Some of you fellow Productivity Ninjas out there will recognize our latest interviewee. Jessica doesn’t only write brilliant blog posts for us, but is also our Logistics Manager for the UK. If you’ve booked one of our Time Management Workshops with us before, you’ve probably had the pleasure to chat all things logistics with Jess. This time, she shares her productivity tips with us and even though she might not call herself productive – we can vouch for her being an amazing Productivity Ninja, but see for yourselves…
Occupation: Logistics Manager
Company: Think Productive
Location: Brighton
Other job titles in life: Editor, Blogger, Foodie lover, Wannabe globe trotter
What’s important about your workspace?
It has to be tidy! I’m horribly messy at home but I can’t get started with any work, at home or in the office, until my workspace is uncluttered. If I’m working from home I have been known to clean the whole house before sitting down and getting on with it.
Which ninja characteristic have you got nailed the most?
Stealth and camouflage. I’ve learnt to notice that some big rocks I’ll always put off if I attempt to do them in the office as I can always find a distraction. I work best on these big rocks when I take myself to a coffee shop and use the app Freedom to block my social media sites and force myself to do it.
Which ninja characteristic are you still working on the most?
Ruthlessness – I find it really hard to say no and automatically say YES whenever I’m asked if I can do anything. I’m slowly but surely getting better at this, but it’s got to be the hardest one for me.
Which five apps could you not live without?
My Google Calendar so my partner and I can sync our diaries and always know what we’ve got planned.
VSCO as my photo editing software, I’m obsessed with it.
Buffer to schedule all my tweets.
Can I put all my social media apps too?…
The calculator! I’m hopeless with everything and anything numbers related.
What’s your favorite piece of stationery?
My 2016-2017 planner, it’s been a godsend. I never usually stick with one diary but this is a keeper.
When in the day do you have the most proactive attention?
In the afternoon, right after lunch. I know this is uncommon and most people slump in the afternoon but I have always been a night owl. If I could I’d start at midday and finish around 8-9pm, those are my most productive hours.
What’s your trick for when you’re tired or struggling with attention in the day?
I do some little mindless tasks to trick myself into feeling super productive, this usually helps me progress into some of my bigger rocks for the day.
What’s your best advice for reducing stress?
Take a time out, get some fresh air, have a cuppa. Do a big old brain dump and write everything you need to remember down and then put that into your second brain tool, I tell people to do this all the time!
What’s your email regime?
I do open email as soon as I get onto my laptop, then I check my email sporadically throughout the day. As most of my work is email based and client facing, I do need to be able to know when emails have come through but I know that unless it’s an emergency, I don’t have to reply straight away.
What’s your favorite way to take a break in the middle of the day?
Grabbing something to eat, making a cup of tea or reading an interesting article.
What’s the secret to your productivity?
There is no secret! I just make sure my diary and my second brain tool is up to date so I don’t have to hold anything in my head and can get stuff done. I wouldn’t even call myself very productive!
Have any questions for Jess? Leave a comment below or get in touch @thinkproductive
By Hannah Urbanek