Improve Productivity With The Ultimate 30 Day Productivity Challenge

Need to get a jump start on your task list and time management? Streamline your daily routine with this 30 day productivity plan. Use each day to become more productive and achieve your goals!

Day 1 Create a to-do list for tomorrow

At the end of your work day or in the evening, plan your tasks for tomorrow. Preparing the day before will give you time tomorrow morning to mentally prepare for your day rather than plan the day. Don’t write your to-do list first thing in the morning because that will cut into your morning routine when you are most alert. Instead, give yourself time in the morning to begin tasks when you are most alert.

Day 2 Wake up 15 minutes earlier

The most successful people wake up early. When you get up early your mind is more alert because it is refreshed. You can also get a jump start on knocking important tasks off your list. The early hours can also be used to exercise, meditate, or start the day with a healthy breakfast.

day 3 turn your phone on silent mode

While working through your tasks, put your phone on silent or turn off your phone. The constant buzzing and ringing of your phone causes distractions and tempts you to check your alerts. Do not check your phone while you are working. Checking your phone takes away from the quality of your work, and tasks will take twice as long to accomplish.

Day 4 Clean Your Workspace

Cluttered workspaces lead to stress because it’s harder to find the documents you need. Also, having a cluttered desk does not look professional. Take some time today to clean up your desk space. As a bonus, add colorful art to the walls of your desk space to enhance your mood while working.

Day 5 Drink 8 oz of water 8 times today

Often we get sucked into our tasks and forget to take care of basic needs. Don’t forget to drink water throughout the day! Drinking water will improve your quality of work. Start by drinking at least 8 oz of water when you first wake up. If you get sucked into work, add reminders throughout the day to drink water.

Day 6 set deadlines for your tasks

Deadlines will give you a framework of when your task should be achieved. Set realistic deadlines for your task based on your past experiences. Also consider in your deadlines that there may be unexpected problems that could slow down your progression. Anticipate unexpected problems while planning out deadlines.

day 7 create goals for this month and this week

Goals are easier to achieve when they’re broken up into steps. Look at your big goal of the year and break it down into monthly bite-size goals. Write down the goals for each month in your planner. Once your monthly goals are listed, break monthly goals into weekly goals and jot these goals down in your planner. If you need more guidance on breaking down big goals, check out how I break down my yearly goals into daily tasks for my Etsy shop.

Day 8 Focus on one task at a time

Focusing on one task at a time will limit distractions. You can also reduce the amount of time it will take to finish your tasks. By focusing on too many tasks in one period you’re going to reduce efficiency, reduce work quality and reduce the amount of information that will be retained.

Day 9 finish important tasks before working on the easier tasks

The biggest tasks of the day can seem daunting, so try and knock these tasks out first while you’re alert in the morning. By knocking out these big tasks you will feel accomplished and motivated to get the rest of your tasks done on your list.

Day 10 work in time intervals, work times and break times

Figure out a productivity time schedule that works best for you and plan breaks in between each bout of work. For me, the productivity sweet spot is 50 minutes of work with a 10 minute break. You may be able to work more or less depending on what works best for you. During that work time only focus on one task, and don’t get sidetracked into other tasks, social media or cell phone use (save that for break periods). For me, this is the best action plan to increase productivity!

Day 11 schedule long breaks in your work day

To avoid getting burnt out on tasks, plan a break period in intervals throughout the day. As I mentioned I do 50 minutes on with 10 minute breaks. After four of those bouts I will take an hour long break. The most important part of an uninterrupted break is to give yourself some time to rest your eyes and your brain.

Day 12 Check your email only twice

Constantly checking emails will eat up a lot of your work time throughout the day. Turn off any email notifications are pop-ups that may appear on your computer. Also, take the time today to unsubscribe from unwanted emails. This is an easy action plan to improve productivity at work!

Day 13 download an app to improve efficiency

There’s many apps available for improving productivity. Popular productivity apps include meeting schedulers, planners and productivity software. All of these business tools can save you time in the day and support your long-term goals. Choose one task that can be automated and use an app to perform this task.

day 14 schedule 30 minutes of exercise

It’s unnecessary to spend hours at the gym to see benefits, you can start by walking or jogging for 30 minutes each day. Studies show that by adding a daily exercise routine your mind becomes more alert and you are able to boost productivity. Start by increasing steps. You can do this by taking the stairs rather than the elevator and parking your cat at the end of the parking lot.

Day 15 get more sleep

Sleep deficit can hinder productivity by limiting concentration and slowing down decision-making. Sleep allows the brain to reset itself which will lead to processing information more efficiently. Aim to achieve 8 hours of sleep, starting tonight!

Day 16 choose one habit you want to develop and commit to doing it

Plan a habit you would like to gain for a short-term period. Next revise your habit so that it is specific and realistic. For example, “I would like to eat healthier” can be specified to, “I will strive to eat 4 servings of vegetables per day”. Use a short term time frame to prove to yourself that you’re capable of committing to this habit for the long term.

Day 17 choose one habit you want to eliminate and commit to losing it

Similar to creating a habit, choose a specific and realistic habit that you can eliminate. The goal is to create more time in your day. An example of a specific habit that you can eliminate would be, “I will check my email twice a day at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.”. At the end of your short-term period see how this habit has improved your productivity and commit to eliminating this bad habit everyday.

Day 18 cut out time waster tasks

Identify the top five tasks last week that produced 80% of your results. Then identify the other tasks that were part of your day. Did you see any results from the other tasks that produced only 20% of your results? If not, consider cutting these out of your weekly routine. If you can’t cut these tasks out try automating them (see day 13) or delegating the tasks to a colleage.

Day 19  learn something new from a book, podcast for Ted Talk

At the end of your day today, choose one resource whether it be a chapter in a book, a podcast, or a TED Talk that focuses on productivity. Take note of the tips start executing these tips right away.

Day 20 revise and improve your tasks

From time to time it’s good to revise what you have accomplished. Review what you have done well and what you can improve upon. Any tasks that could have been improved can be noted down and incorporated into your plan for next week. You can also use this time to cut out any tasks that are a waste of your time.

Day 21 Turn Off the TV

The average American spends anywhere from 30 – 40 hours per week watching TV! Instead, spend the end of your day today reading a chapter in a book or meditating. You can also use this time to brainstorm new projects! Of course it’s important to wind down, but don’t fall victim to binge watching your favorite show.

Day 22 Finish a long undone task or solve a problem

We all have that one task that keeps getting thrown to the next week, never to get done. This task is important for our growth! Use this day to get this task knocked off of your list once and for all. Remember that done is better than perfect.

Day 23 reevaluate your goals

Evaluate your weekly tasks and daily tasks for the last 3 weeks. Are you feeling burnt out? Were you able to finish all of your tasks? Use this time to add and or eliminate any tasks in your routine that are unrealistic. You will make your day more efficient and get more results with attainable daily and weekly goals.

Day 24 find motivation

Even with our passion projects we get burnt out, especially as we start seeing the end of the project. Take this day to analyze what may be making you feel uninspired or stuck. If you feel unproductive, here are ideas you can brainstorm: What is the cost of not achieving your tasks? What are the benefits of achieving your tasks? You can also make a public commitment that you will achieve your goal. If you feel burnt out it’s ok to have a rest day. You may need to reassess your daily tasks (see day 23).

Day 25 fill your work space with motivational quotes

You can place motivational quotes in the background on your computer, the background of your cell phone or you can print out quotes for your office space. Have motivational quotes surround you to give you that extra push of productivity. To avoid quotes from getting stale try to change these quotes every 1 to 2 weeks. You can also try a 365 day calendar with motivational affirmations.

Day 26 say no when you’re plate is full

Don’t be afraid to say no if you know your plate is full. Saying no will help declutter your planner and de-stress your life. If you feel uncomfortable with saying no, consider reading a book or viewing a TED talk to help you learn how to say no respectfully and assertively.

Day 27 reduce meeting and call times

Cut down on any unproductive time before or after a call or a meeting. If you are on the phone frequently, streamline your discussions by cutting small talk and getting to the point. You can also let people know delegated times that are best to call you. If you attend meetings, then there may be discussions after meetings with colleagues that are not on topic. If the small talk is not part of the company’s goals, then politely excuse yourself to get back to your task list.

Day 28 Keep a notepad handy for ideas

As you work throughout the day, you may come up with great ideas. To avoid distracting yourself from the task at hand, keep a pad of paper handy to jot down your ideas. At the end of the week you can take the notepad out and see if any of these tasks are worth adding into your plan for next week or down the road.

Day 29 reward yourself

Whether you improved your productivity or kicked a bad habit, make sure you reward yourself. By adding positive reinforcement you will continue to want to be productive with your tasks. Make sure your reward is healthy and meaningful.

Day 30 review your month of productivity

How did your 30 days of productivity go? Take the time to reflect if you were able to accomplish more tasks. Were there any tips that dramatically improved productivity? Were there any productivity tips that didn’t work for you? Write down the best tips and consider posting these tips on your office wall. Continue to regularly implement the productivity tips that worked for you. Always aim to streamline your daily routine!

Looking for more 30 day challenges? Try the 30 day creativity challenge!