10 Productivity Hacks from Successful Women: How to Get More Done Every Day
Are you constantly trying to figure out how to organize your life and actually get everything done? Trust me, I get it. My to-do list is always a mile long, and some days it feels like there just aren’t enough hours to accomplish everything.
I’ve shared plenty of my own tips and tricks for staying organized, but I recently found myself wondering—how do successful women manage it all? How do they juggle careers, family, fitness, and self-care without burning out? Instead of just guessing, I decided to dig in and find out.
I looked at the habits of 10 incredible women who have built thriving businesses, grown successful blogs, and found ways to balance their lives while still making time for what matters. Their methods range from detailed time management strategies to mindset shifts that help them stay focused and productive. Let’s dive in!
1. Lauryn from The Skinny Confidential – Mastering Time Batching & Morning Routines
Lauryn is all about time batching, meaning she dedicates specific days to specific tasks—one day for podcasts, one day for content creation, another for emails, etc. This prevents constant task switching, which can waste valuable time.
She’s also super intentional about her morning routine, believing that how you start the day sets the tone for everything that follows. Her mornings include reading, meditation, cold showers, breathwork, and a workout—all before diving into work. It’s structured but flexible enough to allow for personal time and family moments.
💡 Takeaway: Try time batching to stay focused, and build a morning routine that fuels your day rather than drains you.
2. Kiki from The Blonde Abroad – Work in Focused Time Blocks
As a travel blogger and entrepreneur, Kiki swears by time blocking—45-minute focus sessions followed by short breaks. She also sets email hours instead of constantly checking messages, which helps her avoid distractions and maintain deep work focus.
Another game-changer? Using digital checklists like Trello or Asana to plan her schedule, from work projects to grocery lists. These tools help her track progress and stay on top of deadlines without feeling overwhelmed.
💡 Takeaway: Use time blocking to work more efficiently and try setting designated email hours to avoid distractions.
3. Caitlin from Southern Curls and Pearls – The Power of Planning
Caitlin swears by daily, weekly, and monthly planners to map out her schedule. She also recommends using productivity apps to stay on track. Her favorite trick? Making a realistic plan that includes everything from work tasks to personal goals, so nothing falls through the cracks.
💡 Takeaway: Write down your goals and tasks in a structured planner to stay organized and accountable.
4. Aileen from Lavendaire – The Four Quadrant System
Aileen follows The Four Quadrant System from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which helps categorize tasks into urgent/important vs. not urgent/not important. This prevents her from wasting time on low-value activities and ensures she’s prioritizing what truly matters.
She also puts her phone on airplane mode while working to eliminate distractions and uses time batching to complete similar tasks at once.
💡 Takeaway: Categorize tasks to focus on what truly matters and eliminate distractions when working.
5. Lindsay from Lindsay Matway Blog – The Vision Board Method
Lindsay swears by vision boards to set big goals and The Power of 21, where she lists 21 small, actionable steps to reach her goals. She then completes three tasks a day, ensuring steady progress without feeling overwhelmed.
💡 Takeaway: Break down big goals into small, daily actions to stay consistent.
6. Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere – Prioritize Self-Care
Emily believes that self-care is essential for productivity. She takes time for herself—whether that’s a bath, a walk, or meditation—so she can show up fully in her work and personal life.
💡 Takeaway: Don’t neglect self-care; it helps prevent burnout and keeps you performing at your best.
7. Barrie from Live Bold and Bloom – Reassess Your To-Do List
Barrie uses a unique method for identifying what truly matters. She divides tasks into four categories:
- Things I Do Now That I Enjoy
- Things I Wish I Could Be Doing
- Things I Do Daily That I Don’t Enjoy
- Things I Still Need to Do That I Don’t Enjoy
This helps her determine what’s actually important and eliminate unnecessary tasks.
💡 Takeaway: Audit your to-do list to remove unnecessary tasks and free up time.
8. Kate from Wit and Delight – Make Time for Meaningful Work
Kate used to overestimate how much she could get done in a day, leading to frustration. Now, she prioritizes meaningful work, setting realistic goals and automating small tasks whenever possible. She also gives herself permission to work differently rather than following a traditional 9-to-5 schedule.
💡 Takeaway: Focus on work that fulfills you, and be realistic about how much you can achieve in a day.
9. Ivana from La Ivana – A Minimalist Approach to To-Do Lists
Ivana only puts 1-3 must-do tasks on her daily list. Everything else is optional. This method keeps her focused and prevents overwhelm. She also believes in being flexible with her schedule, allowing space for creativity and unexpected changes.
💡 Takeaway: Keep your daily to-do list short and flexible to reduce stress and improve focus.
10. Afam from Afam Uche – Discipline and Rewards
Afam believes in removing distractions, setting deadlines, and having an accountability partner. She also rewards herself for accomplishments, ensuring that every milestone—big or small—feels worthwhile.
💡 Takeaway: Set deadlines, eliminate distractions, and celebrate small wins along the way.
Finding What Works for You
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to productivity, but these successful women have shared valuable insights into what works for them. Whether it’s time batching, vision boards, self-care, or digital planning tools, the key is to find a system that aligns with your goals and lifestyle.
Which of these strategies speaks to you the most? Do you already use any of them, or are you excited to try something new? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear how you stay productive!
(And if you’re looking for tools to help you stay organized, check out my favorite planners and apps below!)
