From getting out of the house in the morning to cranking through a neverending to-do list at work, we’re always looking for more hours in the day to get more done so we have more time to grow our wealth.
Our FinanceBuzz editors are some of the most productive people we know. They know how to prioritize work, schedule their time, and find time to relax.
If you’re ready to optimize your day and be more productive, here’s how six of our FinanceBuzz editors organize their day and give themselves more time back.
If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive discounts and financial resources
Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on things like travel, meal deliveries, eyeglasses, prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance and more.
How to become a member today:
- Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
- Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
- Start enjoying your discounts and perks!
Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (Do not skip this step!) Doing so will allow you to take up 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $12 per year with auto-renewal.
Go to a coffee shop
Amanda subscribes to the philosophy that changing your environment can level up your productivity.
When she doesn’t have meetings, she goes to a coffee shop where she can work for hours, getting more done than she ever would at home.
Removing distractions like a full dishwasher or a dog that needs a walk can help you focus on deep work. That’s worth a $5 latte, especially if you can earn cash back while working.
Use an agenda
If you’re looking for somewhere to keep your ongoing to-do list, consider using your agenda as a record rather than a notebook.
Amanda says she has a good agenda and puts a list of what to get done that day in it each day. She keeps little boxes on the side of each item she checks as she completes each item.
Put the phone away
This one is short and sweet. Amanda’s top tip is to put your phone away, eliminate distractions, and power through your work.
You might be shocked at how much you can accomplish when your attention isn’t shifting to the ding of a new notification.
Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt
Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.
National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.1
How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.
Sort your to-do list by priority
Gabriela suggests writing out a weekly to-do list and immediately prioritizing tasks so you know which should be tackled first, which must be done by a specific day, and where you might have flexibility.
This can evolve throughout the week as new tasks arise, but going into the week with a prioritized blueprint adds clarity to your to-do list.
Know when you’re ready to focus
Gabriela says she always works on her most high-focus projects during the hours when she’s in the right headspace to dedicate time to those tasks.
You might need an afternoon free of meetings to dive into deep brainstorming, or you might do your most focused writing when you’ve just returned to your desk on Monday.
Know when you’re ready to focus and prioritize your work accordingly.
Trending Stories
Don’t sit down
You know that quick break you want to take after work? The one that turns into four hours on the sofa binge-watching your latest show?
Laura’s number one productivity rule is that she can’t sit on the couch until she completes her evening chores. After work, she goes straight into get-it-done mode.
Whether taking the trash out, emptying the dishwasher, cooking dinner, meal prepping, cleaning the kitchen, or squeezing in a workout, she can’t shift into lazy mode until those things are done.
Just do it
It can be too easy to get caught up in overthinking a task, then procrastinating, and before you know it, hours have passed. Amanda suggests not overthinking any one item on your to-do list.
If you see something that needs to get done, whether replying to a message or an email or reporting an issue, just get it done quickly, then get back to your work.
Take a walk in nature
Catherine suggests tapping into her productivity, creativity, and anxiety-reducing hack all in one: taking a walk in nature.
Nature has healing effects, and taking a stroll outside can help you overcome writer’s block and boost productivity by helping your brain reset. And raising your heart rate is always beneficial.
Use the Eisenhower Matrix
Catherine suggests using the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize your to-do list and avoid being overwhelmed. This quadrant system sorts tasks into important and urgent vs. not important and not urgent.
Alternatively, you can pick the top three things you have to get done today and focus on those. Everything else can wait.
Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account
Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!2
With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!
This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.
Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.
Get an accountability buddy
Catherine recommends getting an accountability buddy for those things you really don’t want to do, like working out or cleaning your office.
For example, if you're someone who struggles to make it to the gym, it can help if someone is there waiting for you.
Or, if you’re trying to work on a long-term project at work, find a partner you can check in with periodically on progress.
Keep a clean office
A clean office can help you focus on the task at hand rather than getting distracted by the mess that needs to be picked up or that pile of papers that needs to be sorted.
As an editor, Catherine points out that even creatives need to clean up the chaos once in a while to promote positive mental health and productivity.
Put on some music
Andrea swears by putting on the right music. It can vary depending on her mood, but she has a few go-to playlists that inspire her to crank through work.
Your productivity music might be upbeat dance tunes, or it could be calming classical. Find the music that lets you work to the beat.
Match your energy to the task
Everyone’s energy levels will look different throughout the day. That’s why Michael suggests matching your energy to your task.
Some people are ready to hit the ground running in the morning. Others take a few hours to ease into the day or prefer to charge through their most taxing projects at night.
If you’re the most focused and awake early in the day, work on tasks that require the most focus and mental energy. If you crash later in the afternoon, save that time for simple tasks you can do in your sleep to avoid making foolish mistakes.
Bottom line
Your most productive day will look different from your colleague’s. Everyone has to find the routines and habits that work for their energy levels and working rhythms.
It’s an evolving process, but learning about others’ productivity hacks can give you ideas that could help you optimize your day, get more time back, and maybe even get ahead financially.
Subscribe Today
Want extra-cash moves to come right to you?
Stop browsing endlessly. Get proven ways to earn pocket money, help cover rent, and crush your debt — sent to your inbox daily.
Author Details