Our Readers Share Their Best Productivity Tips

Everywhere I look, there’s some sort of productivity advice. It’s always geared towards folks whose brains don’t work the same that mine does — focus on a single task, do the most important thing first, ignore distractions. But for me, distractions are frankly what keep me going! This productivity advice can get overwhelming fast, especially when everyone seems to have a different system, app, or morning routine claiming to be the one that finally works. There’s always posited “a solution,” but I’ve really never found the right one. It’s frustrating.

So I asked you, readers, what your productivity hacks are. Turns out, there’s no single perfect method. The best tips are often the simplest, most accessible ones — the little shifts that help you start, stay focused, and keep moving without burning out.

Some readers swear by tackling the hardest task first, while others rely on breaking big projects into tiny, doable steps. A few make a list and let chance decide where to begin, just to avoid the mental loop of overthinking. However they approach it, the goal is the same: reduce overwhelm and make progress feel more possible.

Others among us are less focused on getting more done, and more interested in protecting the energy it takes to do anything well. That can mean cutting multitasking, stepping away for real breaks, building in quiet rituals, or simply putting the phone out of reach. Productivity, when we think about it this way, isn’t about pushing harder — it’s about creating enough space to think clearly and follow through.

“These tips may look different on the surface, but they all point to the same truth: productivity is deeply personal.”

And then there are the habit-builders, the timer-users, the color-coders, the folks who pair chores with podcasts or turn a daily reset into something almost satisfying. These tips may look different on the surface, but they all point to the same truth: productivity is deeply personal. What follows is a collection of reader-tested ideas for getting through the day with a little more focus, momentum, and ease.
So, let’s learn from each other. Read from our real readers below — and don’t hesitate to share your own productivity hacks in the comments below!
Reduce overwhelm
“Eat that frog!🐸”
“Prioritize by most important or an earlier deadline.”
“Focus on three important tasks that need to get done that day and everything else can be secondary and rolled to the next day.”
“I write down a list of tasks, then use a random number generator to decide which task to do. This eliminates decision fatigue and ensures I finish the things I might try to avoid! (Just make sure to break down bigger projects into smaller, more digestible bites — instead of ‘clean the bathroom,’ for example, I’d write it as ‘clean the sink / clean the shower / clean the toilet / sweep and mop the floors.’)”
“When it’s really dire, I break down tasks into their smallest parts and put each one on a checklist. Then, when I finish each step, I get the satisfaction of seeing each thing get checked off the list and get a lil’ dopamine hit each time.”
“Eat the worm! Do the hardest thing first.”
“If you’re overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, start with just one thing…it could be the least important.”
“If you’re overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, start with just one thing…it could be the least important.”
“Breaking things into bite size pieces and doing a big task spread out over a few days or even weeks. For example: I need to clean my entire kitchen (including washing walls and cleaning out fridge/freezer/cupboards and then paint it. Instead of thinking I need to block an whole weekend, I have literally added to my to do list something like: ‘Empty freezer, wipe out, throw away freezer burnt foods, take inventory’ as one task to do on a single day. It’s ok if a day or two goes by before getting to the fridge, and the other cupboards. I hope this means by the end of the summer, my kitchen will be clean, organized, and painted and it will have hardly felt like a massive undertaking. It sounds silly but trying to use this method has made big household tasks feel more approachable, possible, less time-consuming, and less stressful for me.”
“Ask myself, ‘What are the top three things I need to accomplish today?’”
“I created a to do list that separates each day — that way, instead of working from one long list, it’s much more manageable. It also has columns for ‘someone else’ (things I need to follow up on), next week’s tasks, and ‘future’ for anything I don’t want to forget but aren’t important now. When the next week and future columns get too long, I use the urgent/important matrix to help me decide what goes where without overcommitting. As an entrepreneur with ADHD, this has helped me for almost 10 years now!”
“Use a day timer and list the items in order of importance. Do not clutter your desk. You can only deal with one thing at a time and visual clutter is very distracting and unproductive.”
Manage your attention
“Stop multitasking.”
“Pomodoro Technique paired with techno for work (no lyrics) playlists.”
“Having a partner! My spouse and I are also co-producers on a TV show and we would be nowhere without accountability to each other. We both at various times have to pull or push the other one. Truly I have no idea how other people do it alone!”
“I use the 40-10-10 method when I have a bunch of tasks. This can work when I need to catch up on notes for work or do house chores. I set a timer for each: 40 minutes of uninterrupted chipping away at my task list. When the timer goes off I set another for 10 minutes. This is for correspondence — emails, texts, phone calls, scheduling. The next 10-minute timer is for a break. I’ll do yoga, go for a walk, play with my cat, lie down outside. Then I start the 40-minute timer after that and do it all over again.”
“Putting my phone away.”
“Getting a timer on my desk and setting 10-15 minute blocks to avoid procrastination!”
“Not sponsored, but I love the Brick! It automatically blocks the apps that suck the most of my time on a schedule that is beneficial for me. I used to mindlessly scroll my weekends away, but since I added a social-media free Sunday schedule on my Brick, I can actually use and enjoy my Sundays instead of them vanishing.”
“Not sponsored, but I love the Brick! It automatically blocks the apps that suck the most of my time on a schedule that is beneficial for me. I used to mindlessly scroll my weekends away, but since I added a social-media free Sunday schedule on my Brick, I can actually use and enjoy my Sundays instead of them vanishing.”
Use External Systems
“Utilizing the Google tasks and setting the tasks for follow up reminders on my Google calendar. You can add them directly from an email too — this was a work revolution for me! I abandoned all the other productivity apps for this — it pulls emails, calendar reminders, and tasks all in. AMAZING!”
“Color coding.”
“I email myself TO DO lists, so I know I’ll always have my thoughts with me. I find if I TRY to remember…well…I don’t!”
“I email myself TO DO lists, so I know I’ll always have my thoughts with me. I find if I TRY to remember…well…I don’t!”
“If you feel like your house projects are a constant swirling list in your head, use the Kanban technique. Write each project (no matter how big or small) onto a sticky note. You can even color coordinate them (purchase, task, schedule, etc.). Then put them on a wall that you always walk by. The more prominent, the better. You then prioritize the items from top to bottom. Create three columns: Now, Near, Later. Now limit the number of items you can actively been working on at any time. I’d recommend 2-3 ‘Now’ items. By keeping your list in this format, it’s hard to forget something and it gives you the ability to adjust as needed while keeping the actual working items list small and focused.”
“The Focus Friend app has kept me accountable and off of my phone so I can actually get stuff done!”
Protect Your Energy
“Creating a not-to-do list so that I can use my energy and time well.”
“Priority is singular.”
“Do the biggest thing first — whatever will give you momentum. Sometimes this means the hardest thing, and sometimes the easiest task that might be the most visible — whichever will get me further along the list and not feel like I wasted the day!”
“Screen-free breaks every 30-60 minutes. I get up and walk around for 5-10 minutes, or do some things around the house, without screens. It resets my brain, gets my blood flowing, and I feel much better and way less stressed at the end of the day.”
“Step away from whatever I’m working on every 15-30 minutes and go outside to collect some sunlight, fresh air and the scent of the world. I’ll swing my arms, my legs, twist my spine and say thanks for gravity, the shade, the wind — whatever comes to mind. I might take a minute or 10, but my mind and body always thank me.”
“Start each morning with a short Scripture, nothing lengthy, just confident guidance throughout the day.”
“Setting the alarm earlier for ‘Me Time.’ I get up before my husband and the dogs. I pray, write down what I’m thankful for, and what brought me joy the previous day. I then go on a walk where I plan out the rest of my day. Implementing ‘Me Time’ at the beginning of my day allows me to be more productive and successful knowing that I’ve taken care of myself first.”
“Prioritizing sleep — magnesium glycinate was a game changer. I wake with more energy for the day and motivation to get things done no matter how my day is organized.”
“Leaving the house 🫠 grabbing a matcha, and writing morning pages notes before I get into the work.”
“Screen-free breaks every 30-60 minutes. I get up and walk around for 5-10 minutes, or do some things around the house, without screens. It resets my brain, gets my blood flowing, and I feel much better and way less stressed at the end of the day.”
Create Motivation
“Listen to a productivity podcast or video as you work, it’ll motivate you so much (This only applies to mundane stuff). For example, when I’m cleaning, I like to listen to cleaning videos.”
“Getting babysat by a YouTube video is truly the only thing that helps me now. I started doing it in university and do it now as I am grading my students work. I recommend either watching ‘study with me’ videos or city walk throughs, but anything that won’t distract you is good.”
“For ADHD-ers, my cleaning hack is to set a timer for 20 minutes. I am not allowed to cross the threshold of the room I’m in until the timer goes off. I do this room by room and even do another 20 minutes in the same room as needed, until the whole house is clean!”
“Get done anything that you can instantly, no second thoughts (without compromising your health). The sense of accomplishment combined with having less things to do are powerful allies to productivity.”
“For ADHD-ers, my cleaning hack is to set a timer for 20 minutes. I am not allowed to cross the threshold of the room I’m in until the timer goes off. I do this room by room and even do another 20 minutes in the same room as needed, until the whole house is clean!”
“Pretending like I’m the main character in a movie has helped me focus and become the best version of myself.”
“Reminders of self-love in everything I do, plus incorporating a little fun in every task!”
“Action leads to motivation. Picturing a stress- (well, hopefully) free self. Pretend someone I admire is coming over. Don’t sit, wear shoes.”
“Never underestimate a to-do list with a reward at the end 🖤”
“Set a 15-minute timer and focus on cleaning one area of your home. You’d be surprised how much you can accomplish in that time, and most days, once the timer goes off, I’m motivated to keep going. But if I’m not, it’s okay to stop. I’ve still made progress.”
“Spoiling myself during productive moments. I only allow myself to listen to my audiobook, catch up on YouTube content, watch shows, etc. while productively cleaning the house or folding the laundry. Obviously this can’t be done with a ‘brain on’ activity like studying or working but it definitely works for me when I have a ton of stuff to get done around my home!”
“Habit stacking: attach the new habit to something you already crave.”
“Instead of relying on willpower alone, I pair a task I should do with something I already want to do, but I do the hard thing first. For example: before I let myself have coffee, I go for a 20-minute walk. The coffee becomes the reward, not just a habit I do on autopilot. It works because you’re borrowing motivation from a habit that’s already automatic, rather than trying to build willpower from scratch. The ‘want’ pulls you toward the ‘should.’”
“When cleaning my apartment I do it in 15 min increments while listening to music and having a cocktail. The other 15 I sit and watch TV or read a book. Does it take me twice as long? Yes. Do I get overwhelmed? No. It’s been 6 years and works for me!”
“Doing work while walking on the treadmill or riding indoor exercise bike.”
“Temptation Bundling — pairing an activity that does not motivate you with a fun activity. So all my chores are now done listening to podcasts.”
“I wear tennis shoes or heels when I’ve got work to do! I live in an Asian household, so these shoes are solely indoor shoes, but they’re often enough to trigger my brain to start working! And I don’t plop onto the bed as much when I have shoes on!”
Build Sustainable Habits
“Two cups of coffee, then two daily chores, cleaning, sorting, gardening, laundry, etc from the master chore chart made monthly. Whatever doesn’t get done, just move it to next month’s.”
“Wearing headphones with my favorite playlist during my deep work sessions from 5 am to 7 am.”
“Setting days towards particular tasks. Like, Monday work productivity: emails. Monday home productivity: sorting through mail.”
“Do a creative or fun task every three hours. I work from home and I have a demanding workout routine that I feel keeps me in the best shape ever. I use the Chloe Ting hourglass workout program. Because her workouts are often three videos in a sessions for most of them, I break them up into individual sessions to complete by the afternoon so that I can go out for the day. That way I am not stuck in the house working continuously for long periods. Anyways, I have a dietician who put me on this routine of eating clean food every three hours, but working out first before any meal. So, I’ll do one of the three ten minute workouts when I get up in the morning. Then I’ll eat, shower, and go to my desk. Because I value that routine so much, I set a timer while I’m working. Every three hours I get up to prep, workout, finish cooking, and then eat all while my work is on pause (thank God I have that luxury). What I later realize was how productive it made me. By doing that consistently, I am doing something new such as: prepping, cooking, listening to my music while cooking, and doing something creative while waiting on my food. I am not making the typical boring healthy dishes. Most of my meals are entirely new recipes from an old Italian Cuisine book. So, everyday every meal is different and that’s what makes it so stimulating. In some instances, I am either watching a movie, decorating, arranging my bouquet, or playing in the garden until the food is done. There are also some days where I actually go for a stroll in the park with my dog or do some light window shopping at HomeGoods. It’s so productive for me that I am not sitting at my desk working continuously without these creative breaks. I love to cook and bake. So, it never feels like work for me. Plus, when I’m cooking I have this habit of playing Under The Tuscan Sun movie soundtrack and I’m imagining myself in that world — I LOVE THAT MOVIE! It really feels like I have left work and enter a new world. In the end, this routine keeps me very productive and happy when I am working. It really is such a vibe and you had to be there.”
“Setting days towards particular tasks. Like, Monday work productivity: emails. Monday home productivity: sorting through mail.”
“This will sound defeatist or silly, but I have come to know: you are either very organized, that is your way of being, and it was either trained into you from an early age (ballet, gymnastics, military) and/or you were naturally drawn to it (cleaning, organizing toy baskets by color) (by trauma, unorganized parents, other). Or, you are not. I have tried to train my method to many of my family members, colleagues, bosses, friends. They will never be successful with these productivity trainings though because they look to pro tips and hacks, instead of instilling a lifestyle of discipline, rigor, a desire for perfection, and practice. If you are overwhelmed by your inbox every day, make a commitment to yourself to be 0 inbox. Every single day. There are no off days. It includes Saturday & Sunday. Your day starts before your bedtime. Have the same wind down routine (bag & coffee already set), same sleep routine, and the same morning routine. I wake up every morning and do the same thing: make my bed, turn on my lamps, start my coffee, brush my teeth, put on my suit, drink my coffee while I’m doing my hair and makeup. Put the remainder of my coffee in to go cup. Take my bag. Walk to the subway. Listen to Taylor Swift. No reading email or news on the train. Free thinking time. Get to office, go directly into the hard thing I need to work on that day. And on and on and on.”
“I’ve always been a notebook girl — logging all the things (past, present, and future). Things were logged but not always retrievable until I started ‘harvesting’ my notes into takeaways. Once a week, whenever the mood strikes, I go through a handful of pages and pull out (HARVEST) the key pieces. I maintain a calendar, some ‘mini folders’ and a book of lists to catch all the things that need to be advanced. I also have a tiny little printer to capture pics. This has totally changed my productivity!”
Emily McGowan is the Editorial Director at The Good Trade. She studied Creative Writing and Business at Indiana University, and has over ten years of experience as a writer and editor in sustainability and lifestyle spaces. Since 2017, she’s been discovering and reviewing the top sustainable home, fashion, beauty, and wellness products so readers can make their most informed decisions. Her editorial work has been recognized by major publications like The New York Times and BBC Worklife. You can usually find her in her colorful Los Angeles apartment journaling, playing with her two cats, or crafting. Say hi on Instagram or follow along with her Substack, Pinky Promise.