Prove Your Power

10 Productivity Hacks for Students/Creatives

Creatives, Inspirational, Productivity, Students

Productivity is one of those words that can feel both inspiring and guilt-inducing at the same time. You know the vibe, you’ve got a mountain of assignments, a creative project that’s been sitting half-finished for weeks, and your brain decides now is the perfect time to scroll TikTok for an hour.

Sound familiar? Same.

What I’ve learned (through a lot of trial and error) is that being productive is about working smarter, and sometimes even lazier (in the best way).

So, grab your coffee, tea and let’s talk real-life hacks that actually help students and creatives like us get things done without losing our minds.

1. The “Top 3” Rule

Instead of writing a mile-long to-do list, I pick just three main tasks for the day. That’s it. Everything else is a bonus.

Why it works? Your brain feels less overwhelmed, and you actually get things done instead of staring at a giant scary list.

Try this tomorrow: write down your Top 3 tasks, and make peace with ignoring the rest

2. Timer Magic (a.k.a. Pomodoro, but make it chill)

Set a timer for 25 minutes, work on one thing, then take a 5-minute break or try the 50/10, 50 minutes work, 10 minutes pause. It’s like tricking your brain into focusing because it knows freedom is around the corner.
I sometimes use this to bribe myself: “Okay, I’ll work for 25/50 minutes, then I get a snack.” Spoiler: it works.

3.Two-Minute Rule

If it takes less than 2 minutes — reply to that email, file that paper, wash that cup — just do it immediately. Otherwise it piles up like laundry on a chair (and we all know how that ends).

4. Batch the Boring Stuff

Answering emails, scheduling posts, updating files? Don’t scatter them all day. Pick one block of time and batch them. I usually do it on Sundays. It feels like ripping off a Band-Aid instead of death by paper cuts.

5. Theme Your Day

If you’re juggling school + creative projects, try giving certain days a “theme.” Example:

Monday → admin/errands
Tuesday → writing/creative work
Wednesday → studying heavy topics

This way you don’t waste brain energy switching gears a million times a day.

6. Habit Pairing (Sneaky but Effective)

Attach a task you hate to something you already do. Like:

Review notes while sipping coffee ☕
Brainstorm ideas while walking 🚶
Prep art supplies while your playlist runs 🎶

Your brain thinks: “Oh, we’re already here, might as well do the thing.”

7. The “Parking Spot” Trick

When you stop working, leave yourself a “parking spot” — a note about what to do next. Example: “Next step: outline intro paragraph” or “Fill in color for panel 3.”
That way, when you come back, you don’t waste 20 minutes remembering where you left off.

8. Creative Sprints

For creatives especially: set a short sprint (like 15 minutes) to just make something ugly on purpose. Half the time, the pressure drops and your brain unlocks. Perfectionism kills productivity — sprints bring it back to life.

9. Guard Your “Golden Hours”

Are you a morning brain, night owl, or mid-day power player? Figure it out, then schedule your hardest tasks in those golden hours. I’m useless before coffee but weirdly brilliant at 9 p.m. Knowing that changed everything.

10. Rest Counts as Work (Yes, Really)

Here’s your permission slip: naps, walks, and doing nothing are part of the process. Burnt-out brains don’t create masterpieces or pass exams. Rest is maintenance for your most important resource: you.

Look, you don’t need to do all ten of these tomorrow. Pick one or two, try them out, and see what sticks.

Productivity isn’t about becoming a robot — it’s about designing little systems that work for your life and your brain.

And remember: if you spend a day doing one big thing and resting after? That’s still productive. Don’t let the hustle-culture noise fool you.

You’ve got this — one hack, one day, one step at a time.

💙 If this post resonated with you and you’d like to support my writing, here’s my BMAC page where I share more tools and reflections

How I Saved $500 in 30 Days (and How You Can Too)

Inspirational Personal Growth

As most of us know by now saving money sounds way easier in theory than in practice. Everyone says, “just cut out coffee,” but if you’ve ever been human, you know that $5 latte is sometimes the only thing standing between you and total chaos. And honestly? I’m not here to shame your caffeine habit.

I’ve been there. Stressed about bills, scrolling through my bank app with that pit in my stomach, wondering, “Where did all my money even go?” If that’s you right now, hey, you’re not failing. You’re just living in a world that makes spending effortless and saving feel like climbing a hill in flip-flops.

But here’s the wild part: few years back I managed to save $500. Yep, actual cash I didn’t spend. And before you think I did anything drastic like sell all my stuff or live on rice and beans (spoiler: I didn’t), I want to walk you through how I did it, and how you can tweak these ideas to fit your life.

Grab your coffee and let’s dive in.

1. I Got Real About the “Sneaky Leaks”

You know those little $3–$10 purchases that don’t seem like much? A quick snack here, a random app subscription there, that cute pen set that somehow hopped into my cart (just me?).

Well, I sat down and did a quick 15-minute “spending sweep.” Nothing fancy. I literally opened my banking app, scrolled back 30 days, and circled the “tiny things.” And wow… turns out those “harmless” $7 here and $12 there added up to almost $120.

By canceling two forgotten subscriptions and saying “nope” to impulse online shopping (at least for the month), I plugged a big leak without feeling deprived.

👉 Pro tip for you: Spend 15 minutes today scanning your last month’s spending. No judgment, just curiosity. Spot the leaks.

2. I Made Saving Feel Like a Game

Here’s the thing: I’m competitive with myself. So instead of just “trying to save,” I set up a silly little challenge.

My rule? Every time I wanted to buy something impulsive, I transferred that exact amount into my savings instead.

Example: I almost bought a $25 throw pillow (because my couch clearly needed another one 🙄).

Instead, I clicked “transfer $25” into my savings. At the end of the month, just from my “reverse spending challenge,” I had stashed away $150.

👉 Your move: Make saving fun. Turn it into a challenge, a game, or even a “treat-yourself money jar” where your reward is watching that $$$ number climb.

3. I Stopped Overcomplicating Food

Food spending is sneaky. I wasn’t blowing $200 on fancy dinners, but I was grabbing little takeouts way too often — $12 burrito here, $8 smoothie there. It added up to… a lot every month, I didn't even dare to check the yearly total.

So, I picked three easy “go-to” meals I actually like and can whip up without thinking:

Breakfast burritos 🌯
Big salad bowls 🥗
Pasta with veggies 🍝

I bought those ingredients once a week, and guess what? I spent less, ate better, and still treated myself to one guilt-free takeout night. By swapping just a handful of meals, I saved about $100.

👉 Your tweak: Pick your own three go-to meals. They don’t have to be Insta-worthy. They just have to stop you from panic-ordering DoorDash at 10 p.m.

4. I Used a Tool to Keep Myself Honest

Okay, confession: I used to avoid tracking because I thought it would feel like math homework. But I found that having a tracker made it way less painful. I used it to jot down daily spending and set tiny goals like “save $10 today.”

There’s something about writing it down that makes it stick.

5. I Gave Myself Permission to Be “Imperfect”

This one’s huge. I didn’t hit every mini-goal. I still bought a coffee or two. I still ordered pizza one Friday when I was tired. But instead of giving up, I kept going.

At the end of the month, my “imperfect” efforts added up to $500. Let me repeat that: you don’t have to do it perfectly to make real progress, it's ok to make mistakes, it's not ok to repeat them and expect different results.

👉 Your reminder: Saving money is about stacking small choices that add up.

So yeah, that’s how I saved $500 in 30 days without living miserably. I didn’t cut out all joy. I didn’t overhaul my whole life. I just made tiny tweaks, stayed playful with it, and gave myself grace when I slipped.

You can totally do this, too. Start small. Maybe your goal is $50 or $100 this month. That’s amazing. Imagine how that could grow in a year if you keep going. It will become habit before you know it. Never thought would happen for me but it did. I persevered being repetitive despite the 'slipping'.

And hey, if you want a little extra support, check out my stuff over on BMAC (or just buy me a coffee there!).

Sometimes having a tool, a resource or a little accountability makes all the difference.

So, are you ready to prove to yourself what’s possible? Because honestly, that’s the best part, not the number in the bank, but the confidence that you can actually do it. You already have potential-it's somewhere in there blurred by your current thoughts- try these things.

Look after yourself this weekend and always remember: there’s only one you

Inspirational, Motivational

If you’re reading this with five tabs open and a to-do list breathing down your neck, same. You want rest, but your brain’s like, “One more thing.” Then another. Then suddenly it’s Sunday night and you’re wondering where your weekend went. If that’s you, hey me too. You’re not broken. You’re human.

Let me repeat that: you’re human.

I’ve had weekends where I was “off,” but somehow worked the whole time just doing stuff like cleaning, “catching up,” doom-scrolling, answering messages I didn’t actually need to answer.

Monday arrived and I felt like a crumpled receipt: used and unreadable. The turning point? Realizing I was waiting for some type of self-permission to rest. Spoiler: no one hands out gold star passes for taking care of yourself. You give it to yourself.

So this is your permission from you, slip. Use it this weekend. And if your brain resists, bear with me. I’ve got tiny, doable steps.

First, the mindset shift: you’re not being lazy, you’re refueling

Imagine you’re a phone. Would you argue with a charger? Exactly. Rest isn’t a reward you earn after suffering; it’s fuel that lets you do Mondays well. Shifting this one belief changed everything for me. When I treat rest like maintenance instead of a luxury, I actually take it.

Try this reframe:

“If I pause now, I’ll work better later.”
“A rested me makes fewer mistakes.”
“I’m allowed to feel good today, not just someday.”

Micro-nudge: write one sentence on a sticky note: “Rest is part of the plan.” Put it where you’ll see it.A small, no-pressure self-care menu (pick 1–3, that’s it)

Think of this like tapas for your soul—little plates, no overthinking.

The 10-minute tidy: choose one surface, clear it, stop.
Sunlight + sip: step outside with water/tea and breathe for two songs.
Body reset: stretch your spine, roll your shoulders, unclench your jaw.
Screens down, senses up: light a candle, touch a soft blanket, listen to a favorite track.
Tiny pleasure: fresh pillowcase, clean mug, a fruit you actually enjoy.
Inbox boundary: set a 15-minute timer, star what’s important, close it.

Real talk: you don’t need a two-hour routine. One tiny reset beats a perfect plan you never start.

Weekend “reset” that doesn’t steal your whole day

Here’s my simple three-part flow. It takes about 45–60 minutes max. Promise.

Write everything buzzing in your mind like tasks, worries, ideas. No sorting, yet.
Sort: circle three things for Monday only. Everything else goes to later.
Design your day: choose one thing for you (movement, reading, art, a bath) and one thing for the house (laundry, food prep). Done.

If your brain argues (“But what about the other 27 things?!”), smile and say: They’re written down. They’ll wait. You’re in charge.

Micro-nudge: schedule 30 minutes of “nothing” this weekend. Literally label it Nothing on your planner. Watch your shoulders drop.

Gentle boundaries that protect your peace

Boundaries aren’t walls; they’re doors with doorknobs, you decide when to open them.

With people: “Hey, I’m offline this afternoon. I’ll reply tomorrow.”
With chores: “After 6 PM, the laundry can live its own life.”
With phone: put it in another room for an hour. (Psst: that’s okay.)
With yourself: if you catch doom-scrolling, ask, “What do I actually need right now? Because this thing is eating my time...”

Micro-nudge: create a one-line auto-reply you can paste all weekend: “Out for some rest time—back tomorrow.”

A tiny ritual to remind you: there’s only one you. Pick one of these and make it yours:

The good-morning page: write three lines: How I feel / What I need / One kind thing I’ll do for me.
The doorframe note: tape a small card that says, “Notice one beautiful thing before you pass.”
The 3-task bracelet: three beads = three priorities. Touch a bead when you complete one. Simple, tactile, done.

Is this a bit quirky? Yep. Does it work? Also yep. Rituals anchor your day when willpower wanders.

When the guilt shows up (because it will)

Guilt loves to whisper, “Others are doing more.” Here’s your comeback: Comparison is a liar with a megaphone. You don’t see people’s drafts, only their headlines. Your job isn’t to outpace strangers; it’s to stay in relationship with your own energy, values, and needs.

Try this two-minute check-in:

What am I feeling? (name it simply)
What would help me feel 2% better? (water, step outside, text a friend, stretch)

Micro-nudge: aim for 2% better, not 200%. Your nervous system will thank you.

A tiny weekend plan you can steal

Morning: sunlight + sip, 10-minute tidy, choose your 3 beads.
Midday: walk or stretch, prep one easy snack, 20 minutes with something you enjoy.
Evening: screen-off hour, warm shower, gratitude for three tiny wins (yes, “I washed my face” counts).

If you fall off the plan, no drama. Start again at the next hour. The next hour is always forgiving.

Final reminder (pin this somewhere)

You are not a machine that occasionally malfunctions. You’re a person who deserves care. Looking after yourself this weekend isn’t selfish; it’s wise. It’s what keeps your spark from turning into smoke.

So choose one small thing. Do it gently. And remember, there’s only one you. Treat yourself like someone irreplaceable… because you are.

Your Go-To Academic Planners for College: Let’s Make It Work for You!

Inspirational Personal Growth

Hey there, friend!

So, you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the assignments, deadlines, and, let’s be real, the occasional existential crisis that comes with being a college student? It’s like trying to juggle flaming torches while riding a unicycle on a tightrope, super fun in theory, but in reality? A total balancing act. But don’t worry!

If you’ve ever stared at your calendar and thought, “How in the world am I supposed to keep track of all this without losing my mind?” …trust me, you’re not alone. I’ve been there, and honestly? My first semester looked like a rainbow explosion of sticky notes, random apps, and about twelve half-filled notebooks. Spoiler alert: it didn’t work.

So if you’ve been doubting whether a planner could actually help, or worried that it’s just another thing you won’t keep up with, let me repeat this: you don’t need perfection, you just need a simple system that works for you. That’s it. No more, no less.

Grab your coffee (or energy drink of choice), and let’s map this out together.

Acknowledge the Chaos

First, let’s just say it out loud: college is chaos. Period. Anyone who tells you it’s just about “good time management” has clearly never tried writing three essays in the same week while also remembering to do laundry and eat something green.

But here’s the thing: chaos doesn’t mean you’re failing. It just means you need tools that work with your brain instead of against it. That’s what an academic planner is—your roadmap through the whirlwind. And no, it doesn’t have to look like some perfect Pinterest spread with hand-lettered headers and 47 shades of highlighters. Unless you’re into that, in which case, go wild.

The Simple Academic Planner Layout

Here’s a framework that’s easy to start, easy to stick with, and flexible enough to make your own.

1. Monthly Overview

Think of this as your bird’s-eye view of the semester. This is where you drop the big stuff: major assignment due dates, exams, group project deadlines, and events you can’t ignore (hello, midterms).

Tips to make it less boring and more usable:

Color-code your subjects (trust me, seeing “Math” in blue and “English” in green makes your brain relax a little).
Don’t clutter it with daily tasks, this is just for the big picture.
Add in personal stuff too (birthdays, trips home, social events). Your planner is for your whole life, not just school.

Why it works: when you see the big deadlines coming, you can actually pace yourself instead of cramming like a stressed-out squirrel the night before.

College can feel overwhelming with assignments, exams, and deadlines.

That's why I designed this Monthly Overview Planner to give you a clear, colorful snapshot of your semester.

You can grab this Monthly Overview Planner as a PNG for free, save it to your device and print it out.

2. Weekly Breakdown

Now we zoom in. Each week, give yourself a mini roadmap. This is where you take those big deadlines from the monthly view and break them into bite-sized steps.

Here’s what to include:

Weekly Goals (2–3 only): Think, “Finish rough draft of essay,” not “Become a superhero.” Keep it realistic.
Class Schedule Snapshot: Write down your class times + other commitments (job shifts, club meetings, workouts). Helps you spot your “pockets” of free time.
Tasks to Prep For: Exams coming? Block out study sessions. Big project? Note the days you’ll work on pieces of it.

Why it works: instead of looking at an overwhelming month, you just tackle one manageable week at a time.

3. Daily To-Do (Light Preview)

Here’s where things get super simple. I follow the 3-task rule. Each day, I write down my top three priorities. That’s it.

If I get extra done, amazing. But if I only hit those three? Still a win.

I also add one little self-care nudge (“go for a walk,” “call a friend,” “Netflix without guilt”). Because let’s face it, burning out helps no one.

I’ve built a full daily tracker page for this, but even jotting your 3 tasks on paper works.

4. Reflection Section (Light Preview)

At the end of each week, take five minutes to reflect:

What went well?
What was messy?
What can I tweak next week?

This is just a quick check-in with yourself. I use a reflection template that makes it easy (more on that in a sec).

Why it works: you stop repeating the same stressful patterns and start building tiny improvements each week.

Real Talk: It’s Okay to Adjust

Now, I know what you might be thinking: “But what if I mess it up? What if I forget to use it for a week?” Psst: that’s okay. Your planner isn’t a rigid contract, it’s a tool. If one part doesn’t work for you, change it. If you fall off for a week, just pick it back up.

Think of it like a gym membership, you don’t cancel the whole thing because you missed one workout. You just try again. Same with planning.

Everything I’ve shared here is the simple starter system. Enough to get you out of chaos mode and into clarity mode.

But if you’re ready for a more complete version, I’ve built a series of planners starting a 3-page Academic Planner Pack that includes:

Exams, projects and social space built in.
Self-care reminder.
Weekly goals & snapshot.
Extra space for notes.
Monthly Calendar

Weekly Reflection.

👉 See the 3-Page Academic Planner Mini Pack here
👉 Or join the Momentum tier on Ko-fi and get this plus all the other planners.

Motivational Nudge

College isn’t about having every moment perfectly mapped. It’s about finding a rhythm that lets you breathe, learn, and still have a life.

Your planner is just your dance partner, it keeps you steady when things speed up.

So grab your favorite pen (the one that makes you feel like you’ve got your life together), and try setting up a simple monthly + weekly layout today.

No pressure, no perfection. Just progress.

Why Financial Freedom Starts with Multiple Income Streams

Freedom Through Income

I remember the first time I realized one paycheck wasn’t enough.
It was a Tuesday night, bills scattered across the table, calculator in hand, and that sinking feeling in my stomach that no matter how hard I worked, there was never quite enough left over for the life I actually wanted. I wasn’t drowning… but I wasn’t free either.

If you’ve been staring at your bank balance, doing mental gymnastics to see if you can stretch it far enough then you know it’s exhausting. You could keep working and saving on and on, but eventually, you start asking: Is this all there is?

The truth is, financial freedom isn’t just about saving more or cutting out lattes (because seriously, let’s keep the coffee). It’s about creating multiple streams of income so your stability, and your dreams, don’t depend on a single source.

Your Job Isn’t as Secure as You Think

Most of us grew up believing in the “work hard, stay loyal, retire” formula. But layoffs, economic shifts, and industry changes can pull the rug out from under us, even the most dedicated employee.

So I suggest you identify one skill you already have that someone would pay for like writing, tutoring, design, sell wall art on Etsy, a remote job or whatever and test it as a freelance gig. Use platforms like Upwork or Fiverr just to get your first paying client. Do it for few moths until you get the feedback you want and also you’ll have your first taste of income that doesn’t rely on your main job. That tiny deposit from a side client? That’s not just money. That’s proof you have options.

If your only source of income disappears, your entire financial world collapses. That’s a lot of pressure on you and one paycheck. Create at least one “evergreen” income stream, something that keeps earning even when you’re not actively working on it. Think eBooks, printable planners, online courses, or affiliate marketing, whatever you sell do it through a funnel. From what my friends in the industry tell me ClickFunnels are the best. I don't know, I never tested but it's a bestseller. So give it a try. Test it. You never know.

You’ll sleep better knowing your income doesn’t stop when you take a day off. That peace of mind is worth more than dollars at first.

Inflation won't wait for you to catch up. Prices go up. Paychecks? Not always. That’s why so many feel like they’re running on a treadmill set to “uphill” with no off switch. Look into remote side hustles you can fit into your schedule like customer service, transcription, social media content creation. Sites like Remote.com or WorkingNomads.com are full of opportunities.You can keep pace with rising costs without constantly asking for raises or picking up overtime.

Create Multiple Streams For Yourself. Relying on one income often means putting big dreams on the “someday” shelf, Try this approach: tie each income stream to a specific goal. Your freelance work pays for travel. Your digital products fund your emergency savings. Your investments build your retirement etc., this way you stay motivated because you see exactly what each extra dollar is doing for your future.

Build Skills You Can Monetize Forever.

Too many people see side hustles as “extra work” instead of “extra skills.”Pick one income stream that forces you to learn something valuable like video editing, coding, marketing, something online, and commit to mastering it with free courses on Coursera or OpenLearn can get you started without spending a cent. When you get good at it, you’re not just earning more now. You’re increasing your earning potential for the rest of your life.

The Mindset Shift

Here’s the real kicker: multiple income streams aren’t just about money. They’re about control, about waking up knowing your security doesn’t depend on one boss, one industry, or one economy.

Yes, it takes work. Yes, it’s uncomfortable at first. And yes, your mind will sometimes whisper “get some rest now”. But here’s the thing, you do it anyway. Because the alternative is staying in the same financial loop forever.

You can keep waiting for “someday” or you can start building now, small & messy. Every additional income stream is another layer of safety, freedom, and possibility. You don’t have to overhaul your life overnight. You just have to start today. One income stream at a time.

Thanks for reaching the end, don't take my post for granted, just give it a try, it will take several months but you'll feel a lot better.

And because I know how overwhelming it can feel to juggle ideas, plans, and actual progress, I’ve created something to make it easier, the 8-Page Multiple Income Streams Tracker. It’s designed to help you map out, organize, and actually see your growth as you build each stream.

From weekly action trackers to long-term vision maps and even a few creative breaks (yes, there’s a coloring page because your brain needs play too), this tracker turns your goals into a clear, doable plan. You’ll have a visual record of your progress and a reminder that every small action adds up to big financial freedom.