Spring Productivity Hacks: DIY, Secrets & More
Ever wonder what a day in the life looks like when you’re looking for productivity hacks, balancing writing, acting, content creating… and attempting to build new furniture without losing your mind? SAME. 😵💫
Today, I’m spilling my favorite productivity hacks, sneaking in some Harbor Excursions 2 updates (because I can’t keep a secret), and wrangling some spring furniture DIYs—because new season, new furniture, right? 🤦♀️
✨ What’s Inside?
✔️ Productivity Tips to actually get stuff DONE (without the overwhelm)
✔️ A Harbor Excursions 2 teaser—sneaky, sneaky 🤫
✔️ A chaotic attempt at building furniture (send help & coffee ☕)
✔️ The real behind-the-scenes of content creating & writing days
✔️ Spring decor inspo to refresh your space 🌸
Soooo, if you love lifestyle, productivity tips, and shopping recommendations (or just enjoy watching someone struggle with an instruction manual), this one’s for you! 🎬
And believe me friends, I seemed to struggle A LOT this trip! ha!
💬 Comment below:
What’s your go-to productivity tip?
Or… what’s the worst piece of furniture you’ve ever tried to assemble?
LET’S SHARE THE STRUGGLE. 😂
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A Day in the Life: Writing, Acting, Content Creating… and DIY Furniture Fails
Ever wonder what a day in the life looks like when you’re balancing writing, acting, content creating… and attempting to build new furniture without losing your mind? SAME. 😵💫
Welcome to my world, where productivity hacks meet pure chaos, and instruction manuals are just suggestions.
Today, I’m spilling my favorite productivity hacks, sneaking in some Harbor Excursions 2 updates (because I can’t keep a secret), and wrangling some spring furniture DIYs—because new season, new furniture, right? 🤦♀️
Grab a coffee (or something stronger, no judgment), and let’s dive in!
Part 1: Productivity Tips to Actually Get Stuff DONE (Without the Overwhelm)
As someone who juggles multiple projects at once, I have tested (and failed at) pretty much every productivity hack in existence.
But through trial and error (and several existential crises), I’ve found some that actually work!
- The Pomodoro Method, but Make It Fashionable!
- Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. Repeat. I like to reward myself with snacks. I kid. Check this out, twice a week, I host writing and productivity sprints. We do 4-50 minute focus blocking timers and 10-ish minute breaks. Now, you may have cocked your head back like, 10-ish?. Yes. I said, 10-ish minutes for our break times. Why? Because, sometimes you need to let loose and relax for as long as you need it. Sometimes, we are all on top of our focus, and other times, we need that additional “-ish” of minutes to laugh, and have fun together, chit-chattin’ about nothin’ and then guess what? We get right back on task, and are finding ourselves more productive. So, your break times don’t need to be hyper-utilitarian; but, knowing you are actually breaking before hopping back in is instrumental in balancing your energy to get back into a laser-focus state!
- Batch Work Like a Boss
- Filming content? Do it all at once. Writing? Dedicate a block of time. This way, I don’t feel like a squirrel running in circles. Say Goodbye to task-switching! Context switching is a learned, bad habit. We have been conditioned by television, switching our attentions between multiple 30 second commercials, causing us to forget what we were watching in the first place. To now, reels and shorts that if we don’t find it “interesting” in 8 seconds, we swipe up! We can control our attention by isolating our focus to just one thing at a time. IT TAKES PRACTICE. Give yourself grace if it takes some time to perfect this tip. It will be worth the effort. I shut down ev-er-y-thang while working on “one thing” only. It has been life-changing with my productivity.
- Use the “Two-Minute Rule”
- If a task takes less than two minutes, just do it. (Yes, I hear my mom’s voice in my head every time I say this.) Listen, if you took out the toothpaste in under 2 seconds, you can put it back in under 2 seconds! Don’t believe me? Try it! And make it a habit you stick to! You’ll thank me! Ever leave a dish or two thinking you’ll come back to it at your next round-a-bout and do it? Only to find out, you’ll stick a handful more in there, convinced you’ll do it later that evening. Poof! Morning comes and there’s now 10 minutes worth of dishes to be had and now a surprise stove cleaning?! My gosh, just do those first few sets of dishes while you’re looking at it. It’ll take less than 2 minutes. Promise!
- The “Not-To-Do” List
- Because sometimes, NOT doing something is just as powerful as doing something. Example: No checking social media until actual work is done. (Okay, okay, I’m still working on this one.) No foraging in the kitchen for snacks if its not mealtime. (Ugh, fine, you got me there too. I’m a grazer. Look, I’m a work in progress, gimme a break!) No juggling, or what the mainstream likes to call, multitasking. (Yeah, you got me on this one also. I think I’m good at this; truth be told… not as good at it as I think I am though.)
- The “Touch Once” Method
- The concept is so simple, even the monks follow this one. I mentioned the toothpaste earlier. Now, literally, you may touch it more than once; but the idea is… you take it out, put the paste on the brush, put the tube away immediately. “Touched once!” You brush your teeth with said brush, you’re done, put the brush away immediately. “Touched once!” And so on. It’s super easy. It takes some time getting used to reminding ourselves to “Touch Once” but this method has revolutionized my messes down to almost nil.
- Take a “Siesta!”
- You know, sometimes you just need to take that break to the extreme. So, take a nap. In fact, take the middle portion of the day and use it as an intentional midday vacay! I take my breakfast around 10am, dawdle around for a bit, lay down… set an alarm for 1pm. Now, a 5-hour break midday may not be for everyone; but for me? It’s been instrumental in getting more done in the last chunk of the workday. Before I started implementing this, I’d burn out by 11am and I’d find the rest of my days long gone with nothing to show for it. Now, I accomplish far more and I feel more relaxed than ever!
- Chore Days & Potato Days
- Chore Days. Pick one day per week to isolate something that must get done. i.e. at my house Mondays: Laundry. Wednesdays: Grocery Shopping. Thursdays: Bed linens. Fridays: Fun Floor Fridays. (Vacuum/Mop). Saturdays: Chicken Coop/Backyard Cleanup. Sundays: Spa Day. (wax, hair color, whatever personal maintenance that isn’t daily). Stove Deep Clean. You’ll notice there’s nothing on Tuesday. I don’t know why that is. 😂 I guess you could say, if there’s laundry leftover, that gets carried over? But, the point is, that knowing on a particular day I have this one thing for my domestic goddess duties has relieved my shoulders of so much stress. Before, I couldn’t keep up on any of this stuff and after implementing this step, slowly of course, I found my house stays cleaner and nothing is getting piled up.
- Potato Days. Pick one, or several days per week where you know you can just be…well, a potato. Sundays and Wednesdays are my potato days. I know on these days that I won’t be going hard mentally. So, lo-dose tasks are the top menu items of that day in my office. So, I can give my brain a rest a couple times a week. This can fluctuate. If you are more intuitive, you may follow the flow of your own circadian rhythms and energy fields to guide you from week to week, day to day on where your Potato Days will go. For others, you may choose specific days to “allow” yourself, or rather give yourself permission to take a day off, or Potato Day, from tasks that require you to do some heavy lifting.
The moral of the story here is give yourself some grace and take the breaks, and rests needed to propel you into your next big focus state of being.
Slowly, like baking a cake, add-in some of these tips and tricks above and you’re going to find your home a little cleaner than usual, your projects suddenly getting the attention they deserve, and the tasks list having its just desserts of checkmarks to soothe your sweet soul!
Part 2: A Harbor Excursions 2 Teaser 👀
Alright, sneaky sneak peek time! Since I can’t keep a secret to save my life, here’s a tiny teaser:
Harbor Excursions 2 picks up where we left off, but this time, the stakes are higher, the twists are twistier, and the characters?
Even more unhinged.
Think:
- More secrets
- More drama
- And maybe… just maybe… a plot twist that will leave you screaming at your book. Or me. Either way.
I’m here for it!
(You’re welcome.)
Now, I know what you’re thinking.
“Uh, Rita, is that it? You didn’t give us anything!”
Well, all that was true for what’s coming in book 2. But what’s really got me excited is releasing Harbor Excursions 2 on Kickstarter.
This is the real juicy goss!
The plan is to take it to the Kickstarter streets – sooner rather than later (famous last words) – at the top of May; but, a hard release on Kickstarter in June. Should the timing just work out better that way.
I’m working on it really hard right now and in the coming weeks, which I’ll share the working links for you to check out during my writing and productivity livestreams! (These are hosted each and every Friday & Saturday morning at 7:30 AM ET.)
We air live on YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook. Pop in, bring a coffee and something you’re excited to work on together during the stream and let’s cheer each other on, as we make progress on our projects, tasks, and bottomless carafes galore!
Hope to see you there!
Part 3: A Chaotic Attempt at Building Furniture (Send Help & Coffee ☕)
Ah, spring. The season of renewal, fresh starts, and convincing yourself you can assemble a bookshelf without having a meltdown.
Spoiler: I could not.
(Watch the video… I’ll prove it.)
Here’s how it went:
- Step 1: Open the box. Confidence level = 10/10.
- Step 2: Dump out all the parts. Confidence level = 8/10.
- Step 3: Realize the instruction manual is just vague illustrations. Confidence level = 3/10.
- Step 4: Assemble half the bookshelf backwards. Confidence level = -7/10.
- Step 5: Call for reinforcements (aka, bribe a friend with coffee).
Moral of the story? Maybe stick to writing.
Part 4: The Real Behind-the-Scenes of Content Creating & Writing Days
People think content creation is all glamour and fun. Let me tell you the truth:
- Writing Days:
- 10% actual writing.
- 30% staring at the screen.
- 40% getting distracted by snacks.
- 20% panicking about deadlines.
- Filming Content:
- Outfit changes because of spontaneous coffee spills.
- Retaking shots 500 times because of weird lighting.
- Realizing mid-edit that I forgot to film an entire section.
- Realizing post-edit that I forgot “where the heck” I was going with that sequence of footage.
It’s a journey, my friends.
Part 5: Spring Decor Inspo to Refresh Your Space 🌸
Now that I’ve failed at building furniture, let’s talk about decor. Some easy ways to refresh your space:
- Swap Out Throw Pillows – Instant. Mood boost.
- Add Fresh Flowers – Trick people into thinking you have your life together.
- Use Light, Airy Colors – Pastels, creams, and soft greens = chef’s kiss.
- Declutter – Finally, do that run-through-the-house with a garbage bag. With a 2-minute timer per room. Because I look like I have a plan. (But let’s be real, we’ll just clutter it back up in a week.)
Final Thoughts: Let’s Share the Struggle
Now it’s your turn:
- What’s your go-to productivity hack? Or tip?
- What’s the worst piece of furniture you’ve ever attempted to assemble?
- Will you give any of the tips above some thought? Moving toward any action? Which one spoke to you the most?
- How many caffeinated drinks will help you get through this?
Drop a comment and let’s bond over the chaos. Because if I’m going down with an instruction manual, I’m taking you with me. 😂
In an effort not to forget the fun times we’re sharing in the video above, here’s the links to my furniture picks! Give them a looksie!
How can we build this thing together if we don’t have something to build, I say. *wink
🛒 Shop My Favorites:
Marble Coffee Table https://amzn.to/4iSZ4JV
Desk (similar): https://amzn.to/4l9wDsN
ARMCHAIR AUTHOR CHATS (SEASON 2)
📚✨ SEASON FINALE ALERT! ✨📚
We’ve laughed, we’ve learned, and we’ve spilled so much tea ☕—but now it’s time to wrap up Season 2 of Armchair Author Chats! 😱
We had such an ahhhmazing season with a broad range of genres, we had librarians give us some terror tales of book borrowers, and even songwriters came aboard this season to share their writing perspective thru musical flair!✨🎶
Did I mention I heard some amazing productivity hacks along the way as well? Oh yeahhh… Heard ’em. And applied some.
Did you miss the finale? Or maybe a few juicy convos along the way? No worries! I’ve got you covered. I’m sharing the official playlist, so you can binge-watch all the amazing authors, their wild stories, and their priceless insights at your own pace! 🎥📖
Catch up on every episode—from page-turning thrillers to swoon-worthy romances—and relive the magic. Don’t miss out!
#ArmchairAuthorChats #SeasonFinale #AuthorLife #BookLovers #BingeWorthyContent
Ah! One last thing.
Bonus! A Fabulous Kickstarter You Need to Check Out 📚
Speaking of exciting book releases, I have to give a shoutout to Devon Gambrell Clark’s Kickstarter campaign, which is well underway!
She’s crushing it, but there’s still a bit to go to reach the goal.
The reward tiers? Absolutely fabulous.
And if you’re looking for a fresh addition to your book collection, her latest release is going to be a must-have. Seriously, go check it out—you won’t want to miss out!
Devon Gambrell Clark Kickstarter
And with that, I leave you to tackle your own productivity hacks, DIY disasters, and spring refreshes. Whether you’re conquering your to-do list or just trying to remember where you left your coffee (again), may your day be efficient, your furniture be sturdy, and your snacks be plentiful. Until next time—stay fabulous and slightly chaotic, my friends! 🚀✨
Comment below any of your thoughts! Love to hear from you!
📖 Read My Books: https://amzn.to/3XHNdG
💻 Visit My Website: www.ritaslanina.com
