Turning to TikTok for productivity tips and tricks sounds ironic. Many of us are guilty of spending time mindlessly scrolling through the app, watching one addictive video after another. However, the popular social media platform plays host to a whole world of widely accessible #productivityhacks. It is a reassuring reminder that achieving one’s work and study goals is not as difficult as they think.

Here are some tried-and-tested hacks that will hopefully inspire you to live by the motto “work smarter, not harder”.

Set realistic goals

mug on a journal

Image: Unsplash

Goal-setting and planning ahead are key, but it is important to ensure that the goals you set are measurable, concise, and achievable. Having unrealistic expectations may result in you feeling stressed and overwhelmed.

Instead of aiming to complete a big project in two days, set milestones and create a timeframe that you can comfortably work with. If you have a list, even better. Start with the easiest and most feasible goal, and gradually work your way down. You’ll be on your way to success in no time!

Follow Parkinson’s Law

person working

Image: Unsplash

The proverb Parkinson’s Law states that work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion. For example, giving yourself a week to complete a one-hour task will make it seem as though the task has become more complex. Some things take less time than you think.

Doing things at your own time, own target may potentially backfire, leaving you to scramble when the actual deadline swings by. You should not make work more stress-inducing than it actually is. Get those email replies out of the way whenever you can and you’ll be worry-free.

Getting more done in less time — don’t we all want that?

Utilise productivity tools

person using a laptop

Image: Unsplash

Working in a team or a start-up? Take advantage of the extensive range of productivity tools available online. Don’t worry, for most of them are widely accessible and affordably priced.

You won’t miss a single word of that important meeting with Otter.ai, a live transcription service for Zoom and Google Meet users. Management tool Fellow functions like Google Docs, but it helps to drive productivity and engagement during team meetings. And with Airtable, you can create applications that help with workflow.

Tools like these can be used alongside productivity apps, which will truly give you the best of both worlds.

Combat procrastination with the Pomodoro technique

timer

Image: Unsplash

If you’re someone who cannot stop procrastinating, give this effective time management method a try. Set a timer and work in intervals of 25 minutes. When the timer rings, take a short break of three to five minutes and repeat. A longer 15-to-30-minute break should be taken every four “pomodoros” (25 minutes).

This technique enables you to break down large projects into smaller manageable tasks and set pesky distractions aside. It is one productivity hack many people, not just TikTok creators, swear by. Time to get focused.

Work on time management

hourglass filled with blue sand

Image: Unsplash

Many of us struggle with time management. If you’ve got a lot on your plate, being smart with your time is a must. You may be familiar with the bestselling self-help book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. The author, Steven Covey, has come up with a time management matrix that prioritises tasks based on importance and urgency.

Tasks are divided into four categories:

  • Urgent and important
  • Urgent and not important
  • Not urgent and important
  • Not urgent and not important

This makes planning for both short and long-term goals a breeze. You don’t even need to draw out your own matrix; there are plenty of templates online for you to choose from. So, what are you waiting for?

Feature image from Unsplash