Stay Focused While Working Online – My Very Best Productivity Hack

Do you struggle to stay focused when working online? Try my very best productivity hack!When we sit around at the virtual coffee shop with our friends and chat about all things business and ministry, we always get around to the subject of productivity.

Well, we don’t actually say the word “productivity.”  That’s a little too fussy for us.

We’re more likely to moan about how easily distracted we are, or how we never seem to do the things we intend to get done.  We wonder how to make better use of our time, or even better how to create more time for all our tasks.

What if our problem is not one of time, but of focus? What if we need a better way to stay on track in the time we already have?

King Solomon knew the importance of staying focused.  He reminded us:

Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Proverbs 4:25 (ESV)

But friend, I know how hard it is to keep my eyes looking directly at what needs to be done, especially when working online.  One comment leads to a click leads to a download and before I know it, I’ve spent an hour chasing digital rabbits!

I’ve found that I can stay on track when I have one big task that needs to be done, like writing a whole blog post, or creating a download or printable.  But I struggle when I have several smaller tasks that need to be done.  That’s when I start to wander between tasks.

This struggle is real, so I want to share the one habit that has helped me the most to stay focused while working online.  And it’s so easy … all you need is a square sticky-note!  I know you love office supplies, so I bet you have stacks of sticky notes in every color laying around! Try this next time you sit down to work and see if it helps!

Make a micro-plan

A “plan” is just an intentional set of actions that lead to your desired result.  It doesn’t have to be a big complicated thing that takes weeks to do.  Look at your to-do list and make a plan for your work session.  I pick a start and stop time and the three or four things you need to get done in that session.

Create your check-list

Stay focused while working online using these sticky note checklistsTurn your sticky-note pad so that the sticky stuff is to the left instead of at the top (this is the trick to make this hack work!).  Write your start and stop times and then create a check-list of the three or four things you want to get done.  Don’t forget to make the little boxes so you can check them off!

Stick it in your line of sight

Stick the sticky-note on the edge of your computer screen so it is in your line of sight while you are working. It will serve as a visual reminder of your most important tasks.  Check them off as you go to get that little adrenaline rush.

This process helped me so much, I had custom sticky notes printed so it looked all official-like.  I have some extras, so if you’d like a pack, click here to grab them!

How about you? What helps you stay focused while working online?  Share your best tips in the comments!

NEW RESOURCE

In the Build A Better Week E-book, you’ll receive:

  • A devotion to explore the Biblical mindsets on planning
  • Step by step instructions to create a better week than you had last week.
  • Three worksheets to manage your to-do list, your weekly plan and a weekly review
  • Tips for managing the unexpected that threatens to de-rail your week
  • Video instructions on using a Trello board to manage it all and a Trello template to create your own

Join the Build A Better Week Challenge and learn how to plan for the things that really matter.

Get a Better Week Here!

5 thoughts on “Stay Focused While Working Online – My Very Best Productivity Hack”

  1. I like this idea! I waffle between digital and paper processes. Right now, I’m using my Google Calendar to “chunk” my time. So today, I’ve got 3 time chunks in my calendar, each with a different purpose. I find this very helpful. I know what needs to get done in each time chunk. Then I use Trello boards and cards to create my checklists for each project. It’s a similar concept to your sticky note trick. I’m going to try the sticky notes on a day when I want to use actual paper (or love on my favorite pens 🙂 ).

    Reply
  2. Great idea! I like the idea of writing down the things you want to try to do in the timeframe. I always want to put a million things on my to-do lists, but I find that I work much better when I focus on just a couple at a time.

    Reply
    • Yea, I can’t DO a million things in the time frame, so what makes me think I need to have them all in front of me?!?!?

      Reply

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