Productivity Hacks from Timeyin - Full-Stack Product Designer
Balancing Work, Study, and Personal Projects: Timeyin's Guide to Staying Productive
Being a Product Designer comes with some challenges, like trying to maintain a good work-life balance, staying productive, and handling multiple tasks. There is always the constant battle of staying inspired, meeting deadlines, and creating quality designs while still trying to live a normal life. This has made productivity a big issue for Designers.
For Timeyin, a Full-Stack Product Designer and a Master's student at Hyper Island, this is not the case. He combines his student and work life effortlessly, stays productive every day, and delivers stellar work as a Product Designer. How does one stay productive in their career as a Product Designer? Learn how you can with these productivity hacks from Timeyin.
Can we meet you?
Hello, I’m Timeyin, a full-stack designer and a master's student in Digital Management at Hyper Island. I’m now expanding my expertise in leading teams and enhancing business models and customer journeys from a design perspective. I am obsessed with the future and am currently exploring future scenarios and tools to better understand how technology and design can shape tomorrow's world.
What Does Your Typical Workday Look Like?
My workday is usually packed with a lot of activities, including managing school, work, and personal projects, so I always need to plan carefully. I start my day slowly to ensure I’m in the right mindset for productivity. On some days, I take a long walk to count my steps, during which I listen to a podcast or music. This helps me clear my mind and get energized. On my way back, I begin planning my day and making necessary calls. Once I’m settled, my mornings are dedicated to deep work—designing prototypes in Framer, building and managing design systems, or exploring future scenarios for procurement intelligence. Afternoons often involve team meetings, client calls, and collaborative sessions where we brainstorm and iterate on ideas.
Do You Have Any Morning Routine That Sets the Tone for a Productive Day?
Sometimes, I like to start my day with a long walk, especially on days when I have a lot of difficult problems to solve. On other days, I try to prepare the night before so I can wake up late or start my day slowly. I use Notion to handle tasks, journals, life, and project goals, ensuring everything is organized and prioritized. After my routine, I enjoy a healthy breakfast while reviewing my schedule for the day. This routine helps me stay focused and ready to tackle any challenges that come my way.
Which Tools or Software Do You Find Indispensable for Your Workflow?
Several tools are indispensable to my workflow:
- Notion: For organizing my projects, notes, and tasks.
- Notion Calendar: This is for managing all of my schedules from different emails—school, work, and personal calendar.
- Spotify: For music and podcasts.
- Figma/Figjam: For whiteboarding, moodboarding, research, and mind mapping.
How Do You Manage Your Time When Working on Multiple Projects?
Managing time across multiple projects requires a strategic approach. Here’s what works for me:
- Prioritization: I start by identifying the most critical tasks for each project and tackle them first.
- Time Blocking: I allocate specific time blocks for different projects, ensuring focused and uninterrupted work periods.
- Regular Reviews: I conduct weekly reviews of my progress, adjusting my plans as necessary to stay on track.
Can You Share Your Top Productivity Hacks with Us?
- The Pomodoro Technique: This involves working in focused intervals (usually 25 minutes) followed by a short break. It helps maintain high levels of concentration and prevent burnout. I use the Slash app for this when I am feeling out of sync.
- Task Batching: Grouping similar tasks together to minimize context switching. For example, I batch all my design work in the morning and meetings in the afternoon.
Enjoyed Timeyin's hacks and tips? Connect with him on LinkedIn
_______
Get Afrocentric stock images here for your next design project.
https://ninthgrid.com/