My love languages are Productivity and Efficiency. Even dating back to my teenage years working in a grocery store, it is almost embarrassing to admit how satisfying it was to figure out how to refill the vending machines as quickly as possible.
Nothing has really changed in my professional career, as I am borderline obsessed with figuring out ways to constantly improve. What have you discovered to be essential in maintaining your own productivity?
These can be...
-Tech-based (apps to keep you on track.)
-Process-based (inbox zero, pomodoro, etc.)
-Nutrition (brain food?)
-Other (starting my day off with exercise.)
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What keeps you on track and energized?
##### Post Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: Community Manager | Event Marketer | Metrics Guru - Net upvotes: 5 ## Comments ### Comment 1 <p>I use all of those methods, meditation, exercise, smart watch to remind me to move, track movements, zero inbox, etc. They are all important, and focusing on creating habits that work towards my goals is a big part of my day.</p> ##### Comment Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: Marketing Effectiveness Consultant, Online Marketing Specialist for Businesses, Entrepreneur and Investor - Net upvotes: 2 #### Reply 1 <p>It sounds like we set almost the exact same set of rules for ourselves :) </p><p>The only thing difference is that I've never done any type of meditation. Do you use an app for some form of guided meditation or do you just follow some kind of a regular routine?</p> ##### Reply Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: Community Manager | Event Marketer | Metrics Guru #### Reply 2 <p>I use the Calm App for Meditation </p> ##### Reply Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: Marketing Effectiveness Consultant, Online Marketing Specialist for Businesses, Entrepreneur and Investor ### Comment 2 <p>Gym sessions are an absolute must for maintaining my productivity. Minimum twice a week (weights). I conjecture that it's not even the energy boost I get but taxing the central nervous system results in a clearer mind throughout the week. If I fall below 2x there's a noticeable decline in focus, problem solving, etc.</p> ##### Comment Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: Video Content Creator @ Big Corner Creative - Net upvotes: 2 #### Reply 1 <p>I couldn't agree more. Every morning I have it on my schedule to complete a 2-mile walk and my mobility exercises and I consider those things non-negotiable. It once felt like such an annoyance to get used to doing these things, but after a while, it began to feel weird on the rare occasions that I would NOT do them. </p><p>I also play basketball twice a week, which in addition to the obvious workout, acts like such a stress relievers. While you're playing, you are too focused to think about anything but the game itself, which is so mentally freeing. </p><p>Do you have anything else in your gym repertoire, or is weight-training your primary go-to? </p> ##### Reply Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: Community Manager | Event Marketer | Metrics Guru #### Reply 2 <p>The only other additions would be kettlebells and then I like to finish workouts often with a high intensity on either the rower or with a medicine ball (ball slams). Now only if my diet were as solid...</p> ##### Reply Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: Video Content Creator @ Big Corner Creative #### Reply 3 <p>Ah, the ol' Catch 22 of working out: it makes you hungrier!</p> ##### Reply Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: Community Manager | Event Marketer | Metrics Guru ### Comment 3 <p>I totally get the satisfaction of optimizing processes! For me, it’s a mix of tech and routine. I use Notion to organize everything from tasks to goals, which keeps me focused. I also swear by the Pomodoro Technique—it helps me stay sharp without burning out.</p><p>As for nutrition, I try to stick to lighter meals that won’t make me sluggish, like smoothies with protein and greens. And of course, exercise in the morning sets the tone for the day, helping me stay energized.</p><p>Would love to hear what others are using to stay productive!</p> ##### Comment Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: Toronto-Based Sales Executive | B2B Growth & Market Expansion Expert | Passionate About Strategic Partnerships & Driving Results - Net upvotes: 1 #### Reply 1 <p>An old colleague of mine swore by the Pomodoro technique. For me, it can be challenging because I feel like I don't have much uniformity with what I am working on during any given day. (For example, one day I might be working primarily on one very lengthy project, versus scattering my time between many different things.</p><p>But maybe that is exactly why it would be helpful – forcing me to give my undivided attention to what's most important that day.</p><p>Why do you like Notion out of all of the task management tools?</p> ##### Reply Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: Community Manager | Event Marketer | Metrics Guru ### Comment 4 <p>My routine is kind of similar as yours, sometimes I also struggle with this situation</p> ##### Comment Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: Sales & Marketing Automation Expert | Zapier Expert | Scaling Businesses with Automation & AI - Net upvotes: 1 #### Reply 1 <p>What's your biggest struggle, Mehandi?</p><p>Mine is that I worked at one company for about ten years and really mastered my routine, so I view that as the <em>standard</em>. Logically, it doesn't make any sense that I or anyone else would ever be working at a comparable level of efficiency when only in a role for a few months, but I can't seem shake that subconscious, self-imposed demand.</p> ##### Reply Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: Community Manager | Event Marketer | Metrics Guru ### Comment 5 <p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Hi Brett,</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I’m just like you always trying to figure out ways of being more productive and getting out more from every minute. Unfortunately, my intentions never really translate into reality. I did start using Evernote to help organise my work/life. I’m trying to find an AI app that will help organise my time and tasks/activities more proficiently. It can get disheartening to see that there are so many apps out there in each category and one is always trying to figure out which one is best suited to their everyday needs.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In terms of process-based productivity initiatives, I am obsessed with ensuring that although my inbox is not down to zero, I have to keep it under 25. I’m sure I waste a lot of time during the day trying to achieve that. I am actively trying to stop signing up or subscribing to mailing lists that I never get the time to read. In a counterproductive move, I always feel I am achieving something when I delete emails (that I was never ever going to read anyway).</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I try to eat healthily - avoid carbohydrates, too much sugar and salt, and also avoid artificial colours/sweeteners and other man-made ingredients and eschew eating too regularly and at the wrong times.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I always start the day by completing 8,000 to 9,000 steps just after I wake up. I always do in excess of 10,000 steps everyday. Unfortunately, I don’t do any other exercise, which I really miss from my younger days. I would love to go to the gym regularly and also play team sports, but the amount of time I think I would spend being engaged in such activities really puts me off e.g. driving to the gym (20 minutes), getting changed (10 minutes), working out (45 minutes - 1 hour), warming down (10 minutes), showering (15 minutes), driving back home (20 minutes) which all together takes around 2 and 1/2 hours.</span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p> ##### Comment Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: CISM | CRISC | CEH Cyber Security Professional - Net upvotes: 1 #### Reply 1 <p>I have so many thoughts about this – what a great post!</p><p>It is not hyperbole for me to say that implementing Inbox Zero made the single biggest impact on my career. I started doing it in 2013, and now work communication is much more commonly done through Slack, but the principle remains the same for me: respond to things promptly (not necessarily immediately) and don't ever be the person who just "misses" things. But because it helped me so much, I am always really passionate about the topic whenever it comes up. This will probably not be the last time you see me talking about it on here :) </p><p>(I also am incredibly picky with newsletters I subscribe to and have a lot of filters applied on my inbox.)</p><p>Also, I have heard many knowledgeable people say that if you are going to do one form of exercise, make it consistent walking. So that's great that you are prioritizing that! Do you use a FitBit, an Apple Watch or something else for your step counter?</p><p>As much as I enjoy playing basketball, it comes at a cost as a 40 year old. I have had a slew of nagging injuries over the years and know that my time doing this is limited. And I totally relate to the time it takes out of your day. My gym is about 25 minutes from me, which means I almost never there during the week.</p> ##### Reply Metadata - Posted at: over 1 year ago - Author title: Community Manager | Event Marketer | Metrics Guru ## Related discussions - [How well does Trello scale into a larger team?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/1-how-well-does-trello-scale-into-a-larger-team) - Posted at: about 13 years ago - Comments: 6 - [Can we please add a new section](https://www.g2.com/discussions/2-can-we-please-add-a-new-section) - Posted at: about 13 years ago - Comments: 0 - [Quantifiable benefits from implementing your CRM](https://www.g2.com/discussions/quantifiable-benefits-from-implementing-your-crm) - Posted at: about 13 years ago - Comments: 4