9 Steps to Being More Productive. Period.

By Kristin Granero

If you feel like you do everything you can to get ahead of those deadlines, yet still find yourself one of the last people to leave the office, you’re not alone.

Because we’re dedicated to ensuring you (finally!) make that happy hour (or friend’s birthday, or yoga class) while still feeling like a rock star, we enlisted Jeff Sanders, the life coach behind The 5 AM Miracle, to break down some small tweaks that can make a big difference (at least until shipping time comes around again). 

1. Isolate yourself

If you’re a freelance writer or work in an office where you can access a private space, do so. “Be alone. Find the best location that provides only the resources you need and nothing else,” Sanders says. If your media company has an open floor plan, or there’s something else making it hard to get away, Sanders says, “It’s time to hide in plain site.” “Have a frank conversation with the people around you. Let them know your plans to work without interruption. Then, put up your Do Not Disturb sign, a.k.a. your headphones, and get to work.”

2. Unplug

Once isolated, Sanders suggests turning off your phone, email, and any other technological devices you don’t need to do the job at hand. “I love social media just as much as anyone, but I often find myself looking for a distraction when I should be focused on work,” he says. If the nature of your role requires you to stay connected throughout the day (perhaps you’ve been placed on celeb maternity bump watch or cover news in real time), Sanders recommends allocating “check-in” times based on your individual needs (once an hour, three times a day etc.). “Make sure you’re only spending as much time as you need, without getting yourself distracted down a digital rabbit hole,” he says. You may find that you can disconnect a lot more than you think.” Just remember to speak with your editor about how glued-in and responsive they expect you to be.

3. Have a set bedtime

Getting to bed early helps you get up and out the door in the morning and forces you to prioritize your entire day, says Sanders. “For example, I set an evening boundary at 8 p.m. where I must end my work for the day,” he says. At that deadline, he stops any ongoing projects until the next day and focuses on chilling out before bed. Having an evening boundary pushes you to work harder during the day, knowing that your priorities must stop at a certain time, he says.

5. Become a hyper-planner

Have a big story or other goal on the horizon? Sanders suggests approaching it in strides. “Give yourself deadlines on the first few actionable steps,” he says. This provides clarity so you know where to begin, and it’s easier to execute than a big idea. And while it’s great to plan ahead, make short-term goals your priority, since less is likely to change between now and those deadlines.

6. Use music to help you focus

How much someone gets done has a lot to do with how they avoid getting sidetracked. Sanders says that he’s particularly obsessed with one program designed using neuroscience to eliminate distractions. “I listen to music designed for my brain using a service called Focus@Will that creates music tracks to help you focus, reduce distractions, improve your attention span, and learn considerably more while you work,” he says. Hey, it’s worth a shot!

7. Embrace “Inbox Zero”

Repeat after us: Your inbox is not your to-do list. “At least once a day, you should reach a point where there are zero emails in your inbox. That’s not 10 emails that you have already read and will respond to tomorrow. This literally means zero emails because you’ve already processed every message that arrived,” he says. “If your inbox is out of control, this is your chance to clean it up for good. Using a concept called ‘Inbox Zero,’ created by productivity expert Merlin Mann, schedule one block of time each day to get your inbox fully emptied by reading and responding to all of your emails.

8. Limit correspondence

You can cut back on time spent opening and answering emails during these dedicated maintenance periods by imploring a few simple rules. Unsubscribe from unnecessary email newsletters. Remove yourself from ‘Reply All’ messages that don’t apply to you, says Sanders. In addition, decrease back-and-forth by being transparent about what actions are expected from recipients (including caveats such as ‘For Review’ and ‘No Response Required’).

9. Ask for assistance

If you still feel overwhelmed with too many tasks to handle, Sanders suggests speaking to your manager about bringing on an intern or assistant to help out.

Kristin Granero has 10 years of experience in journalism and digital media, having written for publications like Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, Women’sI Health and Teen Vogue, and managed social campaigns for TV networks like HBO. When she’s not exploring the latest industry trends or serving up tips for Ed, she’s searching for the latest and greatest guac in New York City.