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If you know me, you know that I am super organized and always prepared. If I am not, people always ask me if I am ok or is something going on lol!! There are a few things I swear by to make sure my productivity is on a million everyday. I listed 10 tips below:
Prepare for your day the night before
I always write a to do list the night before for the following day. This helps me prepare and wrap my mind around what I need to do. If you go to the gym in the morning, lay your clothes out. If you have to go to the post office, put the packages by the door… and the list goes on for anything you need to do or take with you. When you get everything ready to go for the next day before you go to bed, you’ll have a much calmer morning because you can get up and go. You’ll have less to think about, you won’t run around looking for things, and you won’t waste precious time trying to remember what you need to take with you for the day. Preparing ahead of time will help you start your day in a calmer place, one of control. It’s always a good idea to look at your upcoming calendar, too. Knowing what appointments and calls you have scheduled tomorrow will help you be mentally prepared for them.
Get enough sleep
It’s been proven that people who don’t get enough sleep suffer from health problems, lack of focus, irritability, and mid-day slumps. The ideal amount of sleep is 7-8 hours, but it varies for everyone. Still, it’s not recommended to go with less than 6 hours for more than a day or two. So don’t stay up late, turn off the electronics an hour before bed to calm your brain, and make sure your bedroom is dark and quiet.
Move your body when you get up
Exercise is a fantastic way to start the day. You start off in a place of power, your blood is flowing, and you feel unstoppable. An added bonus is that once you’re done, you’ve already checked something off your to-do list. The morning time is always when I hit the gym. It gives me an added boost throughout the day. Even if you aren’t big into the gym, do something light. Try a 30-minute walk, or a yoga class, a few pushups, or even just get outside and walk around the block. You’ll be amazed at how great you feel, and soon you won’t be able to start your day without it.
Practice Mindfulness
Meditation can do wonders to put you in a calm frame of mind before you run off to work. When you establish a daily practice, you’ll find that you feel calmer, more focused, and more patient. If you need a little help to get started, you can look for a local meditation class, or download the Simple Habit app to your phone. I set an alarm to go off every morning at the same time and it gives me a quick guided meditation.
Eat breakfast before you jump into your work
After 8 or more hours without eating, your brain and your body need fuel. I had to get better about this because I work so much and can literally skip a meal being so wrapped up into work. If I feel like I am really focused, I will make sure I make a meal shake to keep me going. I also make fresh juice every morning and that always helps.
Eat frequently and drink lots of water throughout your day
Breakfast is important, but so is lunch, healthy snacks, and hydration. I drink water all day! I use a water bottle that has hour time marks on it, to remind me to keep drinking. Fuel your body throughout the day by keeping healthy snacks like fruit and nuts handy. This keeps your blood sugar levels stable, which keeps you going in the afternoon when everyone else is heading for the coffee maker. Keep a water bottle at your desk so it’s close by. The easier you make it to access the things that are good for you, the more likely you’ll be to follow through with your intentions.
Batch your time
Time batching is an efficient way to get a lot done in a short amount of time. Think of it as productivity on steroids. Block out a few hours, turn off distractions, and let your productive self take over. Use this time to brainstorm, do some planning and creative problem solving, write, etc. Spend focused, uninterrupted time on your creative work and you’ll be amazed at what you can get done.
Be present and unplug
This is perhaps the hardest thing to do, with our phones in hand 24/7. Work demands will always be there, and if you always have your nose in your phone, you’re missing out on life. Give your friends and family your full attention. Look around you. Look up once in awhile. Real-life experiences and connections are better than any picture on Instagram.
Get organized and have time-saving systems
Having efficient systems for everything you do will save you time, energy, attention, and money. There are tons of online task and project management apps to help with this, like Asana & Evernote to name a few. I am more old school with it and write everything down. I love to use my iCal app on my phone but nothing beats a to – do list on paper for me.
Take breaks when you need them
Whether you practice time blocking, or just follow your own energy rhythms, it’s important to take breaks throughout the day. Your brain needs a break, as does your body. Grab some water, step outside for a few minutes and get some fresh air. If getting outside isn’t an option, even a short walk down the hallway to get your blood moving and change your scenery can help a lot.
