10 Productivity Hacks for Inventors (That Really Work)

Workload piling up faster than you can chip away at it? If this sounds familiar, then you might need some productivity hacks. Using these ten simple tricks, you’ll be able to turbocharge your work day and get more done than you ever thought possible!

1. Get Some Sleep

You may be tempted to pull that all-nighter to meet a deadline, but from a productivity standpoint, this would be a big mistake. You may get in more hours, but they’ll be less effective than hours where your body’s happy. Sleep deprivation takes a toll on your memory, ability to learn, decision-making and mood. When you’re sleep deprived, you’re more susceptible to negative emotions, and you’ll find it’s harder to escape their grip. You won’t learn as easily, and it’ll be harder to keep your thoughts organized. For an inventor, this combo does not spell success!

2. Utilize To-Do Lists

Ever forget about an important meeting? Had an important task slip your mind? Nothing hurts your productivity more than a poor organizational system. Not only are to-do lists a great way to make sure you get everything done, they allow you to free up your mind for more important concerns. Don’t tie up your working memory with a jumble of small tasks you need to get done – make a list and forget about every task except checking your list! These days, online tools like Todoist let you create digital to-do lists which you can access from your computer or phone, anytime, anywhere.

3. Schedule Your Time

After to-do lists, scheduling is your best friend when it comes to organizing your life. Tools like Google Calendar allow you to schedule your life quickly and easily, as far in advance as you’d like. No need to jam your head full of meetings and appointments you’re bound to get confused – keep it all in one place, and forget about it!

4. Find a Friend to Work With

Inventing is often a solitary pursuit, but for the sake of your productivity, you might want to consider working with a buddy. Having a work partner can help keep you accountable. Psychologically, it’s often easier to let yourself down than to let down a friend. Whether your buddy is a friend, family member or professional colleague, it helps to have another person on board to keep you focused on your goals.

5. Take Breaks

Counter-intuitive as it may sound, taking breaks can help you get more done than powering through without stopping. Breaks can help reset and refresh your mind, preventing burnout and helping you work longer and better quality hours. Time your breaks for when you need them – if you find your mind clouded and your focus drifting, it might be break time. The break should feel like a different “kind of thing” than your regular work. If you work at a computer, consider taking your breaks away from your computer – if you work in a wood shop, leave the physical space of the shop until you’re ready to return to the job.

6. Track Your Time

If you’re someone who makes their own hours, this one is key. You may feel like you’re working 40 hours a week, but try timing yourself and seeing what you’re really clocking – it may be less than you think! The simple act of logging your hours will encourage you to put in more, and to work harder when you’re at the desk. Tools like Hubstaff and TSheets are great for keeping track of hours work. Once you know what you’re putting in, you’ll be in a good position to bring your labour to the next level!

7. Follow the Two Minute Rule

There’s an old productivity trick: If it takes less than two minutes to complete, do it immediately. These kinds of little tasks may not seem like a big deal, but if left undone, they can become demons. This helps de-clutter your life of small undone tasks, letting you focus on the big things.

8. Sign Out from Social Media

Social media can be an incredible time suck. As an experiment, try timing how much time you spend on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the like – it might be a lot more than you suspect! Checking the news might also be stealing large chunks out of your days. Downtime is important, but as discussed in point 5, consider taking breaks away from your workstation – that means that if you’re a computer person, consider breaks away from the screen. This will give your brain a true rest and allow for real rejuvenation – something that screentime, even when not spent working, can’t provide.

9. Get Some Exercise

Nothing increases your confidence and energy levels quite like exercise. If there’s one single thing you can do to improve your life in every area – especially in the productivity department – it’s working out. Exercise in the morning is particularly useful for energizing yourself before kicking off your work day. A healthy body feeds the mind and soul, and the half-hour spent jogging or at the gym will more than payoff in productivity.

10. Delegate to Competent People

Nothing slows down your workflow more than having to do everything yourself, or worse – delegating to people who waste your time with substandard quality. Having done everything you can to maximize your own productivity, you deserve a team that can match your dedication, professionalism, and efficacy. That’s where we can help. Cad Crowd offers the best in 3D designers and printers, helping you build a team that can help you out at every stage of the inventing process. Sound like a dream come true? Contact us and we’ll help you achieve your dreams with maximal quality, professionalism, and productivity.