Do you have a shit ton of tasks on your shoulders and you don't know where to start? Or maybe you're locking in every single day and still feel like you're not making any progress..

I'm here to tell you that you're certainly not alone (coming from a final year bachelor's student). Most days, I feel like I'm doing so much yet nothing seems to get actually done. I spend most of my days behind my laptop, working on assignments and my thesis. Now, I have tried to pick up my online business again.

And that's a lot.

However, over time, I’ve developed five habits that have genuinely transformed the way I work. They’ve helped me feel more grounded, more focused, and — finally — like I’m actually making progress instead of just planning to.

And because they’ve made such a difference for me, I’d love to share them with you.

Why do those tips work?

These aren’t the typical “drink more water” or “wake up at 5 AM” kind of tips. They’re simple, practical, and designed for real people with real lives, real distractions, and days when motivation just… isn’t there.

If your to-do list is longer than your attention span, these five productivity hacks will save your day.

Tip #1: Set three priorities

Okay, this one may be a bit basic. But sometimes less is more. Our days have so much more clarity when we set max three (and only three) priorities that are specific, achievable, and simple. If you want, you can do a brainstorm first and pick out three things that are actually important.

Make them as specific as possible; you can even add a time frame that you'll spend on the task. That can be working through exactly one article or answering just one of the questions in your assignment, or writing three emails you've been putting off. Be precise.

Our brains love to finish tasks, so make sure the tasks are somewhat achievable. For instance, in my to-do list today, I wrote down that I'm going to do a simple brainstorm for the bigger project. It wasn't a huge step, but it was achievable, and I got started with the project.

Tip #2: Prioritize rest

Here's a no-brainer: it's almost impossible to make any progress when you're tired. Or fatigued. Or both. First of all, a good night's sleep is important. But it's also important to take breaks between deep focus sessions. I would recommend working max one hour straight and then taking a small break.

If locking in is somewhat difficult for you, I recommend checking out the Pomodoro timer (25 minutes of work, 5 minutes of rest). Over time, you can try making focus time longer, but still make sure to incorporate that rest time. TBH, it's a reminder to myself as well.

Tip #3: Change up the environment

Especially when you work mostly from home. First of all, taking a short walk to the cafe or library can reduce fatigue significantly. Secondly, our brains looove variety. You may find that you can get much more done in a different environment. So next time you have a lot of tasks you need to do, get yourself a cup of coffee and head over to your favorite space to lock in and get it done.

Tip #4: Set early deadlines

That's something I've loved doing since middle school. When I get the assignment, I try to get it done ASAP. And then ... peace. Well, not really, because then I get new ones. But getting things done as early as possible leaves room for other, perhaps bigger projects in the future. And oh boy, how good it feels to submit an essay three weeks before the due date.. Try it out!

Tip #5: Just start...

Oftentimes, we're so obsessed with creating the perfect piece of work. To get things done, we have to start. Stop planning and writing endless to-do lists. Yes, they are helpful, but to a degree. At some point, we have to start putting in the actual work. It's best to start with a small bite. Maybe you have an assignment you've been putting off that would take you 10 minutes to complete. Or maybe you can do a quick 5-minute brainstorm for some bigger project. Just start, without huge expectations for yourself. That's how I lowkey did with this blog post.

The Bottom Line

So these are my tips for you — simple shifts that have worked incredibly well for me and genuinely helped me get more done with less stress. If you try any of them, I’d love to hear how they worked for you. Your wins, your challenges, your thoughts… send them my way!

With love,