My Fav Productivity Hack

Day 4/100

In today's post, I want to share one of my favorite productivity/organizational hacks that has dramatically helped me.

Emails are as common in the workplace as are chairs, coffee machines, urgent tasks, and one disgruntled employee threatening to quit next Monday.

When I first started using an inbox (outlook to be precise) it was a little difficult for me to keep a tab on all my emails.

More often than not, I would end up missing actioning/replying to an email. I started creating folders but even that become cumbersome after a while. Having to work with multiple teams, stakeholders, freelancers, and clients, I ended up with twenty-plus subfolders within folders.

That is when I asked my then-boss to help me. She showed me this cool neat trick to be on top of my tasks while keeping my inbox clutter-free.

Here is the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Select the email you need action/reply

Step 2: Go to Labels

Step 3: Create a new label called - To be done (or anything that works for you)

Step 4: The emails will now show up on the right side - under the label - To be done:

Final step: Once you have actioned the email, simply select the email, click on labels, and remove the "To be done" label:

Here are three bonus tips for a productive day:

1. Use time boxing or the Pomodoro technique. The Pomodoro Technique is?a time management method based on 25-minute stretches of focused work broken by five-minute breaks. Longer breaks, typically 15 to 30 minutes, are taken after four consecutive work intervals.
2. Listen to focus music - I am an absolute fan of Baroque Music. I have seen that it puts me in a good mood, helps me focus, and helps me stick to the task for a longer time (especially when the task needs thinking and creativity)
3. Create a to-do for the next day. Before you wind up your day, just spend 10 mins to write down tasks, projects, and follow-ups for the next day. This one practice has definitely helped me start my day less worried and has helped me feel more organized and in control

Hope you liked this trick!

If yes, then please follow/share/comment :)