Participate in a 30-Day Productivity Challenge

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It’s time to enjoy 30 days of productivity with this awesome challenge

Want to be more productive in your everyday life? Participate in my 30-day productivity challenge, and you’ll soon see that it’s not that hard to be more productive every day if you have the right mindset, tools, and techniques.

First of all, why should you participate in this 30-day challenge for productivity?

Do 30-day challenges work? Of course.

According to the law of conservation of energy, if we spend more energy on one activity, less energy is available for another. Productivity allows us to make better use of our time, energy, and attention by doing more of the right things and spending less time on things that aren’t as important.

It’s best to address the issue of time management before you get into further trouble. It’s, however, never too late to make the necessary changes, improve productivity and time management, and avoid burnout.

What are the first signs that you are having difficulty with time management?

Ask yourself the following control questions:

1. Do you frequently feel rushed, as if your days are spent idly rather than doing the most important work?
2. Do you have a habit of forgetting important details?
3. Are you stressed out because you have too much work?
4. Do you still think about and deal with work tasks in your spare time rather than truly relax?
5. Do you feel like everything is a tangled mess and you’re not sure what to do?

Time management skills are one of those things that can always be improved, and that’s what we’re going to focus on during this 30-day productivity challenge.

During this 30-day time management challenge, you’ll try out different productive habits, and by the end of these 30 days, you can decide which habits you want to continue implementing. This will make your life much more productive in the long run.

Now it’s time to move on to this SUPER awesome productivity challenge and show you how to have more productive days.

a pin for a blog post that talks about a 30-day productivity challenge

This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you click on a link and purchase something I recommend, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Here’s your 30-day productivity plan

Day 1. Don’t let emails control your life

We’ll concentrate on emails on the first day. Dozens of unread emails can quickly consume your time. Take a pen and paper and make rules for how you will handle emails in the future so that they don’t consume your entire day.

Some pointers: Don’t respond to emails immediately. During the day, turn off your email program or its notifications and respond to emails at a specific time.

Don’t check your inbox all the time. It has been proven that constantly checking your inbox is associated with memory lapses, distractions, and overall lower work performance.

The best way to avoid checking your emails every second is to buy a good desk stopwatch and set a timer for yourself, say once an hour.

Also, avoid opening all emails at once. You have three options: deal with it yourself, delegate it, or delete it. Don’t open all your emails just to read them and then decide to return to them later. This is one of the biggest time-wasters.

Day 2. Schedule your day

On the second day, make it a habit to come up with a daily schedule every day. If your ability to concentrate fades from time to time, creating a routine for each day can help.

Prioritize and plan constantly, or you will waste a lot of time on things that don’t require your attention at the moment.

Fill out your planner, like this affordable one, with every duty. Schedule specific times for new ideas, and set your laptop or phone to remind you what to do every hour. This way, you’ll maintain your concentration throughout the day.

Day 3. Move more

Some people can exercise first thing in the morning, while others cannot. It’s okay if you’re one of the others. A little morning exercise, on the other hand, contributes to a good day. It gets your blood flowing, wakes you up, and provides a natural burst of energy.

Make it your goal for today to exercise outside. Researchers discovered that spending time outside in the fresh air makes people much more productive. Nature inspires creativity and productivity in ways that artificial environments cannot.

If possible, walk or take the stairs instead of taking the elevator to work. For your lunch break, get up every 30 minutes and walk around the office or to a coffee shop further away.

Day 4. Do important tasks at peak productivity

As humans, we cannot maintain peak concentration all day, so we must prioritize the important parts for when our mind is still fresh and creative. If you have the habit of doing smaller and less important tasks in the morning and only doing the more important tasks in the evening, this is a bad habit.

You’re more likely to be tired and unable to give your best effort in the evening. We all have a finite amount of energy, which we should use as efficiently as possible. Start with the more complex tasks first, when you are fresher and more energetic, and leave the easier tasks for last.

When energy reserves are drained at the end of the workday, people typically experience decision fatigue, which means that in difficult situations, you’re unable to make as well-considered decisions as you would like due to a lack of energy reserves.

Day 5. Spend less time on your phone

As part of this 30-day productivity challenge, put your smart devices away for today. Although your computer is an essential part of your job, removing all unnecessary devices will allow you to focus on your work. Never use Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter at work unless it is directly related to your job.

You could also replace the electronic calendar with a nice, colorful paper calendar.

Surfing on your phone or tablet before bed is one of the most common mistakes. The sun is an important factor in waking up in the morning. A bright light alerts the brain that it’s time to wake up.

When you lie down in bed sleepy and then check your phone, the bright screen signals to your brain that it’s time to wake up. This makes it difficult for you to fall asleep, which reduces the quality of your sleep.

a bunch of books

Day 6. Work in 90-minute intervals

Whether you’re at the gym, cleaning the house, or working on a big project, research shows that humans can’t work productively for more than 90 minutes at a time. Today, set a timer for 90 minutes and take a 10- to 30-minute break every 90 minutes.

Day 7. Tidy up your home in the morning

I’m not talking about a major cleaning, but a little cleaning in the morning leaves little room for stress and makes it easier to get started. Make your bed, wash the dishes in the morning, clean your desk, and start the day clean.

Day 8. Turn off your phone completely

When your phone rings in the corner of your desk (whether you’re looking at the incoming message or not), your train of thought is immediately interrupted, and your subconscious shifts to phone-related topics.

That is why, when performing important work tasks, it’s recommended to keep the phone in “silent” mode and hide it in a desk drawer until the work is completed. Set it as your goal for today.

Day 9. Forward important emails to your phone

If you’re truly waiting for a very important email, take your phone out of the desk drawer and forward your emails to your phone. When we’re waiting for something very important, our ability to concentrate suffers greatly, and our passive-aggressive mailbox updating has no immediate impact on our productivity.

As a result, it makes sense to disable the entire inbox and only get sent messages from a specific person (whose emails you’re waiting for) directly to your phone. This eliminates the noise and temptations caused by other emails. Here’s a tutorial on how you can do that.

Day 10. Reward yourself when you have completed all tasks

When motivation is low, some other (usually unproductive) activity appears much more appealing. Put it on hold for the time being and do it as a reward when you’ve completed your to-do list. And when you get your reward, you feel good because you have already accomplished something and earned it.

Isn’t that preferable to lying around feeling guilty because you know there’s so much more to do?! That’s such a good idea! That’s also why this challenge is among my favorite 30-day challenge ideas. I just love productivity hacks way too much.

a laptop and a notebook

Day 11. Focus on up to three projects at once

Today, prioritize and focus on the three most important things. It’s easy to put things off until the next day and become dragged down by responsibilities, but you are able to manage three things. Divide your time accordingly, and if necessary, set reminders on your phone to follow up.

Multitasking is a bad idea. You can’t focus if you’re doing everything at once, and your brain has to constantly switch itself, which is inefficient. Also, don’t devote the same amount of time to each task. To achieve the best results, divide tasks according to deadlines and importance.

Day 12. Simplify

We’ve all wasted time writing lengthy emails when a few sentences would have sufficed. Also, why send dozens of emails when a 5-minute phone call would accomplish the same thing? Only devote your time to what is truly important, and simplify everything else.

We all require a filter to help us focus on what is important. The entire world is moving so quickly, and our email inboxes are constantly overflowing. Prioritize your tasks and avoid wasting time on trivial matters.

Technology can take care of the reminders. Add reminders to your Google calendar for appointments, personal time, and sleep time to help you stay on track.

Allow some light into the room. Natural daylight has a greater impact on people than artificial light. People who work in natural light are more productive than others.

Check the speed of your internet connection. Consider how many times you have to take breaks while studying or working due to a slow internet connection. According to researchers, faster internet access leads to higher productivity.

Day 13. Reduce sugar consumption

You were looking for fun 30-day challenges that work, and now you’ve stumbled upon some advice that tells you to eat less sugar? Well, hear me out.

Your brain requires sugar to function properly, but it’s even more important not to overdo it. If you eat too little sugar, you will feel sluggish and sleepy. On the other hand, consuming too much sugar causes restlessness and difficulty concentrating.

As a result, it’s critical to know what type of carbohydrates to consume. Consuming refined sugars, such as lemonade or sweet pastries, provides a quick energy boost, but the effect only lasts 20 minutes.

Simultaneously, slowly absorbed carbohydrates, such as brown rice or oatmeal, are absorbed slowly, allowing you to concentrate and work better because your body is not alarmed by a sudden energy drop.

Day 14. Measure your work results, not the time spent on them.

You can best evaluate your work by breaking down a large project into smaller tasks and keeping track of what gets done. At the end of the day, you may discover that you have accomplished a great deal without realizing it, and your motivation remains high.

One of the best productivity tips here is to avoid surfing the Internet. According to studies, it takes an average of 25 minutes for a person to refocus on their work task. When you’re focused, the worst thing you can do is interrupt your work rhythm and go online.

Make the most of your concentration by blocking social media channels, news websites, and YouTube in your internet browser.

Day 15. Understand what you spend your time on.

If you’re having trouble being productive, consider reviewing your habits and determining where you’re devoting your time. Think about your day starting in the morning.

What is your morning routine at home to prepare for the workday? Perhaps you can make small changes, such as selecting your clothes for the next day the night before.

Then consider what you do during the day. Perhaps you spend too much time on Facebook or have quick chats that turn into lengthy and time-consuming phone calls. You can make changes if you can track where the time goes.

a person writing in a notebook to be productive

Day 16. Use at least 20% of the day

Even if your work schedule is jam-packed and your responsibilities are piling up, set aside at least 20% of your 8-hour workday to sit quietly and complete everything important. Even if you spend the other 80% of your day doing nothing important, 20% of your focused attention gives you a significant advantage.

Day 17. Make the little things a priority

While many of us work best when we stick to a schedule and focus on one task at a time, this may not work for people who can’t focus for long periods of time. If, contrary to the previous advice, you want to move quickly and prefer to deal with multiple issues at once, try the following approach.

If you come across a task that only takes 5 minutes to complete, cross it off your list right away. Divide larger tasks into smaller chunks and begin with the simpler ones first.

Simultaneously, keep your mind occupied by trying to solve larger problems in the background. That way, by the time you get to them, they’ll be partially solved.

Day 18. Create a to-do list

It may seem obvious, but writing things down and prioritizing your responsibilities will help you stay on track and avoid forgetting anything. Take a few minutes to write down the tasks as soon as you sit down at your desk.

Making a to-do list can help you organize your thoughts. If it helps, buy a cute notebook like this one. If you want to be more environmentally friendly, you can buy a REUSABLE notebook (how cool is that?). And if you want to save more time, buy a productivity tracker with to-do lists.

Check your to-do list to ensure that there aren’t too many tasks on it. One method is to select the three most important tasks that you must complete during the day. You should work on such tasks first thing in the morning.

This way, you can be certain that other activities will not distract you and that you will complete the important task. In addition to writing down the tasks, try to visualize the end result. Even completing a few tasks on a bad day is an accomplishment in and of itself.

So, as part of this 30-day productivity challenge, make a short and simple list that you can begin working on right away.

Day 19. Productive vs. busy: Know the difference

“Focus on being productive, not busy,” says Tim Ferris, author of The 4-Hour Workweek. What’s the distinction? We can be busy with emails, writing reports, and other minor tasks, but if they don’t contribute to the larger goals we’re attempting to achieve, we’re not being productive.

You’ll get more work done if you understand when you are simply busy and when you are truly productive.

Day 20. Wake up earlier (or just don’t snooze your alarm)

Allow your body to wake up calmly, enjoy coffee, and do the things on your morning to-do list, and your day will become calmer and more productive right away.

If waking up 30 minutes earlier doesn’t seem possible, start by waking up 10 minutes earlier, then 20, and eventually you’ll be able to wake up half an hour earlier—this will give your morning a huge boost.

Under no circumstances should you snooze the alarm clock. During sleep, your brain works tirelessly to analyze the day’s events and piece together behavioral patterns. This is also why we frequently wake up before the alarm clock goes off.

If you decide to snooze after the alarm clock goes off, you are breaking the pattern your body has established. This, in turn, can make getting out from under the covers even more difficult than if you had climbed out of bed as soon as you woke up.

To make matters worse, if your body’s rhythm is disrupted, waking up is even more difficult, and it can take hours to get back up to speed. Here’s an affordable alarm clock that you can’t snooze.

a person writing down their goals as part of a productivity challenge

Day 21. Get up and go to bed at the same time

Many people are tempted to use time at the expense of sleep in order to get more done. It has the opposite effect, however. Sleep not only allows you to recover from the day, but it also allows you to process memories and new information into long-term memory.

We are creatures of habit, so finding a consistent sleep rhythm is critical. Going to bed at roughly the same time every night is the habit that improves sleep and energy the most. Today, try to instill this habit in yourself.

One to two hours of lost sleep time wreaks silent but lethal havoc on your energy and effectiveness. Set a regular bedtime that allows you enough time in the morning to wake up properly. Furthermore, one of the most significant harms to productivity is a lack of sleep.

According to studies, not sleeping properly for several days in a row has the same effect as being slightly intoxicated.

Day 22. Set goals

Today, set a larger goal for the quarter to work toward. You deserve a reward if you complete this task. Whatever your heart desires, it could be a new feminine fragrance or the most popular noise-canceling headphones.

But don’t lose sight of yourself in the process. Make it a habit to reward yourself with things like weekly massages or dinners with friends.

Setting long-term goals is essential for remembering why you are doing something.

Whether you’re attempting to achieve a better work-life balance, spend more time with loved ones, or juggle all of your daily responsibilities in order to pursue a side hobby, seeing the big picture will motivate you to complete even the simplest projects faster.

Also, learn to set weekly goals and achieve them.

Day 23. Remember what motivated you in the beginning

If you’ve made a decision to do something, you probably had a good reason for doing so in the first place. Say it out loud today or write it down on paper. If the task’s purpose remains exciting to you, you may already be more motivated.

If you’re only doing something because your boss told you to, remind yourself of the bigger picture—a raise, a promotion, or something else. If you still want to achieve these goals, you must work hard.

However, if you can’t think of a good reason to finish what you started, it’s likely that it’s not that important to you. Perhaps you’re pursuing an old goal that no longer piques your interest. Or are you achieving someone else’s goals that you mistook for your own?

In this case, take some time to reassess the situation and avoid doing anything that doesn’t make sense to you!

Day 24. Before drinking coffee, consume high-quality food and water

A car cannot travel without fuel, and we cannot do much without high-quality nutrients. This is also true of water. Even just 1% dehydration has a negative impact on mood and cognitive abilities. Before your morning coffee, drink a few glasses of water.

Create a pleasant coffee routine as well.

Instead of spending money on a cup of coffee from a gas station or elsewhere, try making your own. Purchase a delicious coffee syrup or search the Internet for a recipe that appeals to you. A good cup of coffee does not have to be served in a carton cup or cost more than three euros.

Remember to eat a proper breakfast. Whether we like it or not, we have to admit that our parents were correct. As the saying goes, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” A nutritious breakfast will give you more energy and cause you to snack less.

Day 25. Take rest breaks to recover

It is critical to take time away from work to recover from stress. A walk in nature, eating healthy food, reading and watching some jokes, or listening to an inspiring audiobook are all excellent ways to accomplish this.

Some people prefer shorter breaks more frequently, while others prefer longer breaks less frequently. Experiment to find out what works best for you.

As part of this 30-day productivity challenge, take breaks at work to allow your eyes, neck, and entire body to rest. Also, don’t extend the workday too far. According to studies, people who work more than eight hours a day are much less productive. Work less, but more intently and intensively.

a bunch of books and a cup of coffee on top of them

Day 26. Create habits that help you start working

If you haven’t planned out what task to tackle first thing in the morning, you may find yourself procrastinating and wasting time. Starting is always the most difficult part, so it’s a good idea to develop a routine that alerts your brain that it’s time to work.

It could be as simple as getting a coffee and reading the news on your way to work. You begin working once the coffee is finished.

Day 27. Practice gratitude

Start the day with gratitude, whether it’s through journaling (many people use a five-minute journal like this one, which they fill out in the morning), a short meditation, or simply naming something to yourself that you’re grateful for.

Day 28. Create a morning routine

It’s always been important to get out of bed on the right foot. It’s beneficial to set goals for the day ahead and plan your time effectively from the start. The way you begin your day sets the tone for the rest of the day. To put yourself in a good mood, eat a delicious breakfast and meditate for a few minutes.

My favorite part is cleaning my face in the morning as part of my self-love morning routine. Although this may appear to be a pointless activity, dirt accumulates on your face while you sleep.

It helps you wake up, refreshes your face, and begins your day in a pleasant manner. For energy and radiance, use a good vitamin C serum every morning.

Day 29. Start and end your day like Benjamin Franklin

Franklin asked himself at breakfast, “What good can I do today?” And in the evening, he asked himself, “What good did I do today?” Many of us have high goals for the workday, with a slew of activities that don’t really move the needle.

These two questions will assist you in removing the unnecessary from your day and your work life in general. Anchoring your day with these questions will keep your goals in mind at all times, increasing your likelihood of acting in accordance with what you’re actually trying to achieve.

Day 30. Keep your surroundings tidy

According to a recent study, a tidy desk allows you to focus on a specific task for 1.5 hours longer than a cluttered desk.

Your attention is diverted to work documents floating in the corner of your desk, unread books, and unanswered emails, which subconsciously inhibits your focus on completing the assigned task.

Unbeknownst to you, your mind is constantly pulling you out of the present moment by jumping from one distracting object to another. A neat desk, on the other hand, doesn’t provide your mind with enough objects to grasp, and thus the ability to concentrate becomes much more concrete.

That’s it for this awesome 30-day productivity challenge

a pin for a blog post that talks about a 30-day challenge

What did you think of this challenge? Are you going to participate in this 30-day challenge? How do you stay productive? Let me know in the comments below!

1 thought on “Participate in a 30-Day Productivity Challenge”

  1. Hi, Laura! Thank you for sharing this inspiring article! I’ve been actively searching for tips on maintaining balance in my life, and this article came at just the right time. I absolutely loved the emphasis on practicing self-love and prioritizing my own needs. It’s all too easy to get caught up in the busyness of daily life and neglect our well-being. I’m excited and motivated to take on this challenge and see how it positively impacts my productivity and overall happiness. Thank you for providing such valuable guidance and encouragement. Here’s to a more balanced and fulfilling journey ahead!

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