At The Marketing Bungalow, life moves fast. Between client deadlines, creative brainstorming sessions, and keeping up with the latest trends, our days are packed. Add life outside of work - school drop-offs, fitness goals, or just trying to get dinner on the table - and it's easy to feel like there's never enough time.
So how do we stay on top of it all? With small, intentional habits that help us manage our workload while staying grounded. Here's a peek into what’s working for us and how we’ve been tweaking our routines to find a bit more balance.
How we stay on top of it ALL! The Power of Prioritisation
One thing we’ve started doing is taking 20 minutes every morning to write a to-do list. Sounds simple, but the key is highlighting the important stuff first - the non-negotiables that make the biggest impact. Reactive tasks always pop up (hello, urgent email!), but by tackling the priorities first, we avoid getting totally derailed.
Do we always tick everything off? Nope. But having a plan feels better than winging it. Plus, it keeps us focused on what really matters instead of what feels urgent.
Email Productivity Tips that actually work!
Emails are a necessary part of life, but let’s be honest - they can completely take over if you let them. We’ve started being more intentional about how we manage our inboxes, both in and out of the office.
Here are a few tips we swear by:
What We DON’T Do:
Check emails first thing in the morning or late at night. This one’s a game-changer. Scrolling through emails before you’ve had coffee or when you’re winding down for bed? No thanks.
Leave notifications on. Constant pings and pop-ups = constant distractions.
Reply instantly. It’s tempting, but not everything needs an immediate response.
Instead, we’ve embraced strategies that give us control:
Time Blocking
We try to block out specific times during the day to deal with emails. This helps us stay on top of messages without letting them consume the whole day. Once our email block is done, we shut the inbox and focus on bigger tasks.
Turn Off Notifications
Silence is golden. By turning off email notifications, we can deep focus on our projects without getting pulled into every “notification” that comes through.
Set Limits
Ever heard of the Pomodoro technique? It’s a lifesaver. We’ll set a timer for 25 minutes to power through emails, then move on. It’s all about staying efficient and not letting one message spiral into an hour-long rabbit hole. Check it out here: https://pomofocus.io/
Use Templates
For those repetitive emails (and there are many), we try to create templates to save time. It’s a small hack, but it adds up.
Think Before Responding
Before hitting “send,” we pause to ask ourselves:
Does this really need a response?
Can I word this better to avoid follow-up questions?
Would a simple “yes” or “no” suffice?
It’s all about being thoughtful instead of reactive.
And outside of the office ...
Productivity isn’t just for work. These tips come in handy at home too. Time blocking works wonders when juggling life admin like school pickups, grocery runs, or even squeezing in a workout. And turning off notifications during family time? It’s a must.
We’re also big fans of lists outside the office. Whether it’s planning a weekend away or tackling the weekend chore list, having a game plan reduces the overwhelm.
Small Habits, Big WINS!
The truth is, no one has it all figured out (us included!). But by making small changes - prioritising what’s important, managing distractions, and being intentional with our time - we’ve found a rhythm that works for us.
Do we still have chaotic days? Absolutely. But those days feel easier to manage when we give ourselves permission to focus on the bigger picture.
A new year brings a fresh start, and for us, 2025 is all about setting meaningful intentions. January is the perfect time to reflect on what’s worked, what hasn’t, and how we can grow—not just in our work but in finding balance across all areas of life. Small habits may seem insignificant, but together, they create something greater: more clarity, sharper focus, and a little extra breathing room.
At TMB, we believe in working smarter, not harder - because life’s too short to spend all day stuck in your inbox. So, if you've got productivity tips that work for you, we’d love to hear them!
Because the best ideas are the ones we share xx
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