Justin’s 8 habits to boost productivity

Latte from Credo in Edmonton

For me, productivity isn’t so much an even line as it is a series of peaks and valleys. Some days I’m on fire, and some days I don’t feel so hot. However, I am continually discovering habits and tools that make me more productive, and help to even out the ups and downs. Some of these might help you as well:

My 8 tips

1. Start work at 7am: Getting to the office at 7am gives me 1-2 hours of quiet, uninterrupted time before anyone else gets here.
2. Exercise at noon: Knowledge workers work all day, inside, at a desk. Getting out in the middle of day, moving my body, and sweating is the perfect remedy for our sedentary work habits.
3. Pack a lunch: I’ve found when I go out for lunch, I just feel gross: I eat too much, spend more time sitting, and skip the gym. When I pack a lunch, I try to throw in lots of veggies and fruits. At home, I wouldn’t be able to force myself to eat that much “healthy” food, but at work, it’s all I have to eat, so I munch away on carrots and apples all day.
4. Leave work around 3pm: I have my lowest energy levels from 3pm to 5pm. By configuring my workday this way, I’m able to give my “high energy” hours to focus on work.
5. Use a standing desk: I’ve been using this desk since February, and I’m never going back. I can choose a variety of positions: standing, leaning, sitting, standing with one foot up, etc… Plus, if I feel “stuck” on a problem, I just walk away. Not being confined to a desk is very freeing.
6. Use RescueTime: this app tracks how I spend my time while I’m at my computer (what apps I use, how much time I spend on Twitter) but also how much time I spend away from my computer (in meetings for instance). The stats don’t lie: having an accurate picture of how I spend my time is helping me make better decisions.
7. Use Basecamp: if I’m feeling stressed out about work, I usually procrastinate. Often, the reason I’m stressed out is that everything is undefined: what needs to be done? When is it due? Where are the assets for the project? Where are my notes? Basecamp helps me organize all of this: for each project I put in a start date, an end date, my notes, a todo list and any related files. Once my projects are in Basecamp, I can tackle each one, step by step.
8. I drink coffee: Seriously. Americano at 7am, coffee at 9:30am, and espresso or Americano at 3pm.