We have all had those times where we feel like we wasted the day, or we didn’t accomplish as much as we hoped to. It’s strange to think about how much we know we can get done in a day and at the same time be in a rut of not getting anything done. Jim Gaffigan has a great joke about this where he says, “Have you ever had so much to do that you take a nap instead.” This perfectly describes what I am talking about. Funny thing is, that it is very easy to find the balance you need to get everything done and still enjoy your time off. That is what I wanted to talk about today. That way when you are trying to enjoy time off you can enjoy it more knowing you have gotten everything you need done.
- Brainstorm on what you need to do (daily goals to accomplish)
Everything you do requires at least a little preparation, even if it is simply saying to yourself “I really need to _______.” I think people truly underestimate how beneficial making a to do list is. It is a physical thing reminding you to get things done. With technology the way it is and being able to access all the information you would ever need it is good having something telling you to put down your phone and start your day. Once you have everything you want to do written down you can start on step 2.
- Make a schedule
Now that you know what to do, you can set up when you can accomplish these tasks. Even if you are just putting them in order of what you want to do first it breaks down what you hope to accomplish into smaller more manageable tasks. This way even if you don’t have time to get everything done you were hoping for you will still have checked off some of your tasks, making your to do list smaller every day. Something I would recommend is schedule the first thing on your list early in the day if you can. You always feel more productive when you start something early.
- Hold yourself accountable (have physical reminders)
The most important thing to remember to be more productive is motivating yourself. The first two tips help you motivate yourself, but you will have to display some self-discipline on your own. For this you must make the conscious effort every day to do what you said you would. This may sound obvious, but it is true. Anyone can be in shape if they go to the gym every day, but not everyone does. You can become an expert on any subject if you study that subject every day, but not everyone does. Holding yourself accountable for what you say you will do is the simplest and sometimes the hardest step in the process.
- Go above and beyond (schedule is minimum requirements)
There is nothing holding you back from when you complete your to do list to do a little extra. In fact, it is the perfect time because it will all be bonus. You can use this time however you want, but if you are already on a roll why not keep the momentum.
- Prepare for tomorrow
Finally, the last step is to get a head start on your next set of tasks. This doesn’t require a lot of effort. What I like to do is take care of steps one and two the night before while I’m relaxing or watching tv. It is not a complicated process, but this is what I try to do every day to keep me motivated to work on myself, even if I am not 100% sure on where my next path will take me. This way I always know I’m moving forward.