Not so long ago, I constantly felt like my mind was in a hundred places at once. I’d sit down to tackle a project, but before long I’d be wandering around the internet, glancing at my phone, or rearranging my desk for the thousandth time.
My to-do list would stare back at me, tasks half-complete, and I’d wonder, “Why can’t I just focus?”
I reached a point where enough was enough. So I began experimenting with small tweaks to my daily life—trying out routines, exploring new ideas, and paying attention to my energy levels. Over time, I pieced together a handful of changes that made a massive difference in my productivity.
Below are the seven hacks that helped me go from scattered to (mostly) locked in.
They might just do the same for you.
01 Start the day with a single priority
This was the first big turnaround for me. Instead of waking up and going straight to my email or scrolling mindlessly, I began asking myself one simple question each morning: “What’s the most important thing for me to accomplish today?”
It could be finishing a draft of an article, prepping for a meeting, or even taking care of an errand that’s been haunting me. The trick is to define it clearly and make it my main focus before moving on to anything else.
I can’t remember where I first heard about this “daily highlight” approach—possibly in one of the many productivity books I’ve flipped through—but the concept felt natural.
By zeroing in on one crucial task, I’d feel a sense of progress that set a positive tone for the rest of the day. Plus, finishing that one task early often freed me up to tackle the smaller stuff without the usual mental baggage.
If you find your days slipping away with nothing memorable to show, try nailing down a single must-do. Trust me, this one move alone can transform your entire workday.
02 Embrace deep work moments
As noted by Cal Newport, author of the phenomenal Deep Work: “The ability to perform deep work is becoming increasingly rare at exactly the same time it is becoming increasingly valuable in our economy.”
That line hit me like a ton of bricks the first time I read it.
Before that, I didn’t realize how often I’d let random notifications or idle distractions break my concentration. I’d be cruising along writing, then get a text message, respond out of habit, and end up checking social media. Next thing I knew, 15 minutes had slipped by—and so had my momentum.
And it’s not just me. Research suggests that it takes an average of 23 minutes to refocus after being distracted.
Anyway, I decided to carve out blocks of uninterrupted time, where I’d silence my phone, close unnecessary tabs, and let people in my life know I wasn’t available for that window. It’s not easy, especially if you’re used to being constantly reachable, but it’s powerful.
In these deep work sessions, my mind feels clearer, my ideas flow better, and I accomplish two to three times what I used to.
Now, I view deep work like a sacred ritual. If there’s a big deadline looming or a complicated project that demands my full attention, I schedule an hour or two of “deep focus” to push it forward. It’s not about being a hermit; it’s about giving your brain the environment it needs to thrive.
03 Use time-blocking to structure the day
Time-blocking has been a game-changer for me, to say the least. What do I mean by this?
Well, instead of keeping a to-do list full of endless tasks, I create blocks on my calendar dedicated to specific activities. From 9:00 to 10:00, I’ll work on drafting an outline. From 10:00 to 10:30, I’ll respond to emails. From 10:30 to 11:30, I’ll do deeper research or reading.
When I first tried it, I wasn’t sure if it would feel too rigid. But ironically, giving myself structure gave me more freedom. I found that by mentally assigning each task a certain “time slot,” I wasn’t stressing about when or how I’d get it done. The clock told me what to do and when to switch gears.
I’ve mentioned this before in a previous post, but time-blocking also forces you to be realistic with how long something actually takes. In the past, I’d say, “Oh, I’ll just get that done sometime in the afternoon.” Then the afternoon would evaporate.
Now, seeing it in my schedule helps keep me honest—and yes, I move blocks around occasionally when things come up, but the structure remains.
04 Declutter your workspace
When I first got into minimalist living, I quickly discovered how much my environment impacted my state of mind. I used to have random papers, sticky notes, and knickknacks everywhere. Every time I glanced around, I’d get this subtle sense of overwhelm.
So I purged most of the junk, stored away essentials, and kept only what I needed on my desk: my laptop, a notepad, a pen, and maybe a glass of water or cup of coffee. The mental clarity that came with a tidy, distraction-free space was incredible. It’s like my brain could finally breathe.
As Marie Kondo famously said, “The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live.” I might not fold my socks into perfect squares like she does, but the principle is similar: make your workspace a reflection of the calm you want to feel.
Trust me on this this one. If you find yourself burying your head in clutter, try clearing it out. It sounds simple, but removing physical distractions often goes hand-in-hand with removing mental ones.
05 Practice mindful breaks
It feels counterintuitive, but sometimes the best way to stay productive is to stop working for a bit—deliberately, that is. If I push myself to grind away for hours without a break, I eventually hit a wall. My eyes glaze over, my brain slows to a crawl, and soon enough I’m checking my phone anyway. Sound familiar?
So instead of waiting for those inevitable meltdown moments, I schedule breaks—ideally every 60 to 90 minutes. These breaks aren’t about scrolling through social media. They’re about stepping away to breathe, stretch, or take a walk. Sometimes I’ll do a quick set of push-ups or jot down a few lines in my journal. Other times, I’ll just stare out the window and let my mind wander.
As Kendra Cherry noted in a Very Well Mind post, “Researchers have found that even taking very brief breaks by shifting your attention elsewhere can dramatically improve mental focus.”
The trick is not letting a quick break spiral into a longer distraction. Keep it intentional, keep it short, and then dive back in with renewed energy.
06 Say “no” more often
There’s a quote I jotted down from Greg McKeown’s book Essentialism: “If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will.” That line alone changed how I handled my schedule.
I used to say “yes” to nearly every request, meeting, or favor. Next thing I knew, I had no time or energy left for my own priorities.
Now, I’m more protective of my time. I don’t want to be rude, but I’ve realized that respectfully declining certain invitations or tasks is sometimes the only way to guard my focus. If a meeting isn’t crucial or an invite doesn’t align with my goals, I politely pass. If I can’t fully commit to a new project, I’d rather say no than deliver mediocre work.
Of course, this doesn’t mean never helping others or collaborating. But there’s a big difference between being helpful and sacrificing your own sanity.
Whenever a request lands in my inbox, I weigh whether it’s truly worthwhile. If it isn’t, I channel the subtle art of saying “no”—and it’s amazing how much more time and mental space that frees up.
07 Last but not least, maintain a daily log
I’ve long been a fan of journaling, but I used to do it more for introspection than productivity.
What changed was the idea of using my journal as a progress tracker. Each evening, I write down what I achieved, any hurdles I faced, and how I felt about the day overall.
It’s a simple practice, but the insights can be huge. For starters, it helps me see patterns—maybe I’m always running out of steam around mid-afternoon, or maybe I notice that on days I start with exercise, I’m more focused. Tracking this stuff helps me refine my routines.
There’s also a motivational boost in reviewing your daily wins. Even if I had a rough day, I can find at least one small victory to highlight. Over time, those small daily wins stack up and remind me that I’m making progress, even if it’s not always obvious in the moment.
Some people use fancy productivity apps for this, but I prefer old-fashioned pen and paper. There’s something grounding about physically writing out my reflections.
If you’ve never tried a daily log, I suggest giving it a shot for a couple of weeks. You might be surprised at what you learn about your own work habits.
To sum up
Finding focus in a world full of distractions is an uphill battle for most of us.
I know what it’s like to feel scattered and unproductive. But once I embraced these seven hacks—prioritizing my tasks each day, protecting deep work moments, time-blocking, decluttering my workspace, scheduling mindful breaks, saying “no” when necessary, and logging my progress—my productivity shifted dramatically.
I’m not perfect, and some days still get derailed. But I’ve come a long way from the person who bounced from one distraction to another without getting anything significant done.
If you’re feeling that same frustration, I encourage you to try at least one of these strategies. You don’t have to do all seven at once—picking just one to start can yield real results.
And remember, productivity isn’t about filling every moment with tasks. It’s about doing the right things in the right way, so you can make room for what truly matters in your life. If you ask me, that’s a goal worth pursuing.
Keep on the up and up.
