little stumped.. I can just roll the dice within that category and see what comes up. Obviously if you have deadlines, those take priority. But even in cases when my deadlines are leaving me feeling overwhelmed, that little victory within a few minutes can make a huge difference for me feeling like I can take on the rest.
I use small cues to get into focus-mode. I live in a shared apartment so I have one room for everything. Sleeping, eating, working etc. So I only use my desk for work related issues. UA-cam, Skype, online shopping... all gets done on my couch. So when I am sitting down at my desk I know it is working time. I also have a specific cup I only use for when I am working. And this actually helps.
Epic music is great!! ...until you realise the music's so epic you've spent the last half hour traversing Middle Earth in a reverie instead of actually working... 🤣
I withhold the treat I want until I do the task. If I’m lagging non something non-creative, like cleaning, I can’t do what I want until the tasks are done. I find I clean faster and more often if I’m not aloud to play a video game or watch TV without having done my tasks.
Hey Amy! I started watching your videos last week and I've NEVER felt so focused to get stuff done and live the life I want. I work from home as a virtual assistant, which was my dream job all through university, so I'm on my way there!
I am in graduate school which requires tons of time sitting in front of the computer. I have turned on the hourly notification on my Mac, which announces the time on the hour. During this time, I get up stretch and walk around for 5 minutes. It helps give me a mini break and get back on track!
Talking on the phone while doing the dishes is my one true multitasking thing I do that i LOVE. I don't even know I'm doing the dishes because I'm concentrating on the conversation. Highly recommend. All other multitasking I pretty much fail at 😂
I really love the setting boundaries. I'm a bit guilty of this one because I sometimes tend to say YES more often to other people. Thank you for the reminder that I need to prioritize the things that I need to do for myself using the best ability that I have so that I can get more things done. As always, your videos are very informative and loving it everytime! Much love for you!
Currently watching this video as a distraction from studying for my Mid-term happening tomorrow. I also love to put UA-cam on my bedroom tv and watch/ listen as I fold clothes and tidy up the room and bathroom I have tried listening to Audible books while cleaning and while driving and I LOVE IT 😍 I feel like I am feeding my need to consume a book but also getting all my tasks completed at the same time. Please consider making a video for college students on managing time for classes, homework, projects, study groups, reading/reviewing materials, time for family/friends/ myself (gym time too), errands, chores around the house, as well as some much need downtime --oh and let’s not forget to include time to sleep.
Yes! Yes! Yes! I am working so hard to stay more focused. I struggle with not getting sucked into social media and being distracted. This video was a great reminder!
THANK YOU for the Spotify Focus Playlist tip. That is a serious gem! ✨ I started listening when this video came out and I'm still loving how focused it gets me 3 months later.
Amy, you were one of the first UA-camrs I watched and you absolutely inspired me to start my own channel. Thank you SO much for being real and providing helpful information, without trying to profit off every single encounter. It makes you a trustworthy and genuine source. Keep doing you girl!
Honestly my weapon to staying focused should be to disable my notification for when you release new videos, because seriously it doesn't matter what I'm doing I'll stop - like right now I have an assignment that's due in 5 hours, yet here I am watching your amazing videos... like I've been bingeing all day!
OMG stop! That's funny! That's why I like posting on Sunday and Wednesday afternoons. Just in case you need a pick-me-up before the beginning of the week and the mid-week slump. But thank you so much for watching!!
Coming from a large family I wen't sick of all the people disturbing me from my studies and writhing. So I went to the store en got me a really flashy pair of reading glasses. Everyone knows when the glasses are on my nose they should either not disturb me or start running. Everyone new will be notifite before I start a session. And so I have more signs for familie and friends to help me to stay focussed and help them not get smacked to the face after the 30 time they disturbed me. Also studies in the local library helps a lot too. Being in the place filled with books and sillence is really motivating to get things done. Phone need to be silent, you need to be silent, everybody needs to be silent. Love it including their coffee.
Number 7 works for me every time, i'm drinking coffee only when i need to write some content or a essay of my studies, it is also giving me the boost my brain needs sometimes AND motivation to do the task because of my love to coffee lol
I read somewhere that depending on your personality type, your slump varies throughout the day and to hold off on caffeine until then to give yourself that boost. Mine is around 2, so that's when I have my chai, and I am going to schedule my writing time for that time, too! Excited for this secret weapon!
I own one of these time cubes but I need to be better at using it - especially when my son is around! If I get him to set the timer and know that when it goes off, he has all my attention. Genius. My energy really fluctuates throughout the week. Mondays are my “create” days - I write, shoot, and design content for the blog and work on decks and documents for my other company. Tuesdays and Thursdays are for meetings and staying on top of emails in the empty blocks. Wednesdays are catch up and recharge days - I start my day with reading (first, the articles I’ve bookmarked throughout the week, then a nonfiction book), and I spend the afternoons finishing what didn’t get done on Mondays. I spend Friday mornings with my son, and the afternoons are for administrative work. I also work for a few hours on Sunday, getting ready for the week.
I actually LOVED your skincare routine and would love to see something like a wardrobe tour or maybe something like your favorite clothing pieces? I don't know about you, but I am into capsule wardrobes...
Yes. Coffee and creativity works. When I write, I always have coffee within reach. It's how I trained myself. I'm also subscribed to Spotify and find I can do focused work with songs that have lyrics, if I know the song by heart and can sing along without thinking. I do some serious focus work that way.
The Time Cubes are really awesome! I think that it would be interesting if you could safely roll them like dice and then run the timer based on a semi-random time. It can give you a challenge to either do something quickly and improve your speed or give yourself extra time to delve deeper into something you are working on.
I can totally relate to wanting to pick up your phone all the time. I know I would get so much more done if I didn't have mine with me when I was working. It's not that I pick it up all the time, but I keep looking at it 'cause I wanna see what's new.
So Im super ADD, and this is probably the most doable and functional productivity video ever! I actually think I can manage my time this way, Ive tried a similar method but I didnt have the right tools. Im going back to college after failing out, and then taking only 1 class at a time which kinda worked. Anyways, my 2 year break is up and I think these will really help me so thank you🙏💜
I’m going to pick up the time cubes and try the calendar block. I love the Spotify focus playlists!! I no longer have Apple Music because I’m always in Spotify! Thanks for sharing these tips!
I have ADHD so my version multitasking is switching focus. I found a time tracker to help with that! I would enter in a task(however small) and start the timer. If I wanted to switch to a different task, I would enter it in. What I basically did was created an obstacle when switching tasks. It got me into a habit of thinking first before switching. It also was interesting to see what I actually spent time on. It is really hard to start though. But if you keep at it for a couple of days , you start to reap the reward. When you feel like you are in a good spot, stop and do the usual. Love your videos! Keep up the good work!
Great video Amy! I love how you don't try to hide the fact that you look for distractions to avoid staying focused. Were all human and I think we all have that inner battle with staying focused and shiny object syndrome. A lot of people offering advise on UA-cam aren't transparent like you are. Thanks!
My goodness!!!!! Can’t believe you mentioned ‘Team of Mentors’!!! I’ve had that book on my list ever since my boss mentioned it in passing, and now... that’s it, I’m getting it!!! And Susan Cain’s in it too! Don’t need any other reason to get it now! Thank you for mentioning it. I’m new here on your channel and I appreciate all you put out there. I’ve tried some of your suggestions (I work a desk job and I can’t apply everything you suggest) and the calendar time block has worked! I just have to keep at it every week. I’m still working on waking up at 5 in the morning, but I gotta work on getting a good night’ sleep first (suffer from insomnia and sleep apnea), so work in progress. But I’m not giving up. Keep publishing your ideas and suggestions please! Thanks! Kass ☺️
Your candle is unlit. Great segway! This is one way I’m finding the harder tasks more rewarding and easier to accomplish. Through scent. My favourite candle on my desk is calming earthy but having it there is a visual focus point too when my mind wanders. I use this one candle and this scent in this space. Outside of my ‘focus’ area for me eucalyptus oil is an antibacterial = clean. Kitchen and bathroom. I’m experimenting with my diffuser in my room not to overwhelm my senses but to trigger a sensory response to my brain saying ok this is relaxing time, chill out. I know what I like. Now I’m training my brain by repetition to be triggered by these scents and that each have a purpose. To focus, relax, be happy, be motivated, reduce anxiety all senses are used to control our reactions. I’m thinking since smell is one of the most powerful senses I’m going to train my brain to work with me on that. I’m definitely getting that timer cube!!
Completely agree with coffee tip :) I started doing it unconsciously and i realised it sort of becomes a "ritual" that really helps you focus, and when i start drinking coffee more often per day again, guess what, it stops helping me focus! Thanks for the energy in your videos! :D
The pairing your coffee (tea for me) with a task is an interesting concept. I "save" a chai for mid-afternoonish, when I'm feeling my slump. I may start pairing it with writing or a task of some kind. Sounds interesting...
YAAAS, creativity and coffee! my most productive English as a foreign language Lesson plannings do happen when I sit down for a period of time that i had already calendar/blocked and pour myself a cup of coffee! calendar/blocking and coffee have been helping me likie crazy to boost my creativity for planning classes!
I use an essential oil diffuser for keeping my focus. It needs to have a citrus, lavender, and peppermint oil. Today the citrus is actually orange and lemongrass and I'm loving it
Awesome tips and tricks in your video! When I’m having trouble focusing, I’ve noticed it’ll have a lot to do with my mood or ADHD. Over time I’ve developed the habit of checking in with myself to see why I’m having an issue. I just stop for a minute and chill, just let myself feel whatever I’m feeling so I can figure out what I need to get back in the groove by, drinking some water, get some fresh air, eat some fruit or a salad , or just take a 20 minute break etc. I find self check ins are a good way to lower stress levels and prevent burn out most of the time, personally. Thank you for your videos, Amy!
LOVE the time cubes. I definitely will have to get myself some to help me stay off my phone timer and quit being so darn easily distractable. The idea of coffee and creativity sounds amazing! I have been doing 15-30min of afternoon of caffeine and centering- taking time to really journal about the day, new ideas, thoughts/feelings/truths/humanity, etc while enjoying a cup of tea. Also, as a side note, I pay for Spotify. I find it really easy to make my own playlists, use their recommended playlists, browse their HUGE variety of playlists by mood I am in (or wish I was in), like the Focus playlists or Running playlists.
I am currently writing my master thesis and so far found it very helpful to visualize ideas and next steps on a huge whiteboard I now have in my room. I don't have to be ultra neat because it's going to be wiped away, it is a lot of space to write on and I see it every day so that it makes me feel like 'I'm working on it' / 'I am making progress' as content changes constantly. Some people might not want to see it all the time but that's the way it works for me and ultimately we all have to analyze ourselves, try things and stick to the habits that prove successful.
I loooooooooooove "focus" Spotify playlists.... This is really working for me. AND I'm excited about this "coffee+creativiy" thing !!! I need to try ! Thanks for your videos, I LOVE them.
Hi Amy! I strongly recommend Apple Music over Spotify. You can find radio stations & playlists specific to your needs, as well as iCloud + library downloads of all music. It's far less limiting vs. Spotify, which doesn't give access to as many artists & songs. Also, I don't know if it bothers you, especially since you don't have kids, but Spotify only has explicit versions of songs, where Apple provides both explicit & clean versions of all songs available. Thanks for your awesome videos of guidance & motivation! You rock!
When it comes to time constraints when being engaged in a task, I use a Pomodoro app (Focus Booster specifically, but it’s a paid app, there are others also), which has no option of pausing my Pomodoro session (this is crucial - believe me), and I divide the time blocks I have assigned for each task into Pomodoro sessions. It’s not a flexible system, but it’s a constraining one indeed. No much time is allocated to not-so-important tasks (1 Pomodoro session is enough). I have a now concrete reference system for more time-consuming tasks which is easy to remember (eg. I need usually 4 Pomodoro sessions for correcting students exercises, it shouldn’t be more than these, otherwise it’s a problem). And the tricky feeling of "oh, I have all day for this task" is simply out of the table. Also when I started realizing that in a span of say 10 hours in a day, I’m usually able to be productive for maximum 5 - 6 hours, which translates to 10 - 12 Pomodoro sessions, this shattered any false impressions I had of how much I can achieve in a single day… Maybe this is a good quantitative indication for everyone.
This vlog is on point for me, I am in the middle of a big project but I get easily distracted and pulled in many different directions. Thanks, those are some great ideas, my favorite is the chrome extension with coffee of course.
Love all of these! I'm calendar blocking and putting my phone on "do not disturb". When I do these two things consistently, I get SO much more done! Love the idea of those time cubes. Also, YES SPOTIFY. I will only ever pay for Spotify. It has everything I could ever want. There's also a 24/7 UA-cam live stream called "Chill Beats". If I want to focus on something creative, it's my favorite thing to listen to!
Great video.. when I feel de-motivated or bored to do a particular task, i just go out of my home/office and take 5 mins walk.. trust me, it is so refreshing and it also clears your mind.
I recpmmend the forest app fpr ypur phone... You are basiclly growing aplant while the app is on and if you get out of it your plant starts dying...so you don't use your phone ubtil the timer is over snd you can grow more plants in your garden every time you study or work ..it amazing.
I use the Focus on Spotify ALL the time , it’s the only way I can focus for about one hour increments to finish my work! I love it 😍 great video! I love the cubes .
Thanks so much again! All good stuff. I've made a time budget for myself where I evaluate the time I know I have and pencil in the objectives dividing minutes within the total available time. Then I have a roadmap that keeps me on track and, I am going to give up on my phone timer and buy something like what you've got. Because action expresses priorities (Gandhi) where we spent our time always pays off in the outcomes of our lives. Most people can actually do whatever they dream of doing...it's just a matter of making it happen. Focus is essentially attention... OR At Tention...so apply meaningful focus...attention is the most valuable thing on this planet...so spend that wisely friends!!!! Thanks Amy
I have started a timer throughout my work day set at every hour because I was constantly checking my phone and was being unproductive. So I will strictly only check my phone when my timer goes off. We use the phone regularly for work and communication but I had to allow myself to have better time management. It seems to be working so much better and have only been doing this a week. Now I still pick up my phone every once in a while but I remember to put it back down(face down) because my timer has not gone off. I think the cube timers will be very beneficial to me thank you!
I definitely can relate to the coffee tip. I use it to workout in the morning though. I look forward to getting my breakfast coffee and oatmeal so much that I've made it my reward for working out. No coffee unless the workout is done. It's really helped me look forward to my morning routine so much more.
N P thanks! It was rough at first, but now that I've been doing it for a while I love it. On the days I can't workout I actually miss my morning routine. It's weird!
Loving this list! For me I have Cafe Work Time, where I go to my favorite cafe with my headphones, grab a coffee, and sit and work for a few hours. Getting out of my house helps so much! I'm a photographer and work a lot from home, so I get behind the coffee tip! Also...gotta buy that cube!!
Can I just say I just discovered this channel and I love your energy. The content aside, it's just your personality that makes me want to - idk keep listening to you? Sounds creepy, but your energy rubs off on me and makes me want take action!! Keep going Amy
Oh, those cube timers are awesome. I'm going to need a few a those for around here. I can see using them with my kids all the time! So much easier than the timer on my phone, or the microwave, lol!
I'm obsessed with your channel!! Im trying to organize my day to day life alot better lately. I feel like my whole life is an unorganized scramble lately. Your channel definitely gives me so many great ideas. I still cringe at the 5a.m. wake up though lol... I am not there yet. Love your channel!
Just put my kitchen timer on my night stand. I always loved the idea of the pomodoro method but having my phone near me ruined the point for me. This is perfect! 😄🙌💖 Thanks, Amy!
I love those time cubes! Also, since I've kicked my coffee addiction as well, when I'm feeling unmotivated to do anything whether it's planning a video, cleaning the house, teaching, or just being a mom I turn to my matcha green tea. I love it more than coffee now!
Thanks for the video! I have a couple questions;1) what do you mean by a blog post? Is this done daily? If so what app/program do you use of suggest? 2) do you calendar block on the weekend?
I use rewards to stay motivated, so say I’ve successfully managed to stay on task and do my work for a reasonable amount of time, I usually let myself watch youtube videos (i.e. you) without feeling guilty. I also stick motivational quotes everywhere, helps me stay positive as every time I start working on something a wave of negative emotions/ thoughts hits. So the quotes help me consciously change my thinking pattern. :)
Love the idea of combining caffeine and creativity, totally down to try that out next time I need the extra sparkle!! So glad I’ve found your channel!! Might I please add my vote towards a detailed video on calendar/time blocking in the future!? Sending love and light from beautiful British Colombia!! 🌸💜😌
"Found it!" You crack me up! So glad to have recently stumbled upon your channel. Thanks for the needed content and silly personality, you are appreciated!
Totally OOT but just wanted to tell you that I've been binging on the books you recommended (so far Crush It, Crushing It and your own) and it helps me come up with a master plan for my life. Haven't been so excited in a while. Thank you.
I used to drink instant coffee and listen to notre dame gregorian chants while studying for a medieval history exam and i still associate the flavour and the sound to thst book i was studying. Also i learnt to associate Ravel - bolero with studying the first world war and the romeo and juliette opera by gounod to studying mesopotamia, and banana flavoured gum to egyptian hyerogliphs. Interesting how flavours and sounds can take us back to a specific situation.
Those time cubes are awesome. Gonna get me some. When I’m doing school work I have a playlist of movie instrumental music that always signals time for school. When I’m doing like my journals and such I kind of like quiet because I’m one with the book.
I would love to see you check in with someone who has kids at home and work out strategies for productivity including your style. I'm trying for that balance and I'm sure not the only one who could use a few tips
I find designated days to be helpful in planning. Not blocking random times, but certain days. I’m not a primary photographer but I’m the only one that takes photos in my job. For that reason Wednesday is when I take photos, so I batch all photo work on that day. Same for TV spots. Not all that I do for video but for those jobs I only edit them on Friday because it’s a very repetitive type task. Because it can also be a distraction to create “blocks of time” on another day but really their just road blocks to the days flow. Plus I know what my DAYS typically hold not just my hours, without having to look at a calendar.
I thought of an app you might like- it’s my distraction fighter! It’s called Rain Rain and it has tons of varying rain sounds and you can even do mash-ups (my favorite is forest rain with summer rain) and it comes with a timer! That would be my hack for productivity
I need to just pull the trigger and buy that stupid cube on Amazon. I had a professor in grad school who was obsessed with that thing. And I'm with you on the phone thing- I have to put it in another room or I'll look at it every 30 seconds. Great tips!
That is me... That is why I personally am most productive in the evening, not the morning. I love working when no one is texting, emailing, husband is sleeping...
For hiit training workouts I REALLY recommend the one in the blogilates app! The app is free but the add-on is like 99 cents or 1.99 I think and I’m so glad I got it! You can make and save your own workouts so all you have to do is click on it to launch it, you can decide how long you want the workout and the rest to last, and rest between each round of workouts. The app also counts down out loud when there’s 3 seconds left so you don’t have to keep glancing at the timer during the workout
Literally watching this because I can't focus on final year uni exam revision... The time cubes look like such a good idea though!! I've got a fitbit and found that setting the reminder on there (for me it's 10 minutes to the hour and it tells me to do 250 steps before the end of the hour) gives me 50 minutes of intense concentration then a 10 minute break to move around a bit! Also, Spotify all the way🙌
The best thing that works for me is planning the day before blocking time in my google calendar for each task I must accomplish. When the time comes to do anything, It usually happens that I don't feel in the mood or better be watching UA-cam, so I stop with my both feet on a floor tile and countdown from 5, that really helps me. At the time I set the day before to finish work I STOP, no matter if I have things unfinished. No social media allowed at working time (I only have linkedin and watch UA-cam, but get distracted a lot with them) and lots of water and fruit snacks to keep on.
These Sunday productivity videos are becoming part of my weekly planning routine!
1.) Get tasks down in calendar blocking
2.) Make sure every task and errand has been assigned a day/ slot in the schedule
3.) Meal prep
4.) Tea & AmyTV
Then, and only then can you start the week! :)
You are adorable. I could be your grandma but I get energized by you, so one more old lady watching your channel.
Debbie Wood right there with you! She's so energizing. And I'm old.
is it the cardigan? lol
Those time cubes are genius!!! That would be so great for teaching...instead of me yelling "One minute!" to every group they can just wait for the beep. A beautiful potential classroom management tool. I'm still learning SO much about how long things actually take.
I can't work with music. I just want to listen to it! Plus most of my work is music-based. 😄 To answer your questions - SPOTIFY all the way! My friends are on it. Small artists are on it. I love Discover Weekly.
I've never heard of Focus Mode. I'll definitely be looking into that for my work computer.
I really appreciate your caveat about priorities. I as an individual (weirdo) need my unstructured time to do my weird projects.
Mmm...coffee and creativity. I like creativity and chocolate smoothies. 😄 Tasting something yummy as I create something yummy.
What keeps me focused? Deadlines. Self-inflicted or not. I am not stressed by procrastination. I know my best work comes from knowing I worked on something through to the very last possible minute.
#TweetOnYourFeet!
I was an English teacher for 2 years in Seoul, and would have LOVED those cubes! Two for team games. Wish I had seen them sooner.
There's a great quote: "To acheive great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time" - Leonard Bernstein.
Setting deadlines are vital to completing a task :)
Hannah Green Hargreaves I LOVE that! And I love Leonard Bernstein! I will remember that quote. :)
I was thinking the same thing! The kids would LOVE to use it!
Great for parenting too! I use a lot of timers already but the cubes are cute and visual and will help teach my toddler numbers!
Stephanie Douglass Spotify FTW
Love the timer!! I've done the timer for years & sware are by it! When I do a timer, I also immediately set the timer for a short amount to go the bathroom, grab a new drink, etc. Also to do a 5 min "enjoyable reward" right after the productivity is also helpful. If I know it will be a high desk day, the timer will go off every hour or 2, I will then set the timer for 15 minutes of standing time, to stretch, clean something, take the dogs out, etc. Refreshes you!
Really great tips ! Here is mine : As a writer, my creative time in the day is really important. And let's be real, sometimes it's hard to keep going, especially when you feel distracted or stressed. So of course I try to prepare my body and mind early in the morning (yoga, walking the dogs, meditation) but some days, it's just hard and the creative flow gets stuck. So what I do is... I change "position". I go work in my bed, or sit on another chair or even in the kitchen. The change of "scenery" always restarts my brain. And when I get really stuck, I just go out, take a drive somewhere to change my mind.
I have a question though about something I've been struggling with, especially when I calendar block. Sometimes, I have "urges" to do something, even if it's not in my calendar. You mention cleaning the kitchen but it can also be the urge to make that phone call, or to get rid of an administrative task or something. What do you do when that happens? Do you ignore the calendar and get to it ? I mean, I prefer to do these boring things when I feel like it but it can also be a distraction and it disorganizes the whole day... Will love to hear your opinion on that!
I love the idea of those time cubes!
Personally I keep a running list of tasks that will take 15, 10, or 5 minutes. When I'm feeling unmotivated or overwhelmed, I pick a time, roll a dice, and do whatever that task is.
That helps me then get moving and get started, and once I'm started, it's easier for me to get into the zone and follow my calendar blocks.
When I'm feeling really organized, I have categories of types of tasks. So that way maybe my one hour block is for writing, but I am feeling a little stumped.. I can just roll the dice within that category and see what comes up.
Obviously if you have deadlines, those take priority. But even in cases when my deadlines are leaving me feeling overwhelmed, that little victory within a few minutes can make a huge difference for me feeling like I can take on the rest.
I love the pomodoro technique/tomato timer! 25 min of focus, short 5 min break, then a longer break after 4 pomodoros :-)
Yes! Pomodoro technique is ❤️!
Pomodoro? Is that a cocktail?
I use small cues to get into focus-mode. I live in a shared apartment so I have one room for everything. Sleeping, eating, working etc. So I only use my desk for work related issues. UA-cam, Skype, online shopping... all gets done on my couch. So when I am sitting down at my desk I know it is working time. I also have a specific cup I only use for when I am working. And this actually helps.
My secret weapon for getting focused is having "epic" themed music on in the background. There is a four hour playlist that I love and use lots.
Is your epic music on spotify? I'd love to hear it!
Sunny Rivero I just searched for epic music, the playlist that I listen to is on UA-cam.
Epic music is great!! ...until you realise the music's so epic you've spent the last half hour traversing Middle Earth in a reverie instead of actually working... 🤣
I withhold the treat I want until I do the task. If I’m lagging non something non-creative, like cleaning, I can’t do what I want until the tasks are done. I find I clean faster and more often if I’m not aloud to play a video game or watch TV without having done my tasks.
Hey Amy! I started watching your videos last week and I've NEVER felt so focused to get stuff done and live the life I want. I work from home as a virtual assistant, which was my dream job all through university, so I'm on my way there!
Charlotte Clark Same here!
Charlotte Clark, how do you become a virtual assistant? I have always wanted to do that, i just never knew how to go about it.
I am in graduate school which requires tons of time sitting in front of the computer. I have turned on the hourly notification on my Mac, which announces the time on the hour. During this time, I get up stretch and walk around for 5 minutes. It helps give me a mini break and get back on track!
Brilliant. O sancta simplicitas!
Talking on the phone while doing the dishes is my one true multitasking thing I do that i LOVE. I don't even know I'm doing the dishes because I'm concentrating on the conversation. Highly recommend. All other multitasking I pretty much fail at 😂
Clearing off my desk to make room to get things done greatly helped.
I really love the setting boundaries. I'm a bit guilty of this one because I sometimes tend to say YES more often to other people. Thank you for the reminder that I need to prioritize the things that I need to do for myself using the best ability that I have so that I can get more things done. As always, your videos are very informative and loving it everytime! Much love for you!
Currently watching this video as a distraction from studying for my Mid-term happening tomorrow. I also love to put UA-cam on my bedroom tv and watch/ listen as I fold clothes and tidy up the room and bathroom
I have tried listening to Audible books while cleaning and while driving and I LOVE IT 😍
I feel like I am feeding my need to consume a book but also getting all my tasks completed at the same time.
Please consider making a video for college students on managing time for classes, homework, projects, study groups, reading/reviewing materials, time for family/friends/ myself (gym time too), errands, chores around the house, as well as some much need downtime --oh and let’s not forget to include time to sleep.
Yes! Yes! Yes! I am working so hard to stay more focused. I struggle with not getting sucked into social media and being distracted. This video was a great reminder!
THANK YOU for the Spotify Focus Playlist tip. That is a serious gem! ✨ I started listening when this video came out and I'm still loving how focused it gets me 3 months later.
Amy, you were one of the first UA-camrs I watched and you absolutely inspired me to start my own channel. Thank you SO much for being real and providing helpful information, without trying to profit off every single encounter. It makes you a trustworthy and genuine source. Keep doing you girl!
Spotify all the way. I love the focus playlists for work, exercise, and putting my kids to bed.
Honestly my weapon to staying focused should be to disable my notification for when you release new videos, because seriously it doesn't matter what I'm doing I'll stop - like right now I have an assignment that's due in 5 hours, yet here I am watching your amazing videos... like I've been bingeing all day!
OMG stop! That's funny! That's why I like posting on Sunday and Wednesday afternoons. Just in case you need a pick-me-up before the beginning of the week and the mid-week slump. But thank you so much for watching!!
Well, we ought to be thanking you! Have a lovely week Amy :)
Coming from a large family I wen't sick of all the people disturbing me from my studies and writhing. So I went to the store en got me a really flashy pair of reading glasses. Everyone knows when the glasses are on my nose they should either not disturb me or start running. Everyone new will be notifite before I start a session. And so I have more signs for familie and friends to help me to stay focussed and help them not get smacked to the face after the 30 time they disturbed me. Also studies in the local library helps a lot too. Being in the place filled with books and sillence is really motivating to get things done. Phone need to be silent, you need to be silent, everybody needs to be silent. Love it including their coffee.
Yes please. I am hanging out for a tutorial on calendar blocking.
Number 7 works for me every time, i'm drinking coffee only when i need to write some content or a essay of my studies, it is also giving me the boost my brain needs sometimes AND motivation to do the task because of my love to coffee lol
Agreed.
I read somewhere that depending on your personality type, your slump varies throughout the day and to hold off on caffeine until then to give yourself that boost. Mine is around 2, so that's when I have my chai, and I am going to schedule my writing time for that time, too! Excited for this secret weapon!
I own one of these time cubes but I need to be better at using it - especially when my son is around! If I get him to set the timer and know that when it goes off, he has all my attention. Genius. My energy really fluctuates throughout the week. Mondays are my “create” days - I write, shoot, and design content for the blog and work on decks and documents for my other company. Tuesdays and Thursdays are for meetings and staying on top of emails in the empty blocks. Wednesdays are catch up and recharge days - I start my day with reading (first, the articles I’ve bookmarked throughout the week, then a nonfiction book), and I spend the afternoons finishing what didn’t get done on Mondays. I spend Friday mornings with my son, and the afternoons are for administrative work. I also work for a few hours on Sunday, getting ready for the week.
I actually LOVED your skincare routine and would love to see something like a wardrobe tour or maybe something like your favorite clothing pieces? I don't know about you, but I am into capsule wardrobes...
Look for distractions. Yep, I've done that. TIMER - Brilliant ~Smile!
Yes. Coffee and creativity works. When I write, I always have coffee within reach. It's how I trained myself. I'm also subscribed to Spotify and find I can do focused work with songs that have lyrics, if I know the song by heart and can sing along without thinking. I do some serious focus work that way.
The Time Cubes are really awesome! I think that it would be interesting if you could safely roll them like dice and then run the timer based on a semi-random time. It can give you a challenge to either do something quickly and improve your speed or give yourself extra time to delve deeper into something you are working on.
Film with Dad thats what I was thinking
cool idea!
I can totally relate to wanting to pick up your phone all the time. I know I would get so much more done if I didn't have mine with me when I was working. It's not that I pick it up all the time, but I keep looking at it 'cause I wanna see what's new.
Hey! Loved the intro, it felt like a casual conversation with you. Happy Sunday 😀
Thank you! I had fun with that one
So Im super ADD, and this is probably the most doable and functional productivity video ever! I actually think I can manage my time this way, Ive tried a similar method but I didnt have the right tools. Im going back to college after failing out, and then taking only 1 class at a time which kinda worked. Anyways, my 2 year break is up and I think these will really help me so thank you🙏💜
I’m going to pick up the time cubes and try the calendar block. I love the Spotify focus playlists!! I no longer have Apple Music because I’m always in Spotify! Thanks for sharing these tips!
I have ADHD so my version multitasking is switching focus. I found a time tracker to help with that! I would enter in a task(however small) and start the timer. If I wanted to switch to a different task, I would enter it in. What I basically did was created an obstacle when switching tasks. It got me into a habit of thinking first before switching. It also was interesting to see what I actually spent time on.
It is really hard to start though. But if you keep at it for a couple of days , you start to reap the reward. When you feel like you are in a good spot, stop and do the usual.
Love your videos! Keep up the good work!
Great video Amy! I love how you don't try to hide the fact that you look for distractions to avoid staying focused. Were all human and I think we all have that inner battle with staying focused and shiny object syndrome. A lot of people offering advise on UA-cam aren't transparent like you are. Thanks!
My goodness!!!!! Can’t believe you mentioned ‘Team of Mentors’!!! I’ve had that book on my list ever since my boss mentioned it in passing, and now... that’s it, I’m getting it!!! And Susan Cain’s in it too! Don’t need any other reason to get it now! Thank you for mentioning it.
I’m new here on your channel and I appreciate all you put out there. I’ve tried some of your suggestions (I work a desk job and I can’t apply everything you suggest) and the calendar time block has worked! I just have to keep at it every week. I’m still working on waking up at 5 in the morning, but I gotta work on getting a good night’ sleep first (suffer from insomnia and sleep apnea), so work in progress.
But I’m not giving up. Keep publishing your ideas and suggestions please!
Thanks!
Kass ☺️
Your candle is unlit. Great segway! This is one way I’m finding the harder tasks more rewarding and easier to accomplish. Through scent. My favourite candle on my desk is calming earthy but having it there is a visual focus point too when my mind wanders. I use this one candle and this scent in this space. Outside of my ‘focus’ area for me eucalyptus oil is an antibacterial = clean. Kitchen and bathroom. I’m experimenting with my diffuser in my room not to overwhelm my senses but to trigger a sensory response to my brain saying ok this is relaxing time, chill out. I know what I like. Now I’m training my brain by repetition to be triggered by these scents and that each have a purpose. To focus, relax, be happy, be motivated, reduce anxiety all senses are used to control our reactions. I’m thinking since smell is one of the most powerful senses I’m going to train my brain to work with me on that. I’m definitely getting that timer cube!!
Completely agree with coffee tip :) I started doing it unconsciously and i realised it sort of becomes a "ritual" that really helps you focus, and when i start drinking coffee more often per day again, guess what, it stops helping me focus! Thanks for the energy in your videos! :D
The pairing your coffee (tea for me) with a task is an interesting concept. I "save" a chai for mid-afternoonish, when I'm feeling my slump. I may start pairing it with writing or a task of some kind. Sounds interesting...
YAAAS, creativity and coffee! my most productive English as a foreign language Lesson plannings do happen when I sit down for a period of time that i had already calendar/blocked and pour myself a cup of coffee! calendar/blocking and coffee have been helping me likie crazy to boost my creativity for planning classes!
I use an essential oil diffuser for keeping my focus. It needs to have a citrus, lavender, and peppermint oil. Today the citrus is actually orange and lemongrass and I'm loving it
When you do your calendar block will you show what kind of planner you use? Thanks! Love your videos!
Abbie Kummer yes amy. Do that
Awesome tips and tricks in your video! When I’m having trouble focusing, I’ve noticed it’ll have a lot to do with my mood or ADHD. Over time I’ve developed the habit of checking in with myself to see why I’m having an issue. I just stop for a minute and chill, just let myself feel whatever I’m feeling so I can figure out what I need to get back in the groove by, drinking some water, get some fresh air, eat some fruit or a salad , or just take a 20 minute break etc. I find self check ins are a good way to lower stress levels and prevent burn out most of the time, personally. Thank you for your videos, Amy!
UA-cam Concentration Music at Work is free ! Keeps me going
LOVE the time cubes. I definitely will have to get myself some to help me stay off my phone timer and quit being so darn easily distractable. The idea of coffee and creativity sounds amazing! I have been doing 15-30min of afternoon of caffeine and centering- taking time to really journal about the day, new ideas, thoughts/feelings/truths/humanity, etc while enjoying a cup of tea.
Also, as a side note, I pay for Spotify. I find it really easy to make my own playlists, use their recommended playlists, browse their HUGE variety of playlists by mood I am in (or wish I was in), like the Focus playlists or Running playlists.
I am currently writing my master thesis and so far found it very helpful to visualize ideas and next steps on a huge whiteboard I now have in my room. I don't have to be ultra neat because it's going to be wiped away, it is a lot of space to write on and I see it every day so that it makes me feel like 'I'm working on it' / 'I am making progress' as content changes constantly. Some people might not want to see it all the time but that's the way it works for me and ultimately we all have to analyze ourselves, try things and stick to the habits that prove successful.
I loooooooooooove "focus" Spotify playlists.... This is really working for me. AND I'm excited about this "coffee+creativiy" thing !!! I need to try ! Thanks for your videos, I LOVE them.
Hi Amy! I strongly recommend Apple Music over Spotify. You can find radio stations & playlists specific to your needs, as well as iCloud + library downloads of all music. It's far less limiting vs. Spotify, which doesn't give access to as many artists & songs. Also, I don't know if it bothers you, especially since you don't have kids, but Spotify only has explicit versions of songs, where Apple provides both explicit & clean versions of all songs available.
Thanks for your awesome videos of guidance & motivation! You rock!
When it comes to time constraints when being engaged in a task, I use a Pomodoro app (Focus Booster specifically, but it’s a paid app, there are others also), which has no option of pausing my Pomodoro session (this is crucial - believe me), and I divide the time blocks I have assigned for each task into Pomodoro sessions.
It’s not a flexible system, but it’s a constraining one indeed. No much time is allocated to not-so-important tasks (1 Pomodoro session is enough). I have a now concrete reference system for more time-consuming tasks which is easy to remember (eg. I need usually 4 Pomodoro sessions for correcting students exercises, it shouldn’t be more than these, otherwise it’s a problem). And the tricky feeling of "oh, I have all day for this task" is simply out of the table.
Also when I started realizing that in a span of say 10 hours in a day, I’m usually able to be productive for maximum 5 - 6 hours, which translates to 10 - 12 Pomodoro sessions, this shattered any false impressions I had of how much I can achieve in a single day… Maybe this is a good quantitative indication for everyone.
Love that I’m watching this while working (or supposed to be)
This vlog is on point for me, I am in the middle of a big project but I get easily distracted and pulled in many different directions. Thanks, those are some great ideas, my favorite is the chrome extension with coffee of course.
For me is not coffee and writing, it's coffee and reading! I love the feeling!
I love these videos and all the how-to’s. I wish you could have an alternate version with the addition of kids.
Love all of these! I'm calendar blocking and putting my phone on "do not disturb". When I do these two things consistently, I get SO much more done! Love the idea of those time cubes.
Also, YES SPOTIFY. I will only ever pay for Spotify. It has everything I could ever want. There's also a 24/7 UA-cam live stream called "Chill Beats". If I want to focus on something creative, it's my favorite thing to listen to!
Great video.. when I feel de-motivated or bored to do a particular task, i just go out of my home/office and take 5 mins walk.. trust me, it is so refreshing and it also clears your mind.
I recpmmend the forest app fpr ypur phone...
You are basiclly growing aplant while the app is on and if you get out of it your plant starts dying...so you don't use your phone ubtil the timer is over snd you can grow more plants in your garden every time you study or work ..it amazing.
I wish to be so charismatic as you are, it's amazing and pleasure to listen to You
I use the Focus on Spotify ALL the time , it’s the only way I can focus for about one hour increments to finish my work! I love it 😍 great video! I love the cubes .
I'd never thought of using a timer for something like that. I love that idea!
Thanks so much again! All good stuff.
I've made a time budget for myself where I evaluate the time I know I have and pencil in the objectives dividing minutes within the total available time. Then I have a roadmap that keeps me on track and, I am going to give up on my phone timer and buy something like what you've got.
Because action expresses priorities (Gandhi) where we spent our time always pays off in the outcomes of our lives. Most people can actually do whatever they dream of doing...it's just a matter of making it happen. Focus is essentially attention... OR At Tention...so apply meaningful focus...attention is the most valuable thing on this planet...so spend that wisely friends!!!!
Thanks Amy
I have started a timer throughout my work day set at every hour because I was constantly checking my phone and was being unproductive. So I will strictly only check my phone when my timer goes off. We use the phone regularly for work and communication but I had to allow myself to have better time management. It seems to be working so much better and have only been doing this a week. Now I still pick up my phone every once in a while but I remember to put it back down(face down) because my timer has not gone off. I think the cube timers will be very beneficial to me thank you!
I’ve been off of caffeine also. Maybe I’ll try creativity and tea when I sit down to write my blog post this evening.
I definitely can relate to the coffee tip. I use it to workout in the morning though. I look forward to getting my breakfast coffee and oatmeal so much that I've made it my reward for working out. No coffee unless the workout is done. It's really helped me look forward to my morning routine so much more.
N P thanks! It was rough at first, but now that I've been doing it for a while I love it. On the days I can't workout I actually miss my morning routine. It's weird!
you are so talented! ah,your face and the expressions are worth watching!plus your confidence and boldness make you my hero!
Loving this list! For me I have Cafe Work Time, where I go to my favorite cafe with my headphones, grab a coffee, and sit and work for a few hours. Getting out of my house helps so much! I'm a photographer and work a lot from home, so I get behind the coffee tip! Also...gotta buy that cube!!
coffee and creativity = amazing idea. It's such a good fit for my life right now. Cheers to that!
Can I just say I just discovered this channel and I love your energy. The content aside, it's just your personality that makes me want to - idk keep listening to you? Sounds creepy, but your energy rubs off on me and makes me want take action!! Keep going Amy
Oh, those cube timers are awesome. I'm going to need a few a those for around here. I can see using them with my kids all the time! So much easier than the timer on my phone, or the microwave, lol!
Yeah, I agree with you they are awesome!
So funny. I've recently started having one cup of coffee only, in the afternoon. Love the idea of pairing it with a hard creative project! Yaasss! 💖💖💖
Love our morning talks. Thank you!
I'm obsessed with your channel!! Im trying to organize my day to day life alot better lately. I feel like my whole life is an unorganized scramble lately. Your channel definitely gives me so many great ideas. I still cringe at the 5a.m. wake up though lol... I am not there yet. Love your channel!
Just put my kitchen timer on my night stand. I always loved the idea of the pomodoro method but having my phone near me ruined the point for me. This is perfect! 😄🙌💖 Thanks, Amy!
I love those time cubes! Also, since I've kicked my coffee addiction as well, when I'm feeling unmotivated to do anything whether it's planning a video, cleaning the house, teaching, or just being a mom I turn to my matcha green tea. I love it more than coffee now!
Thanks for the video! I have a couple questions;1) what do you mean by a blog post? Is this done daily? If so what app/program do you use of suggest? 2) do you calendar block on the weekend?
I use rewards to stay motivated, so say I’ve successfully managed to stay on task and do my work for a reasonable amount of time, I usually let myself watch youtube videos (i.e. you) without feeling guilty.
I also stick motivational quotes everywhere, helps me stay positive as every time I start working on something a wave of negative emotions/ thoughts hits. So the quotes help me consciously change my thinking pattern. :)
Okay I’ve decided that I need to outsource the timer and alarm from my phone. Thank you for the inspiration!!
calendar blocking video still in demand
yep i was also thinking about it lol
Agreed! She’s probably working on it and will have it out this week or next.
We’re all waiting for it 😅🙇🏻♀️
ohhh yesss great idea! I'd love to see that
Love the idea of combining caffeine and creativity, totally down to try that out next time I need the extra sparkle!! So glad I’ve found your channel!! Might I please add my vote towards a detailed video on calendar/time blocking in the future!? Sending love and light from beautiful British Colombia!! 🌸💜😌
"Found it!" You crack me up! So glad to have recently stumbled upon your channel. Thanks for the needed content and silly personality, you are appreciated!
Totally OOT but just wanted to tell you that I've been binging on the books you recommended (so far Crush It, Crushing It and your own) and it helps me come up with a master plan for my life. Haven't been so excited in a while. Thank you.
I used to drink instant coffee and listen to notre dame gregorian chants while studying for a medieval history exam and i still associate the flavour and the sound to thst book i was studying. Also i learnt to associate Ravel - bolero with studying the first world war and the romeo and juliette opera by gounod to studying mesopotamia, and banana flavoured gum to egyptian hyerogliphs. Interesting how flavours and sounds can take us back to a specific situation.
Those cubes are a great idea!! However, I think they are just too expensive for a timer
Please make a full video on calendar blocking!!
Those time cubes are awesome. Gonna get me some. When I’m doing school work I have a playlist of movie instrumental music that always signals time for school. When I’m doing like my journals and such I kind of like quiet because I’m one with the book.
I would love to see you check in with someone who has kids at home and work out strategies for productivity including your style. I'm trying for that balance and I'm sure not the only one who could use a few tips
I find designated days to be helpful in planning. Not blocking random times, but certain days. I’m not a primary photographer but I’m the only one that takes photos in my job. For that reason Wednesday is when I take photos, so I batch all photo work on that day. Same for TV spots. Not all that I do for video but for those jobs I only edit them on Friday because it’s a very repetitive type task. Because it can also be a distraction to create “blocks of time” on another day but really their just road blocks to the days flow. Plus I know what my DAYS typically hold not just my hours, without having to look at a calendar.
I thought of an app you might like- it’s my distraction fighter! It’s called Rain Rain and it has tons of varying rain sounds and you can even do mash-ups (my favorite is forest rain with summer rain) and it comes with a timer! That would be my hack for productivity
Cass Thompson Career Advice Check out Tide and Forest!
Love it.
I also like to put eyedrops in my eyes, and completely clear my desk when I start a task that requires full attention.
Love your videos 😊
I need to just pull the trigger and buy that stupid cube on Amazon. I had a professor in grad school who was obsessed with that thing. And I'm with you on the phone thing- I have to put it in another room or I'll look at it every 30 seconds. Great tips!
Great advice on requesting respect for our time at work!!! Even from a manager!!
That is me... That is why I personally am most productive in the evening, not the morning. I love working when no one is texting, emailing, husband is sleeping...
For hiit training workouts I REALLY recommend the one in the blogilates app! The app is free but the add-on is like 99 cents or 1.99 I think and I’m so glad I got it! You can make and save your own workouts so all you have to do is click on it to launch it, you can decide how long you want the workout and the rest to last, and rest between each round of workouts. The app also counts down out loud when there’s 3 seconds left so you don’t have to keep glancing at the timer during the workout
Going to purchase. Love this I have been using my phone and it isn't working out. Tks for sharing and teaching us so much.
I just got my timer cube and I'm excited to start using it! 😀 I work from home, and that means distractions.
Love this! You are inspiring me so much Amy. I'm horrible with my time so these kinds of episodes are very appreciated. Keep up the good work girl!
I LOVE you desk chair! Random, but true
Literally watching this because I can't focus on final year uni exam revision... The time cubes look like such a good idea though!! I've got a fitbit and found that setting the reminder on there (for me it's 10 minutes to the hour and it tells me to do 250 steps before the end of the hour) gives me 50 minutes of intense concentration then a 10 minute break to move around a bit! Also, Spotify all the way🙌
The best thing that works for me is planning the day before blocking time in my google calendar for each task I must accomplish.
When the time comes to do anything, It usually happens that I don't feel in the mood or better be watching UA-cam, so I stop with my both feet on a floor tile and countdown from 5, that really helps me.
At the time I set the day before to finish work I STOP, no matter if I have things unfinished.
No social media allowed at working time (I only have linkedin and watch UA-cam, but get distracted a lot with them) and lots of water and fruit snacks to keep on.
Lovely video! Hope to see the calendar blocking video soon!
ooo i like the last idea!! so need it for doing assignments and revision!!