How to be more productive every day……….You ever have one of those mornings where you wake up thinking, “Okay, today I’m gonna crush it”—and then three hours later you’re still scrolling Instagram reels about cats wearing sunglasses? Yeah. That’s me.
I swear, living in Queens has its own productivity tax. Like, I’ll sit down with my laptop, ready to work, and then BOOM—someone’s blasting bachata outside, the ice cream truck’s playing its off-key jingle, and my neighbor decides right now is the perfect time to practice karaoke. And somehow, I’m singing along instead of answering emails.
So when people ask me how to be more productive every day (keyword slipped in nice and casual right there), I kinda laugh. Not because it’s impossible, but because productivity is way messier than those “10 hacks that change your life instantly” articles. Spoiler: no, Susan, buying a $40 water bottle did not make me wake up at 5 a.m.
But—I’ve found some real stuff that works. Not perfect, not fancy, but real. And since I’ve written a bunch of these blog posts (a few hits, a few absolute duds), I figured I’d spill it like I’m chatting with a friend. Coffee’s on me.
The Myth of “Perfect Productivity”
Here’s the thing: we think productive people are robots. You know, the ones who wake up at dawn, run 6 miles, eat kale with a side of kale, meditate, and then casually invent the next iPhone before lunch.
That’s not me. That’s never gonna be me.
Back in 8th grade, I literally wore two different sneakers to school—Nike on the left, Adidas on the right. Not on purpose. Monday brain. And that moment kinda sums me up: chaotic, but somehow I made it through.
So if you’re waiting to be “perfectly organized” before you can be productive… stop. Productivity is about messy, human consistency, not polished routines.
Tiny Wins > Big Overhauls
You know what actually works? Small wins. Like, embarrassingly small.
One time I promised myself, “Just write one crappy sentence.” That’s it. And guess what? That sentence turned into three paragraphs. And those paragraphs? Whole blog post.
It’s the same with chores. My sink looks like a horror movie scene (dishes stacked higher than my dignity), but if I tell myself, “Just wash two plates,” suddenly the whole sink is clean.
So yeah, start tiny. Write one line. Fold one shirt. Reply to one email.
Queens Distractions & The Art of Focus
Okay, real talk. Living in Queens is like productivity boot camp. If you can work here, you can work anywhere. Between honking cars, delivery guys buzzing at the wrong apartment, and kids playing stickball in the street, focus is a rare gem.
Here’s what I do:
- Headphones = survival. Not even for music, just noise-canceling. Silence is golden.
- Cafés with weird playlists. There’s this spot near me that only plays 2000s R&B. I can’t explain it, but writing to Ashanti is magical.
- The two-hour rule. I give myself two focused hours—no phone, no snacks, no “just checking the news.” After that, I can procrastinate all I want.
And you know what? Two hours is enough most days. Nobody said productivity = working 12 hours.
The List Trick about how to be more productive every day
Confession: I’m a list addict. But not the fancy Pinterest kind. Mine look like a five-year-old scribbled them in crayon.
The trick? I only put 3 things. That’s it. If I finish them, cool—I’ll add more. If I don’t, at least I didn’t make myself feel like trash with a 47-item list.
Example of today’s list:
- Finish this blog post
- Call my mom
- Laundry (which I’ve been “planning” for 4 days now)
Simple. Achievable. Less shame.
Breaks That Actually Work
Here’s the problem with breaks: sometimes they turn into Netflix binges. Like, I’ll take a “quick break” and somehow I’m six episodes deep into The Office reruns.
But good breaks—real breaks—are the secret sauce.
- Walk around the block (bonus: Queens street food smells = motivation to keep moving)
- 10 push-ups (I usually collapse at 7, but hey, effort counts)
- Staring out the window like a Victorian ghost for 5 minutes
Breaks reset the brain. And honestly? Sometimes the best ideas come when you’re not working.
Stop Multi-Tasking (Seriously, Stop)
I used to brag about multitasking—answering emails while on Zoom, while cooking, while texting. You know what that got me? Burnt rice and a very confused boss.
Turns out, multi-tasking is fake productivity. It feels busy, but nothing gets done right.
So now? One thing at a time. If I’m writing, I’m writing. If I’m eating pizza, I’m just eating pizza (and probably dripping cheese on my shirt).
Accountability, But Make It Fun
Here’s my hack: I text my friend, “Yo, I’m writing for the next hour. Yell at me if I don’t.”
And she does. Aggressively. It works.
Accountability doesn’t have to mean hiring a coach or downloading some $10 app. Sometimes it’s just a buddy who’ll roast you if you slack.
Sleep > Hustle
I know, I know. Hustle culture says “sleep when you’re dead.” Cool, but if I don’t sleep, I’m basically a zombie who can’t spell his own name.
You wanna be productive? Sleep. Real, 7-8 hours sleep. Not “half-asleep with Netflix still playing in the background” sleep.
Biggest game-changer for me was charging my phone across the room. No late-night doom scrolling. No “one more video.” Just… unconsciousness.
Celebrate the Silly Wins
Sometimes productivity is just not crying when your Wi-Fi goes out mid-meeting. Or remembering to drink water. Or actually folding your laundry instead of letting it live on the chair for 3 weeks.
Celebrate that stuff. Seriously. Being productive every day doesn’t mean inventing a rocket ship. It means moving the needle, even a little.
Final Messy Thoughts
So, how to be more productive every day? You don’t need a 40-step morning routine or a $300 planner. You need small wins, focus pockets, messy lists, good sleep, and friends who’ll yell at you.
And also? Grace. You’re not a robot. Some days will be flops. Some days you’ll wear mismatched shoes. It’s fine. You’ll live.
Honestly, productivity is like Queens traffic. Messy, loud, kinda unpredictable. But if you just keep moving—even a little—you’ll get where you’re going.
Outbound links to Glossier, Makeup & Beauty Blog, Buzzfeed, Skinny Confidential.
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