• Home
  • About
  • Work with Me
  • SUBSCRIBE!
  • BEST ONLINE SHOPPING
  • youtube
  • Contact Me

Baby Boomster

Active Women Over 50

WALK AND EARN YOUR BRACELET
  • Read About >>
  • Fashion/Beauty
  • Travel
    • General Travel
    • Los Angeles Travel
  • Wellness
  • Fitness Over 50
  • Lifestyle
  • Recipes
  • Interviews
You are here: Home / Baby Boomers - Women Over 50 / Career-reinvention-retirement / How to Be More Productive and Get Things Done
Privacy Policy This post may contain affiliate links for products I recommend. If you purchase, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

How to Be More Productive and Get Things Done

January 16, 2021 by Rebecca Forstadt-Olkowski 8 Comments

Being productive hasn’t exactly been my strong point in the last few years. I’ve had a ton of distractions and challenges but other times I’ve just been lazy. Despite being somewhat consistent, I feel like my results have been mediocre and I plan to change that.

I’ve given up on making New Year’s resolutions. They always seem silly and I forget them almost immediately. Does that happen to you? I find that having some structure helps and I tend to be more productive if I have them in place.

Be more productive

Set your office hours

Even if you’re retired, you should still set office hours for the tasks you want to accomplish whether it’s an art project, making sourdough bread, or working on a business opportunity. I find it’s helpful to go to bed and wake up at regular hours that are in alignment with your body’s circadian rhythm. Some of us are morning larks and others are night owls.

I love mornings so I go to bed around 11 pm and wake up at 6:30 am almost every day.  Sometimes I wake up at odd hours if I’m stressed about something but I find that having a regular sleep schedule regulates my sleep patterns and gives me more energy throughout the day.

My most productive time is early after a cup of coffee and some exercise. Then, I’m usually good until late afternoon when I’m ready to turn myself into a couch potato.

Keep your goals in front of you

Some people are avid list makers but I’m not. It must be the Sagittarius in me. However, I found a cool app that sits on the desktop of my computer called Microsoft to Do. It reminds me of tasks I need to do that I would otherwise forget.

Scraps of paper lying around or cluttered bulletin boards that get messy makes me nuts. With Microsoft to Do, I check off a radio button when I’ve completed a task and it keeps my desk clean.

I find that clutter in my workspace clutters up my mind. You may work differently. Some people love physical planners, whiteboards, and sticky notes but I’m more of an electronic type of girl.

Work with a calendar

Google Calendar is my go-to online calendar to keep me organized. It syncs to my phone, other devices, and gives me notifications for meetings and other appointments. You can color-code events if you want. You can also share your schedule with others you are working with. Your calendar goes with you wherever you go on your phone without taking up space in your purse. Google Calendar also integrates with a myriad of other apps like Zoom, Eventbrite, and Meetup.

Never forget an appointment

An app I love that integrates with my Google Calendar is Once Hub’s Schedule Once online scheduler. It allows clients and others I want to network with book appointments with me. All they do is click a link or button in my email or on my website and they are taken to see what times I am available. Then they can choose a date and time that coincides with their schedule.

Once they book a time, the appointment automatically gets entered on my Google Calendar with all the details. I have it integrated with Zoom as well and the person I’m meeting with receives a unique meeting link. We also both receive reminder notifications.  

Schedule Once makes it hard for me to miss an appointment or double book them on my calendar. I just need to remember to enter things I’m doing like go to the dentist or drive time so it knows when I’m available.

In addition to Google calendar, Schedule Once also works with Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Go to Meeting, Cisco Webex Meetings, Microsoft Outlooks, Office 365, and iCloud Calendar, Salesforce, Infusion Soft, Gmail, Zapier, and Paypal.

Turn off counter-productive distractions

This is a challenge for me because I’m easily distracted. Now that we all carry smartphones around with us wherever we go, I have to discipline myself not to respond to messages every time I hear a ding.

It’s best to set specific times to watch TV or check our phones. You can always set ring tones for important people you need to talk to right away or turn off unnecessary notifications. The world will go on without us, believe me.

All work and no play will make you less productive

As older adults, we don’t have to work ourselves to death anymore. But no matter how old you are, it’s important to incorporate enjoyment into your day. Taking time to play makes you more creative and keeps you connected to your environment. Take a walk to clear your head, work in your garden, talk to family, play with your pet, take a virtual travel experience, take online classes, or whatever else gives you pleasure.

It’s a balancing act

Adding fun to your day is important but don’t use it as an excuse to procrastinate. How many times have you said you’re going to write a book or refurbish an old chair and then never get to it because you find every reason in the world not to? We’ve all been there, right?

Keep track of business expenses with Freshbooks, by clicking here.

Have you found yourself to be less productive or more productive these days? What has helped you get more things done? Please leave a comment below.

Share this post:

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn

Filed Under: Career-reinvention-retirement Tagged With: business, goals, mental health, Self Improvement

Post Updates

See my favorite books on Amazon here!

Listen to popular audiobooks without subscription fees with Chirp!

Comments

  1. carol cassara says

    January 17, 2021 at 3:46 pm

    There is a lot of good advice … thank you

    Reply
    • Rebecca Forstadt-Olkowski says

      January 18, 2021 at 8:13 am

      Thanks, Carol. Glad you liked it.

      Reply
  2. Diane says

    January 18, 2021 at 7:55 am

    Love this, Rebecca!
    I especially need to get rid of distractions! I am the ‘distracted-est’ person. And it seems to be getting worse as I age. Sigh.

    Reply
    • Rebecca Forstadt-Olkowski says

      January 18, 2021 at 8:14 am

      I know what you mean, Diane. It’s so easy to do.

      Reply
  3. Meryl says

    January 18, 2021 at 4:49 pm

    I thought staying home more would mean less distractions, but that has not happened. I have to be mo disciplined and motivated, always a challenge.

    Reply
    • Rebecca Forstadt-Olkowski says

      January 19, 2021 at 7:46 am

      I hear you on that, Meryl. I’ve always worked from home and there are endless distractions like dishes to be done, and other mundane things.

      Reply
  4. Jennifer says

    January 18, 2021 at 6:20 pm

    It is a balancing act and you know I like to keep my goals in front of me. I use a vision board and to-do lists because I do like to write my list each day.

    Reply
    • Rebecca Forstadt-Olkowski says

      January 19, 2021 at 7:47 am

      It’s good that you do, Jennifer. We are all different in that regard.

      Reply

Leave a comment and tell us what you think Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome to Baby Boomster!

Rebecca Olkowski

I’m Rebecca an over 60, Los Angeles-based travel and lifestyle, blogger

I created Baby Boomster for active older women who are not ready for a rocking chair, but are ready to ROCK and enjoy life! Aging is an attitude. It’s all about how you choose to react to it. Read more about me here

  • Rebecca@babyboomster.com
  • Let’s Collaborate
  • Writer’s Guidelines
  • Subscribe to Post Updates Here
  • What I Recommend on Amazon

Los Angeles resident or traveler?

Visit my Los Angeles travel blog BoominginLA.com here.

Best Online Shopping sites

Thinking of starting your own blog? Read this first.

CVS CarePass: Get your first month free!

If you think you have COVID you can get tested and treated IMMEDIATELY with the government’s Test to Treat Program. Click here

Latest Posts

  • What Do Women Over Sixty Want Out of Life?
  • The Appalling State of Women’s Rights
  • For the Biome: Immunity Support Iced Tea Review
  • The Best Diet Plan for Older Adults Who Are Foodies
  • The 70s on the Sunset Strip – A Reminiscence
  • How to Thrive as an Empty Nester
  • Why Balance Exercises are Essential as You Age
  • Sensationalism in the News is Not New
  • The Most Attractive House Dresses for Older and Stylish Women
  • Is Your Dentist Taking Advantage of Your Medicare Plan?

Contact Info

  • About Baby Boomster
  • Send a message
  • Media Kit
  • Writer’s Guidelines

…………………………………………..

Rebecca Forstadt Olkowski
rebecca@babyboomster.com
Los Angeles,  CA 91001

Honors and Awards

Top 100 Baby Boomer blogs

Search for a topic

Legal Stuff You Need to Know

  • Disclaimer
  • Disclosure
  • Please read my Privacy and Cookie Policy

Rebecca Olkowski is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to BabyBoomster.com. Other affiliations are listed HERE.

INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK |  LINKEDIN |  PINTEREST |  TWITTER |  YOUTUBE | IMDB


BabyBoomster.com is a travel, food, wellness, entertainment, and lifestyle blog for Baby Boomer women over 50. | Los Angeles, California

Copyright Ⓒ 2011 - 2022  | BabyBoomster.com  |  All Rights Reserved

Privacy and Cookie Policy