3 Hacks to become more productive
Tags: productivity, mentalhealth
Published: 2021-02-26 12:06:06

---
title: 3 Hacks to become more productive
published: true
description: Tips and tricks for becoming more productive and make your office life easier
tags: productivity, mentalhealth
cover_image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1499914485622-a88fac536970?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=MXwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHw%3D&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1950&q=80
---

1. **Use .new links**

    Whenever I come up with a new idea and want to write it down as fast as possible I open a new tab and go to [doc.new](https://doc.new/)
This will bring you to a blank new Google Doc and I can start typing immediately.
Same for when you want to create a new sheets you go to [sheet.new](https://sheet.new/) to get to a blank spreadsheet and can start working immediately.
    Same for forms and slides.
    [form.new](https://form.new/) [slide.new](https://slide.new/)

    Need to create a new github repo? You guessed it! [repo.new](https://repo.new/)

    New playlist in Spotify? [playlist.new](https://playlist.new/)

2. **Categorize your meetings**

    I use Office 365 for my meetings but I imagine your calendar of choice has a similar option. Whenever you create a meeting, tag them with a category that will color highlight them in your calendar view.

    ![Picture of me categorizing a test meeting, making it pink](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/iozx5juao4n4s2swyqh8.png)
    I started using categories to highlight the meetings I was running so I quickly saw whenever I had one that I needed to do extra preparations for. I highlight those in Yellow. I use Orange for my 1on1 meetings and that makes them stand out so I get a better overview of my day and can prepare accordingly.

    Plus it looks a lot brighter!

    Before:
    ![Before picture of my calendar without tags](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/f2qiwj11aid1j4jxd6h1.png)
    After:
    ![After picture of my calendar with tags](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/x58ivorxjrmf6o5uj0k4.png)

3. **Use To do Lists**
    There are several ways to make to-do list.
    It's not only a great way to keep track on all your tasks, it also feels great to tick things off and you feel a sense of progress. Breaking things down into smaller to-do's that I can review and update everyday is what keeps me going.

    I recently got my eyes opened for To Do in Office 365. Often tasks will arrive in my mail and there's a setting you can enable that will automatically create a To Do item whenever you flag a mail. If you remove the flag the To Do will update accordingly, and likewise if you check it off in To Do the flag will be removed in your mail box. **Super neat!**

    **Bonus!** It rings a *success* sound every time you tick something off. Super addictive!

    In my private life I use Trello somewhat like a kanban board for checking off tasks like grocery shopping lists. We're soon moving into a new apartment so of course I have a board for tracking that also. That's how much I love my To Do lists!

    So find a tool that works for you, it will be worth it!


What are your favorite productivity life hacks? Comment and let me know!