Have you ever felt like you just cannot get anything done? You could be feeling great, functioning at your peak, and then all of a sudden something happens in life that throws you off your game. It can be anything from getting sick to traveling or time change, just feeling in a funk, or like for me most recently – having a newborn.
No matter the reason, I always go back to these 10 things.
one.
Write down your goals. And be specific!
For example…Instead of saying: get more sleep. Try: start winding down at 8 p.m. be in bed by 9 p.m. lights out at 9:30 p.m. set alarm for 6:30 am.
Taking those extra minutes to figure out how you want to reach your goal makes it realistic and attainable. This is also the perfect opportunity to evaluate your expectations. Bounce your goals off a trusted friend or family member – they may have an interesting perspective on your situation, it’s worth considering their view!
two.
Have a plan / Make a list.
I like to do this the night before. Not only does that help with getting a better night’s rest because you’ve moved things from your mind to the paper, but it means you can wake up and get started with your day right away.
Here’s a key though: the list cannot be a never ending to-do list, but something that can be realistically accomplished. The purpose is to help you de-stress, not to walk away feeling like you have a million things to do and didn’t accomplished anything. I prefer a small piece of paper, over putting it in my phone because I can only fit so many things on that paper.
three.
Set a timer.
This is key for projects. As you work your way down your to-do list it’s so easy to get wrapped up in something. Make sure that doesn’t happen by setting a timer on your phone. To be honest, I like to give myself a “soft stop” and “hard stop” timer. In other words I would like to be done by X time but I must be done by Y time.
four.
Handle your distractions.
Usually once you start doing something, you unveil other things that need your attention. Unless it’s something incredibly important that can’t wait, make a note of it to be handled at a later time. I keep a running “come back to me later” list in my phone so I can add it to my daily to-do list at a later time.
five.
Don’t be late.
I have a habit of packing so many things to do in a short amount of time. Don’t do that!
You will either (a) not be able to do everything well or (b) be stressed about working down to the wire. Totally counterproductive. If this is a jam-up for you, see #two above.
six.
Don’t neglect yourself.
You will never look or feel on your a-game if you’re overtired, dehydrated, or hangry. Get enough rest, drink your water, and keep healthy snacks accessible. These are my top 3 go-to’s: one, two, three.
seven.
Sometimes you need to just start.
Maybe you woke up less than motivated. Or maybe you’re overwhelmed with the task at hand. Ignore that and stick to your plan (step 2).
eight.
…aaaand sometimes you just need to stop.
If a task or project is taking longer than what you thought, take a moment to figure out why… Is it because it’s more involved than you thought? Or are you complicating things by getting hung up in the details? Try moving on to another task and revisit this one later. This gives you an opportunity to talk it out, get a second opinion, or just take a fresh approach to it.
nine.
Exercise.
No this is not just one more thing to add to your to-do list. It can actually help you become more productive.
ten.
Do it right the first time.
Because it’s the biggest waste of time to do things more than once.
Cristina says
Loving these tips! You can always work on yourself and try to be more productive 🙂
RACHEL SWEENEY says
100% agree! Thanks!!
Fana Taylor says
Great tips! I need to figure out #4.
RACHEL SWEENEY says
Glad you liked 🙂
Brigite Workman says
I absolutely love this post! I’m for sure saving it for a time I need it. Thank you for sharing 🙌🏼
RACHEL SWEENEY says
You are so welcome!! Glad you liked and hope it’s helpful to you in the future.