Productivity Toolkit 101: Five Free Tools to Get Productive Right NOW!

by Prerna on January 26, 2012

The following post is from Prerna of The Mom Writes:

source:gaby av

Is being more efficient, organized and productive on your goal-list for 2012? Awesome! Don’t want to spend dollars to get your time back? Even better!

Here are 5 seriously effective but totally free tools to help you use your time in an intentional and purposeful way and not be overwhelmed with the busyness of life.

1. No-Do Lists

Last year, we’d talked about no-do lists. Did you make one? Have you used it? If not, revisit it, make it again if needed and put it up in a place where you can see it. Your no-do list costs nothing and will help you FREE up your time instantly.

2. Time Trackers

Want to know how you’re actually spending your time? Use time trackers. They are plenty of free tracking solutions available that can help you “see” where time goes and adjust accordingly. While you don’t have to get all obsessive about tracking seconds and minutes, it always helps to know whether you’re using your time productively or not.

3. Smartphone Applications

I love my Android. Not because it looks sleek and smart (that’s nice, too!), but because it helps me to do SO much more without getting overwhelmed and exhausted. I use the Google calendar to plan my day, the Kindle application to read on the go, the Allrecipes apps for looking up dinnertime ideas, my Dropbox apps to access important documents while I’m waiting for my toddler at her playschool. Here are some more favorite Droid apps that help me reclaim my time and still achieve my goals. Bottomline: If you have a smartphone, use it smartly and your time will always be yours.

4. Free Time Management and Productivity eBooks

Learning from others is a fantastic way to be more organized and productive. And because the Internet is filled with generous souls, there are plenty of tried and tested time management and productivity eBooks available for FREE! Download a few, make notes, use the tips and watch your year be the most productive ever.

5. Visual Reminders

They say, “seeing is believing”. I believe seeing is doing. When you see a reminder, you tend to act on it. So, whatever be your productivity goal, write it up and put it up where you’d need it the most. For instance, mine is on my laptop and it says, “Stop FB’ing and Start Working”.

Do you have a productivity toolkit that helps to get things done and frees up your time? What’s in it?

	Prerna Malik is a mom, a wife, a writer and woman who believes in being postively productive, parenting with love and creating a home that invites you to put your feet up and relax. Find her sharing her journey and experiences with productivity and parenting at The Mom Writes.

http://shellywildman.net Shelly W.

Awesome ideas! I especially liked the “Never leave a room empty handed” tip. Now, if only I could get the rest of my family to comply . . .

http://orgjunkie.com Orgjunkie

Yes that’s always the tricky part…consistently remind them and hopefully eventually your perseverance will pay off
http://yourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

Hehe, that’s always the challenge, right?
Tracycoville

So true everyone should be helping i swear the kids are tone deaf to my voice!

Anonymous

Wonderful post! I’m not an organizing junkie by any means but I do tend to keep things pretty orderly. I already employ a few of these tips and I think the rest may help me out even more

http://orgjunkie.com Orgjunkie

That’s awesome Sarah!

Michelle

These are great tips! I keep an binder with separate to-do lists as they relate to the house and it really helps! When I have some down time I can see what needs to be done, but best of all I don’t have to try to remember everything. I love your idea for the shelf by the front door. So many times I forget to return things to people, even when I see them often!

http://givingstuffaway.blogspot.com/ incurable hippie

I also like the ‘never leave a room empty-handed’ one, I could gain a lot if I used that one myself.

I also totally agree that lists should be detailed. The sense of achievement when you can cross off lots of items is brilliant!

http://orgjunkie.com Orgjunkie

Such a great feeling for sure!
http://yourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

Yep — raise your hand if you’ve ever added something to a list just so you
could cross it off!

Tracycoville

I do that all of the time!lol

http://creatingdaysofbliss.blogspot.com/ Cassie

These are some really great tips. I especially like the idea of a donation area and adding to it everyday!
http://orgjunkie.com Orgjunkie

It really takes the pressure off trying to remember everything. So many people try to keep it all in their head but eventually it’s just too much.

Anonymous

About the list: mine is always pages long. I find the one task that is most difficult or most time consuming or the one I least want to do, AND DO THAT FIRST!
After this first difficult, lengthy, unpleasant task is done, I concentrate on some of the minor tasks for a few days as a reward!

I do it this way because it is so much easier and more gratifying to do 20 small things than any of the big things – that’s why they don’t get done. The big things are always put off to last, and sometimes, not done at all. Then I get overwhelmed.

When I start with something big, I can look back at my last accomplishment and encourage myself to tackle another big task next week.

http://orgjunkie.com Orgjunkie

I do something similar…I take a look at my list and pick the top three to-do’s for the day…after that anything I do is gravy

http://creatingdaysofbliss.blogspot.com/ Cassie

These are some really great tips. I especially like the idea of a donation area and adding to it everyday!

http://orgjunkie.com Orgjunkie

It really does help!!

http://www.ivonneloving.blogspot.com Ivonne Loving

Hi Laura! Great to see you here! There is something I would like to add. As a woman, wife and mom I tend to think I can do it all. This is a very wrong assumption! Healthy and loving families do things together, this includes chores. My three year old helps me prep dinners and my husband is on clean up duty. While my husband cleans up the kitchen, I get to have floor time and education time with my three year old (I work away from home so I don’t get enough time with my son). We work as a team. If I were to do it alone, I would be very very tired and lonely. Home management is way to important responsibility to bear alone.

http://orgjunkie.com Orgjunkie

Yes you are absolutely right. In my house we all pitch in, it’s the only way to get it all done. I’m not the only one making the mess in this house so we all have to do our share. I haven’t cleaned toilets myself in years thanks to my lovely daughter
http://yourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

Great reminder, Ivonne! I’d also add that it can be a lot more fun when
everybody’s involved too!

http://www.organized-living-solutions.com Jutta

I love tip no 7! will implement it straight away. A lovely day to all of you, Jutta

http://orgjunkie.com Orgjunkie

You too Jutta!

http://profiles.google.com/fsarah09 sarah siddique

Thanks for sharing

http://orgjunkie.com Orgjunkie

You’re welcome!

Kim @ Homesteaders Heart

Very simple ideas my friend. I like to walk around with my eyes closed and pretend it’s not there. LOL!

http://orgjunkie.com Orgjunkie

LOL…I do that with my kid’s rooms

http://tmandcompany.blogspot.com Tiffany

What a great list, I think I will print this out as a daily reminder! Keeping organized can be a lot easier than we think!

http://orgjunkie.com Orgjunkie

Yes I think sometimes we over complicate things which scares us into doing nothing at all. It can be a vicious cycle for sure.

http://kbriankelley.myopenid.com/ K. Brian Kelley

#1 and #2, especially #1 can actually work against you, though. A system like Getting Things Done can help with getting everything down into a system and prioritizing and scheduling things accordingly. However, love the rest of the ideas, especially the Donation Station.

gailllc

I’m by no means a perfect task-manager, but I’ve used GTD and Doing, Doing, Done techniques. I find, for the household, 90% of tasks are either NOT projects or don’t need the complexity of project management, so a simple list works really well. Tasks that need continual tending during the day get a long line of highlighted circles after them (make a lot, don’t calculate how many!), so I reward myself by filling in a circle after everytime I tend that task. Keeps me going back! When you are done for the day, X out the rest of the circles.

http://www.susannesspace.blogspot.com Susanne

I already do a few of these, but I love the idea of the brain dump book. I’m a list gal so that would be really good to get started on. And it would contain all my lists. LOL.
http://SuzanneJackson.WillowHouse.com Suzanne

Thanks for the great tips, Laura — these are the fundamentals that we need to be reminded of, aren’t they! When I saw the one about making detailed lists, I wondered why I don’t do this more — I certainly did it daily when I had an away-from-home job! And the attitude tip resonated with me, as well.

Don’t remember how I first saw your Organizing Junkie, but I sure have enjoyed it. I’ve been sharing it with folks on Facebook and my blog, too! After the readers get a handle on these fundamentals, they might enjoy a couple of posts I wrote on combining decorating and organizing:

http://willowhousewelcome.blogspot.com/2011/03/tip-3-control-clutter.html

http://willowhousewelcome.blogspot.com/2011/03/tip-2-think-outside-box.html

Thanks again!
Mommy_to2kiddos

Hey Laura!!
I post regularly on your blog “Organizing Junkie”. Love this post you put here as a guest. I have learned so much from you and have implemented many of your tips already. Today I took maybe 20 minutes to empty, clean, purge, and reorganize them. Thank you!!

http://orgjunkie.com Orgjunkie

Yay, you are doing so awesome!!

http://twitter.com/ClosetWorldCA ClosetWorld

These are wonderful ideas. I especially like the dont leave the room empty handed and creating a donation station. I think it is good to donate things to charity.

Estelle

I too like the 4th point in particular, about not leaving the room emptyhanded .. ! I have just allowed so much clutter to accumulate around me that I find myself feeling more and more overwhelmed when I look at what needs sorting out! NOW, I have a constructive plan going forward, starting from tomorrow morning when I get out of bed, and that is .. “DON’T LEAVE THE ROOM EMPTYHANDED”.
What great advice … and oh! so practical!
For the first time I feel as if I can tackle my “mountain” .. I’m inSPIRED!!!

http://orgjunkie.com Orgjunkie

So great! One step at a time and you can get there!

http://savingbymaking.com Diana

I love the 10-minute tidy before bed! That is one thing that has started saving my sanity when it comes to keeping the house relatively presentable. I like the idea of having a list notebook–that way you’re not always losing the lists! Once I use up my pads of paper I’ll definitely be implementing that.
http://profiles.google.com/byufamily Mary Johanson

Laura – I love how positive and up-beat you are! You don’t make any of these things seem like a drudgery, which is awesome.

http://yourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

Have you read her new book? It’s got the exact same tone, which makes it a
really fun read!

http://orgjunkie.com Orgjunkie

Thanks Mandi!

http://orgjunkie.com Orgjunkie

Ahhh thanks Mary, so nice…thank you! That really is the best compliment to me

http://petulaw.blogspot.com Petula

These are great tips. I tried the notebook list at one point, but I see now why it failed ’cause I didn’t merge it with my calendar. Every night I try to shut down the house by cleaning, straightening and putting away, but I do way more than 10 minutes! And, I’m proud to say, I’ve been trying to remember the don’t leave the room empty handed rule. But my memory doesn’t always allow me to.
http://www.lifelovegreen.com Amber

This is great! I need the I’m out of here shelf….I have just the spot for it, thanks for the idea!
Jackie Munger

I do my 10 minute tidy-up after I put my 5 month-old to bed every night. This way, I can sit and relax in a (relatively) clutter-free living room with my husband for a few minutes before moving on to washing the dinner dishes or baby bottles, folding laundry or checking email.
Chelseapowers

I use empty the sink/counters and run the dishwasher before bed, so making breakfast is a smooth procedure (I’m not a morning person). I also have s donation box going at all times. I really like the idea of a staging area for things to take with you. That might be my next step. Thanks for the great ideas!
http://twitter.com/momfood Serene

Great ideas. Thanks.
http://profiles.google.com/kissingthejoy Kira McKee

This is such a great list! Thanks for all the great ideas. I especially like the notebook tip and the “I’m Outta Here” shelf.
http://profiles.google.com/kissingthejoy Kira McKee

This is such a great list! Thanks for all the great ideas. I especially like the notebook tip and the “I’m Outta Here” shelf.
Stephanie

Wonderful tips! I especially like #9. It’s so refreshing to wake up to a clean sink and non-cluttered house in the morning – such a good way to start the day out right!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZY54QRTP2SAYQY6VFVXCS4KFIU AmandaD

I love the 10 minute tidy before bed. I also do lunches before bed and then get all the things out for breakfast, like toaster, plates, jam and have the milk ready to go for the kids. They can get up and are self sufficient for a little while if I’ve done the preparation the night before. I also do a laundry basket and we go around and pick up items that don’t belong in a room and put them in the basket. Then we return the items to where the do belong. It seems to work better than telling kids to clean a room.

http://yourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

Our routines sound very similar, Amanda!

Bluelunacafe

What a great list!! I love the donation station and adding 5 things a day!!! Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us. The disorganized and cluttered in our minds….and homes.
http://roxanesdays.com Roxane

I just found this on Pinterest and I have to say thank you. This is an exceptionally helpful list!

So “THANK YOU!”

http://yourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

Thanks so much, Roxane!

http://www.spotlesscleaningservicessf.com/ Spotlesscleaning07

These are a few actually big instructions. I particularly similar
to the thought of a gift region and addition to it daily!
Tracycoville

Thanks for the tips I find if my house is not organized or clean my life feels out of control.I have heard this from other woman as well.Men think it is crazy!I have been doing to do lists since I was 10,cant get the day started without it.I have 5 children,still at home I homescool 4 of them.Between housework.schooling,and meals,laundryetc etc it is overwhelming.I try to clean out drawers and closets or whatever at least two a day that way by the end of the month that is 60 things.Big job turned small!

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

Great perspective, Tracy…just a little at a time!

http://www.twilightsolutionsinc.com/ Home Theater Design

I merely wanted to thank you one more time
for that amazing blog you have made here. It is full of ideas for those who are
definitely interested in that subject, primarily this very post.
Bmslove

I have several to do lists for all the different parts of my life. I then put a star next to the three (or so) things that I HAVE to do that day and are not to be put off. Things with deadlines and I don’t end my day until they are done.
Loring

I employ a “worst first” approach to unpleasant tasks. Once the worst is out of the way, the rest is easy. Even if you don’t get the other stuff done, or if the worst thing takes longer than expected, you have a sense of accomplishment.

I read a book a while back (sorry, can’t remember the name) where the main point was making your house “work” for you. For instance, if you have snow, and the kids always drop boots, gloves, coats and hockey sticks by the door no matter how many times you try to change them… maybe you need to look into an armoir or bench by the door or take over the coat closet for their junk. You’ll all be happier. I try to look at my home’s ‘trouble spots’ in this way and figure out how to make that spot work better for everyone. It’s a challenge, but I think it will really help.

Thanks for your encouragement!
Blessings, Loring

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=861720384 Jessica Heffington

very good idea, making your house work for you…thank you.

Loring

Oh, one last thing: When I was a kid, if I left anything in the living room, mom took it until Saturday. I once went to school in slippers because she had all my shoes. Never forgot the shoes again!

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

I love, love, love this! I think we’re gonna have to do this.
Ellen

I think this is an AWESOME idea… Props to your mom!

Guest

I have found that if I take a few minutes before I go to bed to go over my to-do list and plan my day that I get a lot more done. If I already know what is most important to accomplish, then I don’t waste time trying to remember all the things that needed to get done. It helps me focus and not forget important tasks, big or small.

gailllc

I keep a pad of sticky notes and a pen at my bedside so I can make note of anything I think of at night. Then the sticky note can just get stuck onto my planner page.

http://www.naturallittlemother.com ~Natural Little Mother~

Thank you for the great ideas. I am going to start right away.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=574674736 Lisa Burgess

Oh my goodness! You have no idea how much this is going to change my life! I absolutely can’t wait to implement EVERY item on your list. I especially love the donation box and the chores for the children to do. Of course they can do it!!!!
Thank you and bless your little cotton socks! ;o)
Sarah

Found on Pinterest and adding to my boards – fantastic ideas – thanks! Donation Station appearing in our house in January x

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

How fun, Sarah — thanks so much for repinning!

Lexiesmom

I live in a studio. Being organized is essential. My closet is so small it only has room for one seasn at a time. Its essential to life to stay organized, amazing to me how many people live in houses yet cannot organize.
Oceanspirit

In addition-if you get a po box at the post office, you bring 75% less paper into yiour house as they have recycle bins. I open all mail, dump envelopes and junk at PO. Only paper that enters my house is essential and goes right into a organized area for paperwork. At the end of the month shred all paperwork from that month that is not to be kept in a file. Drop magazines and newspapers, , they are just clutter, kills trees and all can be read online. . Stop the paper madness by getting all bills online delivered to your inbox. Thenn you pay them right away and have no pending bills.
I put books only in a bookcase or bedside table. I keep a tote bag by the front door, everything to go out to the car the next day goes in it. My purse is organized and kept that way every day by checking it when I get home. I have a rule that everything must be in its place after use, that way nothing is ever out of place.
Keys and sunglassess, cell phone go in same place all the time. Keys go on a hook by the front door as soon as I walk in the house.

I keep list for each and every day and take them with me. One list for the day, one for the week and one for the month. Then I keep a list of goals to work on on my home desk.
Computers-get a plastic bin, wrap all your computer cords -and computer equiptment, phone cords, mp3 equiptment etc and label them. Keep it in a in house closet so you can reach it when necessary. Get a external hard drive with a terabite of storage. Download anything essential from your computer to your hard drive. No need for papers on your desk ifyou have a scanner. Scan important papers and file them. Now everything essentail is safe on your extternal which frees up your hard drive.

Kitchen organization is easy. Use the same cup, same bowl , same cook pot every day. Keep a beauitful tablescape on your table so you do not have to set the table. I keep the cook pot I use every day on the stove, then you never have to bother with getting things out of cupboards.
I grocery shop only once a month except for fruit. Keep the amount of unused items in Kitchen to a minumum. Its easy for me as I do not use dairy products or meat, so grocery items are limited.

Closet-Keep one season at a time. Hang all colors , sleeve length and types together. Then you can reach in and grab what you need. I bought a tall chest and put all scarves, socks and undies in it folded up in their own drawer. Its so easy to grab what you need and stay organized. Closet is purged every season so only current season is in house. Easy to get dressed and stay organized.

What worked for me is downsizing 2 years ago after moving 4 times in less then 3 years. I got rid of over half my belongings. I only keep what is essential and I purge every month even more. Give away every month to a local thrift store. Being organized has given me more time in life to enjoy life and my home. Its the only way to live. Great blog!

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

Wow, so many great tips here! Thanks for sharing!
Grace

These are great tips! I want to add that if you put your files on an external hard-drive, they aren’t actually backed up (& therefore safe) unless you also keep another (digital) copy–either on your primary hard drive, burned to a DVD/CD, or on an additional external hard drive. This is important because most external hard drives will eventually fail!
Rhama

Very good tips. Will start implementing them right away!

http://makeithappenmama.blogspot.com/ Emily @ Make It Happen Mama

I love the idea of a No-Do list! I have a short Do-Later list right now: I have about five big boxes of things to scan & recycle, so I’m not allowing myself to do any sewing until that is finished. It’s hard, I’ve had the sewing bug like crazy the last few months, but it’s definitely getting my rear in gear with the scanning!
Pingback: One Simple Prodouctivity Tool That Won’t Cost You a Dime + Link Love | Jill of Many Trades
Celia

I don’t touch the mail more than once. For example, on my way in from the mailbox I throw junk mail into the trash, take bills and put them in the Thursday folder (I pay all bills on Thursday), Put everything that I want to read into my In Box, and open all cards right away. On Tuesday, while I’m doing laundry, I read and toss. I don’t open bills until I’m ready to pay them on Thursday.

Rhama

Same with me. I get rid of junk mail before I enter the house.

Jamie

I love love love all these ideas! Especially the ‘donation station’! My question is – I know where / how to donate clothes, but what about stuffed animals, childrens’ toys etc? Where can I donate those things? What else can be donated? Thanks!

Jamie
For Love of Cupcakes
http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

Jamie, we take almost all of our donations to a local thrift shop — Goodwill, Salvation Army or one run by our hospital. You could also take stuffed animals, toys, etc to women’s shelters. Hope that helps!
Cyndi Cook Travis

Great Ideas, I especially liked the “i’m outta here” shelf, I will be added that….
Holyhormones

I’m having great success in 2012 with keeping a laundry basket in the front hallway (I live alone so it’s not bothering anyone) for stuff to be given away/donated. Finally getting serious about weeding out books and craft supplies that realistically I won’t use—-and I find tha the less clutter there is in my house (especially with the craft supplies) the more creative I am! Very good tips—–happy spring!
Andrea, Cornelis, NC
Marcymom3

This is really great advice. (Yay, found you on Pinterest!!) One other little minor addition is to try to get everyone’s clothes lined up for the week sometime over the weekend. The sweater stackers that hang from the closet rod work really well for the kids. Include everything from underwear to accessories. This saves a lot of scrambling around in the morning. Also, keep an “emergency” outfit there just in case. (Think rainy morning and an exuberant puppy. This is a great time use your 5 items for donation station idea! LOVE IT.
http://shellywildman.net Shelly W.

Awesome ideas! I especially liked the “Never leave a room empty handed” tip. Now, if only I could get the rest of my family to comply . . .