Focus and productivity are constantly at the forefront of every business owner’s mind, especially those with socially conscious businesses or non-profits. Every dollar matters, and as the old saying goes, “time is money,” so being focused on efficient productivity is key for a young, socially conscious business or non-profit to be able to maintain solid profit margins and make the most impact. Here are some really great tips to help you stay focused and on track for one of your most productive months yet!

1 | Try out a new workflow style.

A new style for organizing your workflow is sweeping the internet. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s the Pomodoro style. What this entails is selecting a task, setting a timer (usually 25 minutes), finish the task, and crossing it off your list. If you accomplish less than four tasks in the predetermined time, take a short break (3-5 minutes). If you have more than four tasks completed, take a longer break (20-30 minutes).

The point in this working style is to show that your brain needs a break. You need time to breathe in order to give the next task the complete, undivided attention that it deserves.

There are some really great tools out there for giving this new productivity trend a try:

• Tomato Timer – 25 minute work periods and pre-set short/long breaks built in
• Marinara Timer – Set custom timers designed for your team’s specific needs
• Classic Timer – Having a good ole classic timer can’t be beat. No more internet distractions

2 | Prioritize your to-do list but do quick things first.

Productivity is clearly linked with personal intention. Before you dive into any work for your day, it’s important to think about what must get done that day, versus what should get done that day versus what could get done.

By prioritizing your action items, you are able to effectively tackle them while managing your workload and minimizing your risk of overload.

When you do your quick wins like “send Jane Doe an email” or “Input tasks in Asana,” you are able to cross things off right away and feel more accomplished.

You can use this feeling of accomplishment to motivate you as you move onto the more difficult or timely tasks.

3 | Set up your schedule for the day ahead of time.

Once you have your to-do list set and you’re comfortable in your workflow style, it’ll be most helpful for you to set up your schedule to reflect the day’s objectives. Allocate your time and schedule breaks to avoid burnout. In doing this ahead of time, you’ll be able focus your attention and increase your productivity.

Within your digital calendar (Gmail, Outlook, etc.), it can help to set up the blocks of time with the task and notes that apply to the task so that as you move throughout the day; you can get reminders for when it’s time to move to the next task.

Just like budgeting and financial planning takes time to train your brain, you have to train your brain for workflows, but even more so for concentration. The more you practice, the better you’ll get at fully allocating your attention to a task and getting it done in an allotted amount of time.

What’s your ideal day? Can you bring that to reality with organization and increased productivity?