I have been balancing my 9-to-5 job and a writing side hustle.
Here is what works for me -
1. I set quarterly goals for my writing side hustle
2. Then I break it into small actions and steps
3. I pick the top 5 weekly and top 3 daily goals
It sounds simple but very powerful if you stick with this simple plan.
I set specific goals within defined time periods and exert my maximum effort to achieve them. If I fall short, I reassess and set a new timeline, persistently working towards completing the task. Once accomplished, I reward myself with a short break and a walk, which reenergizes me for extended periods of focused work. This continuous routine enables me to accomplish my goals and maintain productivity throughout the day.
The Pomodoro Technique: It means working in focused bursts of time, typically 25 minutes, followed by a short break. This technique can help maintain focus and prevent burnout.
i use a lot of caffeine. done properly, it increases my productivity x5 times. but if done wrong, it kills my productivity 🙂
i made a thread on how to use it right https://twitter.com/alexanderiso...
A very-lesser-known tactic:
Chat with people who have "been there, done that". This is significantly going to better you in the different aspects of work.
As someone who has wrestled with productivity hacks for eons, I would like to share some unique productivity tips that I've found helpful over the years.
Firstly, take a break every 90 minutes. After this time frame, the likelihood of distraction increases, and your productivity begins to decline. A quality break can help you to recharge, refresh and refocus.
Secondly, batch your repetitive tasks together. Instead of multitasking, give blocks of time to complete specific tasks, get them done, then move on. By using this method, you can optimize your workflow to be more efficient and focused.
My (unique) productivity hack is to hang out in friendly discord channels; I don't know why but the voice channel chatter really helps me to focus on whatever I need to focus on
I organize the day based on the single most important thing that needs to be done.
If I manage to complete this important task during the day, then I register the day as successful.
The remaining tasks are organized based on Eisenhower's Urgent/Important Principle.
I also keep reminding myself of delegation as the mind keeps trying to create artificial stressful situations by amassing tasks, whereas most of them can be either delegated or be solved by time it self
Quarterly Planning Workbook