Have you often neglected your responsibilities because of the difficulty of managing your time in the midst of a busy schedule? If so, try learning the powerful tips for managing time and maximizing productivity listed in this article, instead of sticking to bad habits and always ending the day feeling stressed. In short, try starting the day by eating a healthy breakfast, drinking a glass of water, and exercising for a while. These three are essential keys to refuel your energy! After that, prioritize your responsibilities based on their importance, and don't forget to take regular breaks so your body doesn't get tired. At home, take time to clean the house and make a plan of activities for the next day. In addition, also do things that are fun and calming before bed. Remember, taking good care of your body is the key to maintaining productivity!
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Part 1 of 3: Starting the Day
Step 1. Make preparations the night before
If you want to have a productive day, try taking some time the night before to make a reasonable to-do list. This means measuring your abilities so that your to-do list isn't too crowded and it makes you more stressed instead of productive. Ideally you should only list 3 to 5 important activities or goals.
- If the scale of your activity is large enough, simply include one activity on the list. For example, if you need to complete a project report that has a lot of sub-content, simply write, “Finish Henderson's report by 12 pm” and assume that you need to include a lot of sub-content in it.
- If no activity is too big or important, list 4 to 5 small-scale goals. For example, you might write, "Reply to Cindy's email, rewrite press reports, edit website articles, and reply to Carter's calls."
- Sometimes, you still have time left to do more things. In fact, if you're able to work hard and maintain productivity, you're more likely to get the whole job done in no time. If that's the case, don't worry because the main function of the to-do list is to make you aware of “what's important” and what needs to be done before the day ends. In this way, in the future, it will help you to develop a better priority scale.
Step 2. Consume a glass of lemon water
In fact, lemons are able to increase one's energy in the morning and thus increase their productivity in an instant. As soon as you wake up in the morning, mix lemon juice with a glass of water, then drink it immediately. Do not consume fresh lemon juice that is not diluted with water because it is at risk of damaging your dental health! If possible, make a mixture of water and lemon the night before, then pour it into a special container and refrigerate until it's time to drink.
- For best results, drink lemon water on an empty stomach.
- Eat at least 15 to 30 minutes afterward.
Step 3. Stay away from social media
Facebook, Twitter and other social media can break your concentration in an instant! Therefore, avoid the habit of checking your social media accounts via cellphone in the morning. Focus your energy on something more useful!
- Think of a positive and fun way to start the day. Instead of going to social media pages that risk upsetting you or stressing you out in the morning, try doing some light stretching, meditating, listening to birds chirping on the lawn, or listening to your favorite song.
- Make social media rules for yourself. For example, specify that you should only open Facebook after breakfast.
- If you have a serious social media addiction, try blocking problematic social media or sites from your phone.
Step 4. Don't forget to have breakfast
A delicious and nutritious breakfast menu is a powerful key that guarantees your success on the day! After all, you certainly know that breakfast is the most important meal that should not be missed. Eating breakfast can improve your mood and energy levels, while increasing your overall productivity.
- Eat a nutrient-dense breakfast. In other words, avoid processed or sugary foods like donuts.
- Oatmeal, yogurt, fruit, and eggs are some breakfast menu options that are worth trying.
- If you're in a hurry, take time to eat a healthy snack on the road like a banana.
Step 5. Exercise before work
Besides being able to increase energy, exercising will also improve your mood and reduce your stress levels, you know! Therefore, don't be lazy to get up early so you can exercise for a while before work or school.
- No need to exercise too long. In fact, exercising for 10 minutes can provide maximum benefits.
- For example, you can do aerobic exercise, run on a treadmill, or walk around the complex for 10 minutes. If you prefer an exercise like yoga or pilates, try searching the internet for short yoga or pilates videos.
Part 2 of 3: Be Productive at Work or School
Step 1. Get rid of all distractions
Do you agree that a minimal distraction environment can increase one's productivity? Whether you're at work or at home, try to stay focused on your work and get rid of any potential distractions.
- If you have to work on a computer or laptop, close all browsers, applications, or programs that risk distracting you. Close social media accounts or websites that you frequently visit to read articles. Also, close all programs that can damage your focus.
- Get rid of all the distractions that are on your desk. If there's a book you've been reading lately, don't put it on the table! Also keep away all unnecessary electronic devices such as cell phones or music players.
Step 2. Reject requests that don't align with your priorities
There's nothing wrong with saying "no," especially if you're already busy enough and don't have the energy to meet other people's demands. Therefore, do not hesitate to politely decline requests that are not in line with your priorities and plans for the day.
Try saying, "Sorry, I'm really busy today and can't add any more activities." Or, simply say, "Sorry, I can't help you today."
Step 3. Tidy up your workplace
In fact, no one can work in a messy environment. Therefore, always take the time to tidy up the table before using it for work. Stack the important documents and throw away the papers that are no longer needed. If the surface of the table looks dusty, clean it immediately. If there is trash such as an old soda bottle or candy wrapper, throw it in the trash immediately. Trust me, working in a tidy environment will increase your productivity in an instant!
- Organize documents according to their function. For example, put together files that have not been completed or still need to be repaired, and also put together files that you have completed.
- Gather stationery and other work supplies such as scissors, stapler, etc. in one place.
Step 4. Focus on one thing at a time
When you are working on something, focus your energy and concentration on the work. For example, don't think about the transportation you should take to get home while you're working on a report at the office. Don't even think about other projects while you're working on an assignment. Concentrating on one thing at a time can increase your productivity in an instant!
- Doing several things at the same time is actually the enemy of productivity. Most likely, it will take significantly longer to complete three jobs at the same time than three jobs in turn.
- Instead of constantly moving from one job to another, pick one job and finish it well before moving on to another. While working, don't keep checking your phone or email!
Step 5. Prioritize the work that matters
If a job is too difficult, takes a long time to complete, or is very important, do it first! Only in this way, all important responsibilities will not be forgotten or neglected. In addition, you will definitely feel more relieved and relaxed afterwards, so that you can go about the rest of the day without being colored by stress. As a result, your productivity will increase!
- Try referring to the to-do list you made the night before. What are three to five things that need to be done today? Make everything your priority!
- For example, if you have an important email to send to a client, but you're always nervous about doing it, make it the first thing you should do as soon as you wake up in the morning instead of constantly worrying about it and ignoring it.
Step 6. Take a break and reward yourself at the end of the day
Remember, resting is a very important aspect of maintaining your productivity. If you don't take regular breaks, your body is prone to fatigue before your day is even over. Therefore, make sure you always take a break every 15 to 30 minutes while working.
Reward yourself. More than likely, you will be encouraged to work harder if there is a reward waiting at the end of the job. For example, reward yourself by eating a pack of candy after finishing an essay, or checking social media for 5 minutes after finishing your presentation plan
Part 3 of 3: Continuing Productivity at Home
Step 1. Reflect on your day
At the end of the day, take some time to sit alone and reflect on the events that happened during the day. In other words, don't go straight to other work so that your body and mind are not stressed or exhausted!
- Think about all your accomplishments. Be proud of yourself and don't be shy to congratulate yourself on all the positive things you managed to do that day. For example, try to think, "I'm really proud to be able to speak up at the meeting this afternoon."
- After that, forgive any mistakes you made that day. Remind yourself that everyone makes mistakes, and understand that imperfection and carelessness are an inseparable part of anyone's life. For example, try thinking, “I know there's a misspelling in the note I sent to my boss. But it doesn't matter, because everyone makes mistakes."
Step 2. Decide what clothes you will wear tomorrow
There's nothing wrong with preparing clothes that you will wear to school or office the night before, you know! Hang or arrange the clothes in a place that is clearly visible so you don't have to bother looking for and mixing clothes the next day.
Step 3. Take time to clean the house
Trust me, doing it regularly will make you feel more productive at home! After all, always remember that a clean environment is one of the keys to one's productivity. In addition, diligently cleaning the house will give you more free time to relax on the weekends.
- If there's homework that you've been avoiding completely, prioritize it! After clearing it up, it's likely that your mental burden will be reduced so that you can feel more comfortable and energized to complete other tasks.
- Associate specific homework with a specific day. For example, you can always do the laundry on Monday, wash the dirty dishes on Tuesday, pay the bills on Wednesday, etc.
Step 4. Do activities that relax you
Even though you are required to be productive, that doesn't mean you can't rest! Instead, you should take some time before bed at night to do relaxing and enjoyable activities like reading a book, taking a warm bath, or watching television. Doing so is also effective in replenishing energy that has been drained throughout the day, you know! As a result, the next day you are not too tired and can still maintain good productivity.
Step 5. Make a list of activities for the next day before bed
Again, don't be lazy to make a list of activities so that your productivity cycle can be repeated the next day. At least, list 3 to 5 jobs that you have to do tomorrow.
Tips
- By setting priorities, you will be helped to complete the various responsibilities that are important. In other words, you will be trained to handle various emergency situations properly without neglecting the rest of your responsibilities.
- Be flexible about the things you have planned. Remember, changing plans is a very common occurrence so there's no need to worry too much.
- Always make your bed after getting up in the morning. These simple actions have proven to be effective in increasing your productivity for the rest of the day!
