![\"30-day](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/30-day-productivity-challenge-calendar.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs you can see, I tried every productivity advice in the book (and beyond) and got some interesting results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s what I learned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Day #1: Wake up an hour earlier than usual<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Starting your day early is generally linked with success<\/a>. I wanted to see if waking up an hour earlier than usual would have an impact on my productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I usually wake up at about 8 a.m. and start my workday at 9 a.m. after I have breakfast and coffee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, today, I woke up at 7 a.m., did all my usual rituals, and started my workday at 8 a.m. But, before that, I made sure I got enough sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n Starting my day earlier proved to have a huge impact on my productivity. I generally tend to work better in the morning and get the most work done in the early hours of the day. But, it turns out I\u2019m even more productive when I start my day earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve noticed there are much fewer distractions earlier in the day, and my personal and work apps tend to ping much more rarely. That helped me focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only did I get more work done and faster than usual, but my workday seemed to flow faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Absolutely! Especially if you\u2019re a morning person<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n My coworker has found many benefits to to-do lists<\/a>, and I wanted to see if I\u2019d feel the same about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trying this method was not difficult for me because I tend to make to-do lists daily. However, I usually make them on the go \u2014 as new tasks come up, I DM them to myself in our team chat app Pumble<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This time, I tried to be more systematic. I made a to-do list for the day the night before, and I used our project management tool Plaky<\/a>. I also categorized the tasks based on urgency.<\/p>\n\n\n A to-do list allowed me to free my mental space by not having to remember every small task for the day. Instead of going back and forth between tasks \u2014 or remembering a task late and trying to get it done on time \u2014 I could focus on following the list and concentrate on the activity at hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, I still had to add some tasks that came up during the day, but in Plaky, you can do it in seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, especially for people with a more systematic approach to work. Personally, I prefer a more casual approach to to-do lists, like making one on the go during the workday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Clockify Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You can get a variety of to-do list templates here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Smartphones are designed to be addictive<\/a> and monopolize our most scarce resource \u2014 attention. That\u2019s why I tried not having it in my vicinity for an entire workday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I did not merely put my phone on silent or disable push notifications \u2014 rather, I removed it from the room completely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n My dad tends to do the same when he doesn\u2019t want to be bothered by his phone for a while, but he has a specific (symbolically appropriate) place for it \u2014 the bathroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So yeah, I put my phone in the bathroom while working and checked it only during my breaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the start of the day, it was great! I managed to get a lot of work done in the first couple of hours. However, as time went by and my focus dwindled, I got a bit fidgety and really wanted to scroll through some social media. So, I scrolled through the one platform I visit via desktop \u2014 LinkedIn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, all in all, I was much more productive than usual, and my focus was much sharper. What\u2019s more, I felt better overall and more fulfilled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 10\/10 would recommend, especially on days when your focus is scattered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n Time blocking means defining specific time frames for different activities and marking them in your calendar. I wanted to see if it would help me be more efficient at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I brainstormed my tasks for the day and tried to categorize them in order of importance and priority. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I identified one task as a priority since the deadline was nearing, and time blocked the first few hours of the day for that task in my Clockify calendar<\/a>. Then, I defined time blocks for the rest of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n Since my time blocks included tasks that took an hour and a half or longer \u2014 and my time estimates were based on my previous experience with such tasks \u2014 I didn\u2019t have a hard time finishing them within the time constraints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, my problem with time blocking was that I could not give my undivided attention to each time block throughout the day because other small tasks would emerge. Sometimes, it was a coworker seeking quick advice. Other times, it was the illustrator sending me fresh visuals to add to a published blog post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In my experience, time blocking can work for people whose workday organization depends solely on them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, if the nature of your job means you can always get unexpected tasks or you frequently have to deal with a sudden change of plans, time blocking can add stress to your already busy day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Clockify Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve only scratched the surface of time blocking. Want to know more? Check out this guide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Science says exercise can boost your cognitive abilities<\/a>, which is why some companies<\/a> even encourage employees to exercise during their workday. I gave this practice a try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In general, I\u2019m fairly active and exercise regularly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But, this was an ideal day to try exercising during the workday and gauge any effects of it because I\u2019d had a longer break from exercise due to injury. This way, I could better feel if there were any immediate benefits of exercise for productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I scheduled a mid-workday 30-minute break to do some light aerobic exercises followed by some stretching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just as I expected, I felt immensely refreshed and much readier to get back to work with renewed energy. The exercise proved to provide great physical relief from sitting and a much-needed mental break from work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I suspect it partly felt so good because I hadn\u2019t exercised at all for a couple of weeks before that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, you can\u2019t switch off your work brain during a break, so the break doesn\u2019t feel like a break at all. When you exercise, you focus on what you\u2019re doing at the moment and are able to completely shut off the noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Would recommend it to everyone!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n Research has shown that even mild dehydration can lead to cognitive impairment<\/a>. I wanted to see if drinking a commonly recommended daily dose of water would have an effect on my productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My rationale was as follows: If I was supposed to drink 8 glasses of water a day, and I\u2019m usually awake for about 16 hours, I should have, approximately \u2014 a glass every two hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n My workday is 8-hours long, meaning I should have about 4 glasses of water during my workday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I tend to drink a lot of water already, and this challenge made little difference except for making me more aware of my water intake during the day. Since I already drink 4 glasses and more during the workday, I couldn\u2019t talk of any differences in productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps, I should have reversed the challenge \u2014 drink much less water to see whether it would affect my productivity levels negatively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I know from experience that I get nervous and cranky (and headachy) when I\u2019m thirsty, so I can only guess that it would have affected my performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I can\u2019t really say much based on my challenge today, but based on my previous experience and research \u2014 drink your water, people! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, experts recommend we drink whenever we\u2019re thirsty<\/a> rather than stick to a predetermined amount of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being distraction-free during work hours is a productivity dream come true. So, I tried keeping a to-don\u2019t list for a day \u2014 i.e. a list of time wasters and distractions to avoid during the workday<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Based on my general work experience \u2014 as well as closer monitoring of my productivity and what affects it in the course of this challenge \u2014 I made a list of all the distractions I wanted to avoid during the workday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The list included mostly checking my phone and social media, but also resisting the urge to snack when I\u2019m bored or play just one song (it often turns into a playlist).<\/p>\n\n\n Just as expected, I managed to get a lot more done than usual, especially in the first part of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unsurprisingly, the only distraction I didn\u2019t manage to avoid completely was checking my phone. The challenge put my negative habits into perspective and made me think more about why I resort to them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It also confirmed what I already knew \u2014 I\u2019m a smartphone addict, and it affects my productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You have nothing to lose if you decide to try this method. It can help you understand when you\u2019re most likely to get the urge to distract yourself as well as why you do it and how it affects your focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Clockify Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n My coworker tried keeping a to-don\u2019t list for an entire week. Read about her experience if you want to dive deeper into this challenge:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remote workers usually dress much more casually than office employees \u2014 many even work in their PJs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But, research suggests working in pajamas<\/a> might be associated with poorer mental health. So, I tried dressing up for work for a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a long-standing remote worker, I\u2019m aware of the trap \u2014 so I never work in PJs per se. However, I do wear my comfy, often shabby and worn-out \u201chome\u201d clothes that I would never wear to an office job, even if it had the most casual dress code ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, I wanted to test if wearing \u201cwork-appropriate\u201d clothes would put me in a \u201cbusiness mood\u201d and make me more productive. I wore something even more businessy than I would normally wear to work to emphasize the point \u2014 think some slacks, a T-shirt, and a blazer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, I just felt silly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n My brother laughed his face off when he woke up and saw me sitting at the laptop in our living room in a blazer. It sort of felt like I was in \u201cwork drag\u201d. What\u2019s more, it made me even more aware of how silly office dress codes are in the twenty-first century and how lucky I am to be working from home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It did nothing for my productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don\u2019t know \u2014 it might work if putting on the right kind of clothes tends to help you feel put-together. I know a lot of people for whom this really does the trick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, this is not the case for me, so work clothes did not have any effect on my workday \u2014 other than a humorous one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n I already tried avoiding distractions, but I thought social media deserved a separate challenge as possibly the biggest time-waster among both remote and office employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I tend to check social media a lot during the workday. I do it often but in brief time intervals, which is enough to break my focus. Actually, I mostly do it when I can\u2019t focus, but the more spaced out I am, the harder it is to resist \u201cthe scroll.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, to resist the temptation of using social media, I put my phone (where I check Instagram, WhatsApp, Discord, and Pinterest) away, and blocked LinkedIn and YouTube using a website blocker.<\/p>\n\n\n Having already tried similar strategies, I pretty much knew how the day would go, and it ended up being a self-fulfilling prophecy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I was super productive during the first few hours. But, as my concentration waned, I became fidgety and found other ways to procrastinate \u2014 such as writing in my diary (haven\u2019t done that in months).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Removing social media during the workday is definitely worth it. I hope it becomes easier to avoid it with time and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Clockify Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some more tips & tricks for staying focused at work:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A new environment might break up a stale routine and result in better productivity. Or, so people say. Here\u2019s how it went for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I usually work from my apartment. When I don\u2019t, I work from my parents\u2019 house in my home town. Apart from that, I rarely change my work environment (which is lazy, considering I can work from anywhere).<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, on day 10, I worked from various cafes in another city with two coworkers. The atmosphere was laid back, and it was nice to have some company during work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n During the breaks from chit-chat, we were actually able to fully concentrate on work. But, the entire workday was more about socializing than working, to be honest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still, the change of environment itself was quite pleasant. It was refreshing to work from somewhere else, and I\u2019ll try to do it more often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Absolutely, it\u2019s refreshing and a great tactic to employ when you start hating your WFH setup due to spending so much time there. But, you may want to choose a quieter environment, such as a coworking space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n Allegedly, positive self-talk can make you more productive<\/a>. I decided to have a little fun with this idea by DMing myself motivational messages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I must admit I DM myself motivational GIFs in Pumble all the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I have no idea why, but my go-to\u2019s are RuPaul GIFs, usually containing some of his catchphrases, such as \u201cYou better work!\u201d<\/em>, \u201cCondragulations\u201d<\/em>, \u201cYou\u2019re a winner, baby\u201d,<\/em> and so on. Absolutely no idea why, but I find these extremely motivational, especially in a deadline situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not a big fan of quotes, but I tried that too today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Usually, I just DM myself a RuPaul GIF at the start of the day, and that\u2019s it. It\u2019s there to root for me throughout the day. But, for the sake of the challenge, I went a bit extra today and sent myself GIFs and messages approximately every hour.<\/p>\n\n\n It was fun, that\u2019s for sure, and a bit silly \u2014 and, it took a loooot of time and focus away from work to find appropriate quotes and GIFs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Definitely did not help with productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An occasional motivational GIF or quote (like my RuPaul GIFs) is great. But, let\u2019s be real \u2014 if you spend too much time going through cool quotes, it\u2019s going to ruin your focus and productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n Writing down ideas as soon as they occur can help you save them for later instead of resorting to multitasking<\/a> to execute them while in the middle of another task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I generally use my personal Pumble DM as a notepad. But, this time, I decided to intensify the use, so my DM was fuller than usual at the end of the day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, as I was proofreading a coworker\u2019s blog post, I got an idea on how to solve a problematic part in my own post, so I decided to write it down so as not to forget it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I format each idea as an individual bullet list item so that I can then react to it with different emojis to help me better differentiate between them. I can also cross them over when they\u2019re used.<\/p>\n\n\n Instead of going back and forth between tasks, I could focus on the task at hand without worrying that I\u2019ll forget what I planned to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It had a positive impact on my productivity, and most importantly \u2014 on my ability to focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, this is a great method for staying focused and not letting thoughts about other tasks distract you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019d just recommend using whatever tool you prefer for jotting down ideas \u2014 for some, it\u2019s a paper planner, and for others, it can be a notepad app. I just prefer to use my Pumble DM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n An organized workspace improves productivity and time management<\/a>. This can be true of both a physical and a digital workspace, so I decided to try better organizing both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I decided to organize both my physical workstation and my digital workspace, i.e. my laptop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to my physical workstation, I usually work either at the desk or from the comfort of my couch, but for this challenge, I went with the desk. I usually don\u2019t have much on the desk besides my laptop \u2014 maybe a notebook and a pen, water or coffee, and sometimes, a snack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, there wasn\u2019t much organizing to do. I just made sure to put all these items neatly where they\u2019re at hand and not in the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to my laptop, there was a bit more work to do. For example, my Downloads folder was getting quite full, which made it more difficult to find any files I needed. So, I organized my folders and deleted a bunch of items I no longer needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Starting my day by organizing my workspace not only helped me declutter and have easier access to the things I might need \u2014 it also set the mood for the day and helped me get \u201cin the zone\u201d for work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I would recommend this method to anyone. You don\u2019t have to feng shui the place \u2014 just make sure you can find everything you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Clockify Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to try this challenge, take a look at this guide on how to organize your digital workspace:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Pomodoro technique<\/a> is supposed to improve focus, cut distractions, and help you get things done. I tried it for a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It involves working in 25-minute intervals, followed by 5-minute breaks. After every 4 Pomodoros, you get a longer, 30-minute break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I used Clockify\u2019s Pomodoro timer<\/a> via the browser extension. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After each Pomodoro session, the timer would notify me it was time for a break. I\u2019d stop working and resume after the break was up. <\/p>\n\n\n At first, knowing that I have 25 minutes to work really helped me focus \u2014 but it also made me kind of anxious and overly focused on time tracking. I was burdened with how much time had passed and how much there was left. Such awareness of time also made it impossible to enjoy my first two 5-minute breaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, I would only manage to focus on the task 20 minutes into the interval, which meant the break came just as I was getting in the zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But after a while, I started to get used to it. The longer break after four 25-minute intervals felt like the most well-deserved break ever!<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a bit too rigid for my taste, but it definitely helped me get things done<\/a> (even though it took some getting used to). <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, I don\u2019t think I would be able to work like that all the time. I\u2019d recommend it as a way of combating procrastination<\/a>, especially when a deadline is nearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tasks that we procrastinate working on can weigh on us more heavily than is realistic. Once we finish them, we usually feel a great sense of accomplishment and relief that can push us to be more productive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s much easier to make yourself finish a task if there\u2019s a due date attached to it. At least that\u2019s what I figured out when I realized the tasks I\u2019d procrastinated doing for weeks didn\u2019t have a strict deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, on day 15, I did the following tasks first thing in the morning:<\/p>\n\n\n\n All together, the dreaded tasks didn\u2019t take me longer than 45 minutes to complete. I realized I\u2019d been fussing over nothing and breathed a great sigh of relief when they were done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Starting my day by tying loose ends really gave me an energy boost and set the tone for the rest of my work hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Absolutely \u2014 the sooner the better! It will free your mind to focus on new assignments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s research that suggests music can improve our productivity<\/a> \u2014 especially the instrumental kind since lyrics can interfere with our thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I often listen to music while I work, but I wanted to try something special for this challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s a specific genre of music designed to help you focus, and many people swear by it<\/a> \u2014 video game soundtracks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m not a gamer, but I wanted to test this productivity hack, so I asked a coworker for a recommendation. His advice was the Spec Ops: The Line<\/a> soundtrack, and it came with a fun fact \u2014 the game was inspired by Joseph Conrad\u2019s Heart of Darkness. That was enough to have me sold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have to admit I was shocked \u2014 a song into the playlist, I was furiously typing my article while head-bobbing to this banger! It really helped put me in the mood for work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After a couple of hours, the effect faded a bit, but the music got me through the most important and demanding work for the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 10\/10 would recommend, especially when you need to get something done fast. I\u2019ll be calling my gamer friends for more recommendations for sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s been a lot of debate on office vs. remote work, and proponents of both are vocal about their preferences. I mostly work remotely, so I decided to go to the company office for a change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re a remote-first company, which means we do have office spaces, but we\u2019re encouraged to choose where we want to work from. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I rarely go to the office \u2014 in fact, I only ever go for team gatherings, so I decided to try having a regular workday from there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have to admit \u2014 it did not go well. I guess when you\u2019re used to complete silence and isolation of your WHF cocoon, the office feels like a place of a thousand distractions \u2014 coworkers softly chatting, office equipment whirring, kitchen utensils clinking, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, my productivity took a serious blow that day, but at least I got to socialize with my colleagues and enjoy their company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019d say this one depends on your preferences and what you\u2019re used to. If you\u2019re mostly a remote worker like me, office space might feel a bit too stimulating to be able to focus on work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 4-7-8 technique<\/a> is a pattern of breathing based on yogic breathing techniques designed to induce a state of relaxation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s mostly recommended for better sleep, but allegedly, it can also help you regain focus when you lose it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this challenge, I decided to try this breathing technique whenever I would get distracted and struggle to get back on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s how the technique works:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You repeat this breathing pattern for several full breaths and see if your focus has improved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The breathing pattern did help me stop my mind from wandering as the mind had to focus on the breath work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Consequently, it helped me regain my focus several times \u2014 but, it didn\u2019t always work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019d encourage you to give it a try \u2014 especially when you\u2019re feeling agitated and need to calm down and get back to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n The benefits of time tracking<\/a> are many, and I already use our Clockify time tracking software<\/a> on a daily basis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But, this time, I wanted to go a bit extra and time track every single activity (or inactivity) during the workday and see what happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n Time tracking software used by millions. Clockify is a time tracker and timesheet app that lets you track work hours across projects.<\/p>\n\n I wanted to capture every moment of my workday to better understand where my time goes at work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To make it easy to start the timer as soon as a new activity (or distraction) would begin, I used Clockify\u2019s Chrome time tracking extension<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n I tried my best, but it was just impossible to capture every (in)activity as it occurred. It was easy to start or stop the timer when I would start or stop a work activity. But, it wasn\u2019t so easy to capture all the distractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, if I interrupted writing a blog post outline to stop and think about what I would have for lunch, I\u2019d have to create a new time entry. By that moment, I\u2019d feel silly about the whole situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, halfway through the day, I gave up on the experiment and went back to only tracking work-related activities and regular breaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I wouldn\u2019t. Time tracking all your work activities and longer breaks is great and can give you great insight into where most of your time goes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, trying to capture every moment of spacing out is practically impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 10-minute rule works in the following way \u2014 when you\u2019re dreading starting a task, you should set a timer for 10 minutes, plunge into the task, and make a commitment to work until the timer\u2019s up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this challenge, I also used Clockify\u2019s Pomodoro timer, but I edited the length of the Pomodoro unit to 10 minutes. I\u2019d start the timer and try to start working on a task immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If the timer was up, and I was still focused on the task, I\u2019d keep working. If I was slacking, I\u2019d stop with the timer, take a break, and try again later.<\/p>\n\n\n Honestly, it went great! Making a commitment to focus on the task at hand for just 10 minutes at a time helped me actually commit to the task. Most of the time, I continued working long past the 10-minute mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It made me much more efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Absolutely! Especially if you have a hard time starting a task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n Entering the zone of deep work<\/a> is perhaps the most difficult state of focus to achieve. It involves a deep, distraction-free concentration that allows you to achieve a lot in a short time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I tried to enter it by getting rid of all the distractions, even my work chat app, for some time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I blocked 2 hours of my schedule for writing a resource page I was working on. During that time, I activated the Do Not Disturb mode in my team chat app Pumble, so that not even work messages could reach me during that period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taught by past experience in the course of this challenge, I set the mood by locking my phone in the bathroom, website-blocking social media channels, and putting on some game music.<\/p>\n\n\n The 2 hours flew by, and I managed to write a lot more than I usually would in that time frame. It really helped that my chat app wasn\u2019t pinging and drawing my attention away from the task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, the other techniques I learned in the course of this challenge (website blocking, game music, etc.) really helped me get in the mood for deep work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It almost felt like going into battle and winning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019d recommend it to anyone who can afford not to be available to coworkers all the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n An accountability partner is a coworker who\u2019s willing to motivate you to do the tasks you\u2019ve set out to do. Ideally, they should hold you accountable, give you hell if you fail to do your tasks, and push you to finish them as planned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For my \u201cpartner in crime\u201d for the day, I chose a coworker I tend to chat with the most at work, and luckily, he agreed to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I shared with him my schedule for the day and asked him to check up on me from time to time to see how my tasks were coming along. In turn, I asked him to share his to-list with me so that I could cheer him on as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I know my coworker is not my superior, but nevertheless, having someone to report to really pushed me to follow my schedule as planned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was nice to have someone to share in my work-related worries, setbacks, and little victories, and it made the work more enjoyable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I heartily recommend it, especially to remote employees whose daily work can feel a bit isolating at times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Clockify Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Read more about the importance of team connectivity, especially in a remote setting, and how to foster it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Midday napping is proven to improve cognitive performance<\/a>. I\u2019m not much of a napper, so I decided to give a power nap a try during my work break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don\u2019t normally sleep during the day, no matter how tired I am, except when I\u2019m sick. So, for this challenge, I decided to take a longer break \u2014 a full hour \u2014 because I knew I wouldn\u2019t be able to fall asleep that fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I scheduled this break right in the middle of my workday, i.e. after 4 hours of work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I must admit I wasn\u2019t able to fully fall asleep during the break. However, I did sort of doze off and enter that state in-between sleep and wakefulness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And, I was surprised to learn just how refreshed I felt afterward. My energy was almost fully renewed, and I was able to focus just as well as at the beginning of the workday \u2014 if not better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I will definitely try to train myself to nap and use this technique on workdays when my attention is shattered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes! This technique can be incredibly helpful if you haven\u2019t had much sleep the previous night or you just feel deflated and tired for whatever reason. It has the potential to completely turn your workday around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nowadays, no one seems to be a fan of meetings. There has been an onslaught of articles claiming that meetings (especially unproductive ones) can disrupt employees\u2019 productivity<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, I had a no-meetings day to see how it would go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was a bit challenging to try and reschedule the meetings I had for that day. Admittedly, I hadn\u2019t thought in advance and paid attention to my productivity challenge schedule, so I had arranged some consultations with colleagues that I had to postpone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, I managed to cancel all the meetings at the beginning of the workday and have a meetings-free day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was nice not having to think about any upcoming meetings and interrupting my work to prepare for them and attend them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019d noticed before that meetings can seriously disrupt my flow and make it much harder to get back to work once they are done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, at least, in my company, we really strive not to have unproductive meetings, so even when they disrupt my work for a while, they\u2019re usually worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Absolutely! I\u2019d recommend having at least a couple of days a week where you can focus solely on your work \u2014 if you can afford it, of course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this challenge, I wanted to try a morning routine of someone highly productive and see how it would work out for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many famous people boast elaborate morning routines that seem to make them more productive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I wanted to try something quite extreme and different from what I usually do \u2014 which is not much \u2014 and went with the former CEO of Twitter, Jack Dorsey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, this is what I did:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, boy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m not used to waking up at the crack of dawn, and I\u2019m definitely not used to exercising that early in the morning \u2014 and yes, I\u2019m not much of a jogger either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, this morning routine was quite a challenge for me. It did give me a boost at the start of the workday, but I also got quite tired very early on in the day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, I will not be trying Dorsey\u2019s routine again any time soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guess I\u2019m not cut out to be a badass CEO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re no stranger to waking up early and you\u2019re feeling adventurous \u2014 sure, go for it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Clockify Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If Dorsey\u2019s morning flow feels a bit too extreme, maybe you\u2019d be interested in trying another famous person\u2019s routine. You can find many interesting ones here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Timeboxing is similar to time blocking<\/a>, but the two methods have opposing goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Time blocking is supposed to give you enough time for an important task. On the other hand, timeboxing<\/a> is meant to limit the time you spend on activities you tend to procrastinate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I decided to timebox one activity that I tend to drag out \u2014 article research. I had started working on a new blog post the previous day, so I wanted to speed up the rest of the initial research process and start writing as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I timeboxed the activity in my Clockify calendar.<\/p>\n\n\n Setting a specific time frame for blog post research really helped me take the task seriously and not get too carried away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, I tend to fall down the rabbit hole during research and end up going deeper than I need to or reading articles connected but irrelevant to the topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, timeboxing focused my attention where it needed to be and helped me finalize the initial research faster than usual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019d recommend it to anyone who tends to overstretch certain activities or has to work on unpleasant tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this day, I decided to spice up my short breaks, create a varied list of break activities (i.e. activities I\u2019ll do per each short break), and see how they would affect my workday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I decided to take a short, 5-minute break every hour and 1 longer, half-hour lunch break. I planned out fun activities I enjoy doing and made sure no two breaks were the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s my break list:<\/p>\n\n\n My breaks were short and sweet, and I really enjoyed every one of them. However, they didn\u2019t have much of an effect on my productivity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, they even disrupted my flow a bit since sometimes they would interrupt me while I was quite focused on work. Maybe I shouldn\u2019t have scheduled them so rigidly and left my options open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From time to time, it could be fun to vary your breaks. Just make sure you\u2019re flexible enough so that they don\u2019t disrupt your schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rating:<\/strong> \u2b50\u2b50<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meditation is supposed to have many benefits for the brain, including increased attention span<\/a>. I decided to try starting my day with a short meditation and see what happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m a long-standing yoga practitioner, so I\u2019m familiar with the great effects of meditation on the mind and body. But, I usually practice in the afternoon, i.e. after work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This time, I decided to offset my workday with a short meditation. I chose a 15-minute guided practice with one of my favorite online yoga teachers \u2014 Yoga with Kassandra<\/a>. I rolled out my yoga mat as soon as I woke up, sat down, and meditated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A short morning meditation definitely helped me start my day with a clear mind and a sense of calm. The state of mind it put me in allowed me to focus more easily on the initial tasks, but, expectedly, the effects waned off during the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nevertheless, it was worth it, and it didn\u2019t take too much of my time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019d recommend it, especially if you have a stressful day ahead of you and you\u2019re feeling a bit uneasy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow I managed to wake up an hour earlier<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Day](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Day-1-916x630.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHow waking up earlier affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend waking up earlier to others?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day #2: Create a to-do list the night before<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I created a to-do list the night before<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Day](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Day-2.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHow creating a to-do list the night before affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend creating a to-do list the night before?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Day #3: Put your phone away while working<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I managed not to check my phone while working<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How putting my phone away affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend putting your phone away while working?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day #4: Time block activities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I tried time blocking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Day](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Day-4.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHow time blocking affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend time blocking?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Day #5: Do 30 minutes of exercise in the middle of your workday<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I tried exercising in the middle of my workday<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How mid-workday exercising affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend exercising in the middle of your workday?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day #6: Drink 8 glasses of water<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I distributed 8 glasses of water during the day<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How drinking 8 glasses of water a day affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend drinking 8 glasses of water?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day #7: Identify the biggest time wasters and avoid them all day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I identified my biggest time wasters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Day](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Day-7.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHow identifying and avoiding time wasters affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend identifying your time wasters and avoiding them?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Day #8: Dress for office work (business casual) while working remotely<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I dressed up for office work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How dressing up affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend dressing up while working remotely?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day #9: Don\u2019t check social media during work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I made sure not to check social media during work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Day](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Day-9.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHow not checking social media during work affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend not checking social media during work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Day #10: Change your work environment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I changed my work environment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How changing my working environment affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend changing your work environment from time to time?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day #11: DM yourself motivational quotes or GIFs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I DMed myself motivational GIFs and quotes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Day](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Day-11.gif\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHow motivational GIFs and quotes affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend motivational GIFs and quotes?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day #12: Use your DM as a notepad for jotting down ideas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I used my DM as a notepad for ideas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Day](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Day-12.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHow using my DM as a notepad affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend using your DM as a notepad?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day #13: Organize your workspace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I organized my workspace<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How organizing my workspace affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend organizing your workspace?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Day #14: Use the Pomodoro technique<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I tried the Pomodoro technique<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Day](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Day-14.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHow using the Pomodoro technique affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend using the Pomodoro technique?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day #15: Finish tasks you\u2019ve been putting off<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I finished the tasks I\u2019ve been putting off<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
How finishing the tasks I\u2019ve been putting off affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend finishing tasks you\u2019ve been putting off?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day #16: Listen to productivity-inducing music<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I chose my productivity-inducing music<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How productivity-inducing music affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend listening to productivity-inducing music?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day #17: Work from the office<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I tried working from the office<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How working from the office affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend working from the office?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day #18: Use the 4-7-8 breathing technique to regain focus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I tried the 4-7-8 breathing technique<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
How the 4-7-8 breathing technique affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend the 4-7-8 breathing technique?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day #19: Time track every moment at work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Illustration\"](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/clockify\/landing-3@2x.png)
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\n\n\nHow I time tracked every moment at work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Day](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Day-19-628x630.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHow time tracking every moment at work affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend time tracking every moment at work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day #20: Start a daunting task using the 10-minute rule<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I tried using the 10-minute rule<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Day](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Day-20-541x630.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHow the 10-minute rule affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend the 10-minute rule?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day #21: Block some time for deep work in the DND mode<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I blocked time for deep work in the DND mode<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Day](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Day-21.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHow blocking time for deep work in the DND mode affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend blocking time for deep work in the DND mode?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day #22: Find an accountability partner for the day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I found an accountability partner for the day<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How having an accountability partner for the day affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend having an accountability partner?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Day #23: Take a power nap during a break<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I took a power nap at work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How taking a power nap affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend taking a power nap during a break at work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day #24: Have a no-meetings workday<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I arranged a no-meetings workday<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How a no-meetings workday affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend having a no-meetings workday?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day #25: Try a famous person\u2019s morning routine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Whose morning routine I decided to try<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
How Jack Dorsey\u2019s morning routine affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend Jack Dorsey\u2019s morning routine?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Day #26: Timebox activities you tend to procrastinate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I timeboxed an activity I tend to procrastinate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Day](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Day-26.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHow timeboxing an activity I tend to procrastinate affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend timeboxing activities you tend to procrastinate?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day #27: Create a break list <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I created a break list<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Day](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Day-27-904x630.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHow having a varied break list affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend making a break list?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day #28: Start your day with meditation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How I started my day with meditation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How starting my day with meditation affected my productivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Would I recommend starting your day with meditation?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Day](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Day-29-653x630.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n