The Productivity Playbook: A Guide for Thriving Solopreneurs

Have you ever wondered about how to make your days more productive?

Here are 13 productivity-boosting tips. Remember, it’s not about doing everything at once. Rather, it’s about finding out what works best for you.

1. Plan Your Week

Planning your week helps you use your time wisely. Ever found yourself wondering where the day went? That happens when you don’t plan. And planning isn’t only for work days; it includes weekends and holidays too. It’s okay if plans change – that’s part of life’s excitement. But take some time on Sundays to think about what you need and want to do in the coming week. Check out this episode, Mastering Time: Boosting Productivity for Solopreneurs.

2. Set Long-Term Goals

Instead of only setting goals once a year, try thinking of crazy, long-term goals – goals so big that they may seem unattainable now. But the fun part is, write them down twice a day. Research suggests people who write down their goals have a higher chance of achieving them. Imagine the possibilities when you do it twice daily!

3. Discover Your Peak Productivity Time

When are you most productive? For some, it’s early morning. Others are night owls. Find out when you do your best work and focus on your important tasks during this time.

4. Plan Your Meals

Being a solopreneur often means working from home. Planning your meals beforehand saves you from making unhealthy choices when you’re hungry.

5. Establish a Morning Routine

A morning routine sets the tone for your day. It can be flexible depending on your personal circumstances, but having a routine can help prepare you for a productive day. Check out this episode, Rise & Shine: My July 2023 Morning Ritual.

6. Avoid Multitasking

Multitasking isn’t effective. In fact, research shows only a tiny percentage of people can do it well. Concentrate on one task at a time, and switch tasks only when you’ve completed the current one.

7. Self-Care is Essential

Your productivity is directly linked to your well-being. Exercise, spend some quiet time alone, eat right, and care for your emotional and physical health. Check out this post, Make Yourself a Priority: 5 Simple Ways to Improve Your Well-being.

8. Minimize Distractions

Use ‘Airplane Mode’, ‘Do Not Disturb’, or ‘Focus Mode’ on your devices to work without interruptions. When you need to focus, it’s okay to put your phone away.

9. Work on a Personal Project Daily

Have a hobby or project you love? Spend some time on it daily. It’s not about your work but something you enjoy doing.

10. Guard Your Inbox

As a solopreneur, keep your professional email private to avoid spam. If you get spam, report it. This way, your email provider can send similar emails to your spam folder in the future.

11. Use Helpful Tools, but Don’t Procrastinate Searching

Many apps and tech tools can help boost productivity. But remember, searching endlessly for the “perfect” tool is a form of procrastination.

12. Set Work Hours

Designate specific work hours and stick to them. You need to balance work and personal life. You don’t want to be working all the time.

13. Outsource, Delegate, Automate, Eliminate

Outsource tasks you can’t do, delegate what you can, automate tasks where possible, and eliminate anything unnecessary. This principle, called the ODAE method, can help you manage your workload effectively. Check out this post, Productivity Hacks: Using the ODAE Method to Get More Done.

Think about which of these 13 tips you’re not currently doing that could benefit you. Commit to incorporating at least one of these into your routine and share your progress with an accountability partner, or even with me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Because accountability can change the game.