Have you ever struggled to get everything that you wanted to get done during the day, actually done? Sometimes it seems like there’s just so much to do and there simply aren’t enough hours in the day in which to do them. If this sounds like you, you’ll probably benefit from these top tips for organising your day to ensure you’re more productive. If you want to reorganise your life and successfully take control of your hectic schedule, keep reading.
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| You need to do more than just make a to do list to make sure you are productive |
How To Make Your Day More Productive
Make To-Do Lists
The first step to organising your day and becoming more productive is to create a to-do list. It’s extremely beneficial to write down everything that you need to do during the day on a to-do list. This can be written in your diary or planner, or added to your favourite organisation app on your phone. Start by listing everything that you want to complete that day including personal, work-related, and general admin. For example, you may add going to the gym, posting a parcel, cleaning the kitchen, and meeting a deadline. If it needs to be done, no matter how big or small, it goes on the list.
You can take to-do lists a step further for larger goals and admin tasks. Try creating a weekly to-do list, or even a monthly one. This will help you keep track of everything that you need to stay on top of, and, of course, it gives you the satisfaction of crossing the item off your list once complete!
Prioritise Your Tasks By Importance
Once you’ve got your to-do lists sorted, it’s time to start arranging the tasks in a way that prompts you to focus on completing the most vital ones first. By doing so, you are proactively minimising your stress levels by forcing yourself to remove the key anxiety factors as soon as possible. If you have a work deadline, but you also need to empty the dishwasher, work should come first. You may argue that emptying the dishwasher is a small task that won’t take up much time, however, it’s very possible that by completing that task first, you will continue to distract yourself with menial jobs around the home that could be done when there are less urgent things that need your attention. Prioritising your tasks and activities by importance will help you to become more organised and productive, leaving you with less stress and more time to do the things you enjoy. If you are struggling to get started then maybe try the Power 10 Minutes Technique.
Schedule Your Day To Ensure The Most Challenging and Taxing Activities Are Performed When Your Energy Levels Are At Their Highest
We all have a moment during the day where our energy levels are highest and our body and brain are both ready to take on the world. For some, this is early morning, others have more energy in the afternoon, and as we all know, some people are total night owls. In order to get your most challenging and mentally taxing tasks completed, you need to schedule your day to ensure you are focusing on them when your energy is at its peak.
To Stay Organised and Productive, Make Sure You Take Regular Breaks
Even if your to-do list is as long as your arm, it’s imperative that you allow yourself to take breaks regularly. Continuing to work through your list with no respite can lead you to experience burnout, and thus impede your progress. Short, regular breaks help to break up activities, allowing your brain to rest between difficult or taxing activities. Keep some healthy snacks on hand to replenish your energy levels and don’t forget to stay hydrated.
Identify Your Main Distractions And Remove Them
One of my biggest distractions is my phone. It’s always in my pocket or sitting next to me and I know from experience that it is so easy to find yourself mindlessly scrolling through TikTok or Instagram; most of the time I don’t even realise I’ve opened the app. The trick to staying productive is to identify your key distractions and either remove them or remove yourself from their influence. If, like me, your phone plays a huge role in keeping you from staying as organised as you’d like, either leave it in another room or remove the apps you usually turn to from your home screen so it takes more conscious effort to go into them.
Lastly, Hold Yourself Accountable
Accountability is at the heart of being more organised and productive, so if you want to be in better control of your life and feel less overwhelmed, the only one who can put you on that path is yourself. Therefore, it’s important that you hold yourself accountable and regularly check in with yourself to assess how you’re doing. Are you staying on track? Be honest with yourself and work on any areas that you feel you need to. It often helps to set yourself goals and keep track of them to see how you’re progressing. Once you feel you’ve reached a goal, reward yourself with something nice!
