Productivity Hacks

Productivity Hacks brought to you by SOURCED

Whether you’re working from home in your sweatpants or in a dedicated office space, we’ve all had those moments, days or even weeks when the struggle to focus is real!

No matter what type of industry or position you’re in, we all have calls to make, meetings to host, places to be, multiple project deadlines, and an email inbox that rarely (if ever) gets to that 0 unread point. So when time is money and it's time to focus, how can we stay focused to maximize our productivity & work efficiently?

I asked this question to the SOURCED community where #radpeoplework, and received a motherload of valuable tips and tools to set your work days up for success.

Here are some of our favorite Productivity Hacks from the SOURCED. crew:

Turn the Notifications Off!

Yeah, limiting distractions can be easier said than done- but did you know that every distraction can cost you 30 minutes!? (according to The Muse). So when you need to get in the zone, that means shutting off anything that can take you off track - even if just for a minute.

Here are some ways to help stop common distractions:

1. Turn on a daily social media limit via the “screen time” application on your phone

2. Delete social media apps off your phone completely until your work is done

3. Turn off all notifications or silence your phone so you won’t be distracted by texts from friends

4. Place your phone completely out of sight - if you can’t completely shut your phone off during the work day, placing it out of sight will help keep interruptions out of sight but allow you to still hear it if it starts ringing

Embrace a Tidy Space

When you walk through SOURCED and notice the blank desk spaces, open shelving and organizing containers - know this set-up is not just for the cute decor, it’s to create a productive place to work!

Here’s what we recommend to create a productive work space:

1. Keep your desk space tidy & decluttered - with less objects in your surroundings you’re less likely to get distracted!

2. Add some inspiring energy to your workspace with some plants, a nice view or decor that represents your creativity and personality! Just make sure it doesn’t add clutter.

3. If you’re like me and have not been able to create this kind of space at your main desk, then move to your favorite coworking space or cafe, and don’t leave until you’ve finished all the work you need to get done!

Work that Work Schedule

If you have the freedom to control your schedule, it’s easy to just not have a set schedule then. However, for the team at SOURCED, we’ve found that we are most productive when we actually do set a standard routine or set time batches - at least for the days when we need to stay productive.

Here’s how you can set a schedule:

1. Start work at the same time everyday

2. Schedule blocks by the hour or even by the day to focus on a specific project or set of tasks.

3. Put these time blocks on your calendar! Unless it’s on your calendar, it's basically imagery.

Give it a break!
To keep your full focus and energy, you need to take dedicated (aka. planned) breaks throughout the day. Reaching burnout or fatigue is not going to help you stay productive.

This is how we break up our days at SOURCED:

1. Take a walk

2. Eat! Don’t work through your lunch or snack breaks, instead use this time to shut off for a bit

3. Dance party!

4. Journaling

Truth: As you can see, we all work a little bit differently and it may take some trial and error to see what productivity hacks will work best for you - so the next time you’re unable to focus, give one of our SOURCED hacks a try and get back in your productivity groove!

—————————————————————————————

Written by Nicole Prybula.

Nicole is a Corporate Event Producer that loves turning a standard business meeting into an impactful brand experience that attendees fall in love with. If Nicole isn't soaking up inspiration working with her co-workers at Sourced, it's because she's traveling and working from a cafe on the other side of the world. Find her online at www.cultivatedexperiences.com and follow her adventures on Instagram at @cultivatedexperiences

Creativity, Joy and Cheese: Charcuterie and Cheese Platter Building Workshop by Noel Morton on 5/25

The workshop day begins with local personal chef, Noel Moton and her husband turning bare tables into works of ART. The overflow of grapes and chocolate and nuts and cheese reminds me of something a Greek Goddess would order for lunch.

When I asked Noel about how her speciality in cheese platters came about, it sounds like one big story of synchronicity. Working as personal chef and in restaurants led to a request for a cheese platter, which she’d never done before. But once she dove in, she was hooked.

“Creating cheese platters and large grazing tables really fulfilled a creative aspect that I didn’t have before,” she explained.

As people start to trickle in to the workshop their faces light up at the sight of the color-filled tables. They can’t help but start snapping photos from all angles (there’s 32 different items on each table and they are TRULY photogenic). They’re bustling with excitement to touch and taste and play with everything they’re seeing.

During set up Noel had mentioned that she loves teaching these workshops because she gets to see people get really excited about making cheese platters.

“It’s a connection and reward that you don’t get when you’re in a back kitchen sending food out.”

I’m now seeing exactly what she meant. The room is bubbling with joy and anticipation now that everyone’s arrived.

Seats are taken and we’re ready to officially begin.

Noel starts off with a break down of all the cheeses while participants indulge in some tasting.

Next up is the meat selection. Then onto jam and fruit. Nuts and chocolate.

Each ingredient has a story and is sourced with careful intention on Noel’s part. The peach jam is from Georgia, made with real Georgia peaches. The meat comes from an Italian deli, which she swears is the best place to get it by far.

Now, it’s time to start building!

Noel takes tackles any potential overwhelm by breaking everything down by shape and size, allowing for easeful creative choices and personalization to come about in the process.

You can see each person become more confident as each layer is created, and people really start to play and make it their own as the platters begin to take shape.

By the end of it all there are 15 unique and GORGEOUS cheese platters and 15 proud, smiling faces. Everyone seems incredibly delighted with their result and once again, the cameras are going off.

Noel, too, is beaming with pride. I can tell how much she loves what she does.

All in all, the workshop seemed to fly by!

But, then again, how can it not when you’re surrounded by laughter, creativity and dedicant tables of fruit and chocolate and cheese?

A big thank you to Noel Moton for bringing the joy of food (that’s really art) to SOURCED. We can’t wait to have you again for the next workshop in June.

Want to come for a joy-filled day of beauty, food and creating? Mark your calendar for June 30th - signup here!

-------------

Written by Devon Walz. In addition to being a content creator for Sourced, Devon is mixed media fine artist and art educator. When she isn’t dreaming up new topics for the Sourced blog or chatting away with her co-workers, you can probably find her covered in paint and jamming out in her Santa Ana art studio. Find her on Instagram @devonwalzart and online at www.devonwalz.com.

SOURCED. four year anniversary party!

F O U R   Y E A R S   Y O U N G.

We landed on a Speakeasy theme for our 4 year Anniversary party this year. Invitations were a collaborative effort between Ali Rybczyk and Eddie Rios and were sent to 50 plus past & present officemates and close friends that have called SOURCED. home. 

Guests received digital e-vites and were given individual prohibition slang "passwords" for entry.  They were told to dress up in their best glad rags. Our grifter doorman took post at our 1920's cottage ushering guests in with a stern look and asked for their password. 

Guests then were told about the gambling table rules ($2 bill hands at Left, Right, Center) & tattoo parlor (with temporary tattoos from Tattly, the only way to get re-entry into the party was by showing your ink).

Ali Rybczyk painted a larger than life cocktail menu to showcase the Bootlegger Cocktails offered by Vacation Bar & Ford's Gin. Guests had the option of three sassy gin cocktails served in vintage glassware, which paired nicely with bluesy melodies spun by DJ Nacor ranging from Nina Simone to Blood Orange and Toto. 

Marty McFly with Ford's Gin, Bianco Vermouth, Orange Bitters, 

Balm So Hard with Ford's Gin, Blessed Booch Elderflower & Lemon Balm, Lemon, Sparkling Wine

Son of a Bee Sting with Ford's Gin, Lemon, Honey, Ginger, Rosewater

Photographer Mitch Maher turned one of our office nooks into a portrait den capturing the smiles of the people we love so dearly. 

Our pitched roof was washed in shades of pink, yellow, and purple as guests mixed and mingled. It wasn't long until everyone was under the influence of the giggle water and stomping away on the dance floor. The night ended up with impromptu speech, happy tears, a last dance to Fleetwood Mac's "Gypsy"...well and THEN a serenade of "my neck, my back". Because well...that's just us. 

Thank you to everyone that joined us for this special night!