We are now six months into this year. That means we have six, long months to make shit happen. Six more months to put all of our dreams and ambitions for the year into action. I do not know about you lovely readers, but I have not been achieving my goals as quickly as I thought. 2018 can still be our year, we just need to change some habits that will increase our productivity.
1) Set a sleep schedule
A consistent sleep schedule is extremely important. Matter of fact, it’s probably the most important part of your day. Many people believe that they can pull “all-nighters” and still have successful days. While that might work for a short period of time, eventually your body will begin to shut down. A sleep schedule will allow you to have an insanely productive day while still caring for your body. You should aim to go to sleep and wake up at the same time to get your body accustomed to a routine.
Figure out the best times for you to sleep. I am a firm believer that not everyone is a morning person (like me). I love starting my day around 10am. However, that works perfectly for me because I never fall asleep until about 2am-3am. If you are a morning person, I would suggest aiming to be sleep between 10pm-12am so that you can wake up early while still getting enough sleep.
2) Make your bed every morning
This tip is very simple, yet extremely effective. Your bed is your comfort spot. Seeing your messy sheets and comforter throughout the day will make you more inclined to get back in to bed. However, with making your bed, you are more likely to stay out of it. Your bed is the biggest object in your room, so with it being made, your room automatically looks neater. Personally, when I need to take a nap, I tend to go to the couch so that way my nap does not exceed 30 mins – 1 hour.
3) Start using a planner
If you are generally a busy person and need to balance your life outside of your 9-5, then you should invest in a planner. Try buying a planner that has multiple aspects that will help you plan and coordinate your day. Using the planner will also help with points four and five. This is the current planner that I use and absolutely love. You can find a nice daily planner at ataglance.com.
4) Create a daily to-do list
The next thing in your morning routine should be to create a to-do list. This list will help you gauge how busy your day will be and ensure that you will not forget to do anything. You can write anything from “put away laundry” to “clean out the refrigerator.” Whatever you need/want to do for the day should go on the list.
5) Prioritize
After your list is created, prioritize your day. This allows you to figure out in which order you need to complete your list. Try to knock off a couple things on your list before work—or whatever it is that you do—and then the rest when you are finished working. This way, you do not have to do everything when you are off work. If you have created a huge list, prioritizing will help figure out what needs to be done today and what can be pushed to tomorrow.
6) Focus on one thing at a time
This point is extremely important. Focusing on one thing at a time will make sure that it is being effectively completed. This also allows you to finish the activity in a timely matter. Focusing on more than one thing at a time will make you become more unorganized. If you do think of something to do in the midst, just add it to your to-do list and prioritize it in your day.
7) Eat breakfast
Just eat breakfast. Breakfast is the first and the most important meal of the day. Whatever you eat for breakfast will give you the needed energy to have a successful day. Many people say they do not eat breakfast because they 1) do not have enough time, or 2) do not have the appetite for it. Well, wake up 15 minutes earlier to eat an easy breakfast. Once you get in the routine of eating breakfast, you soon will realize how much your body needs it. As you increase your productivity, your appetite for high energetic foods will also increase.
8) Unless your job is on social media, limit your usage
Social media is highly addictive. Limiting your use of social media will add more hours in your day. If we are honest, we can scroll through social apps for endless hours. Try setting a goal and rewarding yourself with social media. Knocking out five things on your to-do list means you can spend 30 minutes on social networks. One thing I have been trying to do is practice using social media more effectively so that I can use it less.
9) Do not use your phone when you are trying to fall asleep
Using your phone while you are trying to fall asleep prolongs the time spent trying to fall asleep. The light from your phone impacts the way your body will ultimately produce melatonin which is supposed to help you feel sleepy. Dodge your phone, and just try to fall asleep naturally.
10) Read! Something, anything (that is not on your phone)
Find books or magazines that you are interested in, and for a couple minutes each day, read it. Instead of using your phone during the night, try picking up a book. Many people think that they do not like reading, but that probably just means that you have not found the right book. I enjoy reading either fiction books, or motivational books, to either expand my mind or motivate me throughout the day.
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11) Avoid complaining
This is simple and does not need much explanation. Stop complaining throughout the day. Complaining does not benefit you in any way. It just causes you to dwell on negativity. If you stop complaining, you will have more of a positive day.
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