2020 shifted things for many people professionally. It left a lot of us saying, “There just aren’t enough hours in the day.” It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by to-do lists and trying to stay on track. Maybe 2020 moved you to remote work, at least temporarily, and you’re struggling to be productive. You aren’t the only one. The good news is, though, that there are some simple ways to maximize your productivity in 2021. It’s a new year, a fresh start, and you have the chance to implement these four strategies in your day-to-day.

Have a “stop doing” list.

You’ve definitely heard of to-do lists. But have you heard of a stop doing list?

Essentially, a stop doing list takes inventory of the bad habits or negative things that you do within your workday. Do you catch yourself picking up your phone to scroll Instagram every five minutes? Add it to the list. Are you staring off mindlessly into space for chunks of time every day? Add it to the list.

A stop doing list helps because it shows you a physical list of the things you want to stop doing. It’s one thing to say, “I really need to stop doing _____.” It’s another thing entirely to add that bad habit to the list.

 Once a habit or trend goes on your stop doing list, you’re more likely to actively avoid it. Being proactive about eliminating your bad habits helps you maximize your productivity throughout the day. Starting 2021 with a stop doing list will help you get off to a strong start.

Create blocks in your schedule.

As so many of us learned in 2020, a schedule is key when it comes to workday productivity. But what is the best practice for a workday schedule?

A block schedule seems to be the most effective way to maximize productivity for many.

First, you’ll want to create blocks for your high-priority tasks. These are the things that must get done every day, so naturally, they need to be scheduled first. Once you’ve scheduled the high priority tasks, you can fill in the other block spaces with the rest of your to-do list.

Don’t forget to create blocks for your lunch break and recurring meetings. Not sure where to start? Follow one of these templates to begin.

Stick to a consistent schedule.

One of the most challenging aspects of working remotely is sticking to a schedule. It’s so easy to rearrange your day in order to fit in the other to-do list items around your house or workspace.

However, in order to maximize productivity while working remotely, sticking to a consistent schedule is key. Remember the block schedule we talked about earlier? This is where that comes into play.

Once you’ve taken the time to create a schedule that works for you, sticking to it is the most important thing for your productivity. Don’t allow yourself to be sidetracked by the dishes in the sink or the home project you’ve been meaning to complete. Even though you’re working remotely, you’re still working. A good rule of thumb is that if it isn’t something you’d do in the office, don’t do it while working remotely.

Partner with companies that can make your life easier.

As the saying goes, “Why reinvent the wheel?” When trying to maximize your productivity, partnering with companies that make your life easier is crucial. The goal when partnering with companies is to free up your time to do what only you can do.

This is where iCopy comes in! We know that record retrieval can be a tedious process. There are so many forms, hoops to jump through, and procedures to follow. It’s hard to maximize your productivity when you’re weighed down by all of this. Let us do the heavy lifting in this area so that you’re freed up to do what you do best.

Contact us today to set up a 30-minute call with our CEO. We’ll review your SOPs and work together to improve your systems. You don’t have to do it all on your own. Let us help you maximize your productivity in 2021.