Productivity allows you to make progress on and complete necessary tasks. However, many people are not as productive as they would like to be. To be productive you must be intentional with your time and space. This can be hard to do if your spaces are cluttered or disorganized, or if you lack routines at home or work. Organizing your time and workspace not only improves productivity, but it can enhance your overall well-being while decreasing stress levels.

To enhance productivity skills within the local community and assist individuals in learning strategies to maximize their time and output, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service developed the Time Well Spent: Productivity Skills for Success program.

The Graves County Extension Service taught the Purchase Area Extension Homemaker lesson leaders, the Time Well Spent: Organizing Tips for Increased Productivity as a monthly lesson for homemaker clubs. The program consisted of:

• Describing techniques for organizing spaces & clearing the clutter.
• Discussing the power of personal routines as a method to organize time at home.
• Examine professional routines as a method to organize “work” and/or "volunteer" time.

During November, over 20 participants took part in the lesson leader training. They in turn taught the lesson at their January homemaker club meetings. The lesson reached hundreds in the Purchase Area of Kentucky. 

Participants were surveyed following the lesson and club meetings.  

70% had a better understanding of defining productivity 

75% could list at least two ways to organize their home or workspace

75% recognized personal routines are important for well-being

72% recognized professional routines help increase job productivity 

87% stated they would take steps to organize their home and/or workspace

84% stated they would create personal productivity routines for sleep, meals and exercise

80% stated they would create professional productivity routines for prep, production, pause, and play

77% stated while participating in Time Well Spent, they learned new skills to prepare and/or improve myself for the workforce or volunteer work

75% stated participating in Time Well Spent improved my personal skills (professionalism, communications, networking and/or time management)

70% stated while participating in Time Well Spend, I learned ways to better manage my work-life responsibilities