Are you having a hard time figuring out WHY you can’t get through that to-do list? Are you going to bed feeling defeated? I’m going to show you my tips and productivity hacks to GET MORE DONE and live life in a simpler, more fulfilling way.
I’m a to-do list kinda girl and I absolutely LOVE seeing things being checked off, BUT I know not everyone is like that and a lot of people need some guidance or an extra push to get to where they need to be.
I accomplish so much in one day while still staying positive.
How?
I’ve put together a list of 7 daily hacks that will make you productive if you start TODAY.
I’ll show you the list & go into detail about each one.
- Quiet time
- Set your intentions for the day
- Clean for 30 minutes
- Physical activity for 30 minutes
- Set your workspace
- Turn off your notifications
- Make tomorrow’s to do list
1. Quiet Time
You want a mindset that radiates goodness, especially in the morning, so your quiet time should be something that will positively stimulate your mind, this will set the tone for the rest of your day which is why I put it as number ONE.
Find something that you can do for 30 minutes to 1 hour in the morning that will put your mind at peace BEFORE you get into your work.
I personally read one chapter of my Bible and do a little bible study for one hour. I just started doing this and oh my goodness, it has it made ALL the difference.
2. Set your intentions for the day
YOU NEED TO CREATE A SCHEDULE. Would you rather waste time trying to figure out what you should do today, or God forbid….MULTITASK and juggle 4 projects at a time?
NO. I would definitely prefer some structure in my life.
Focus on the 3 things that you want to accomplish today. I say three because you want to narrow down your focus by doing LESS and in turn, you’ll get the RIGHT stuff done. After you’ve figured out what these 3 things are, you can break them up into smaller, bite sized to-do’s.
Check your to-do lists, if you have 20 things on there, SCRATCH THAT ASAP…otherwise, you’re going to be left feeling overwhelmed & defeated.
Don’t fill your to-do list with the norms that you do every day (make your bed, shower, etc.). My grandma, God bless her, does that because she has Alzheimer’s, so until you’re my grandmother’s age, you don’t need to REMEMBER to brush your teeth.
Seeing what you have to do today will give you a sense of calmness rather than just ‘winging it’. You want to be clear on your intentions, the clearer you are, the better.
3. Clean for just 30 minutes/day
In order for me to focus, I need my environment to be tidy. Spend 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening cleaning.
Set a timer and stop when it rings! This will save you hours of stress and energy when it comes to deep cleaning your house.
Another tip: while doing things throughout the day, clean your messes as you make them. This will cut down on so much time and energy later.
While cleaning, you can listen to a podcast/sermon (you want good energy for the day, so absorb good info).
4. Physical Activity for 30 minutes
For those of you who don’t know, I’m a chiropractor, so not only am I the Budget Doctor, but I’m also Dr. Catherine. My whole career is about health and wellness so I understand, on a physiological level, the benefits of exercise on our bodies.
You need those GOOD endorphins (brain chemicals) and GOOD energy throughout the day to FUEL your brain which only physical movement can give you.
You don’t have to run for 30 minutes. As long as you’re moving your body actively, it counts. For example:
- Walking your dog
- Doing an online pilates class
- Vacuuming your whole house
- Going to the mall (don’t shop till you drop here)
This one is SOOO important, you want all the good things that come with moving your body including decreased stress & anxiety, increases heart health, increases self-esteem and so many more!
5. Set your workspace
If you work from home, you should have a designated workspace so that your mind knows ‘Hey it’s time to work’. You need to have a home/work boundary set in place.
While I worked in my office, I used to have Youtube videos going on in the background and MAN, did that slow me down. The distraction was REAL. It was when I started to eliminate these distractions that I started to narrow down my focus and get more done, faster.
Working from home means you should be getting the same breaks that you would be getting at work. Give yourself a break to stand up and stretch or get a snack…just don’t be gone for hours at a time!
Make sure your workspace is clutter free. I always say that a cluttered space leads to a cluttered mind and that’s the last thing you want while working.
6. Turn off your notifications
You may hate me for this one but it’s necessary for you to stay focused. We seem to be a species of technology and it’s sucking up all our brain power. I’ve found a solution that works!
You know those little, annoying bright red badges that show up to let you know how many unread emails or text messages you have? I’m very OCD so I always NEED to clear those asap.
BUT…I started turning the badges and notifications OFF and I don’t look at my phone for hours on end. When I take a break, I’ll usually grab my phone and check all my notifications but while I’m working, everyone else can wait.
This is a productivity MUST.
7. Make tomorrows to do list
Every night, I create 3 priorities for tomorrow which takes me 10 minutes, THAT’S IT, and I do it right before bed. Once these big priorities get done, I can get through the little pesky to-dos a lot quicker because I’m now motivated.
Now, let’s say you had 20 things on your to-do list. Sorry to break it to you, but you’re not going to get through 20 things today and it’s probably going to rollover to the next day, week or just never get done at all. As a result, you’ll never have that sense of completion & fulfillment at the end of your day.
If you’re going to take away one thing from this post, it should be this:
To accomplish your goals in the most productive way, you need to prioritize your tasks and manage your time with a clear, positive mind so that you can put your focus and energy on the things that matter most.
On my Instagram page, I talk a lot about productivity tips and budget hacks.
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Next, read how to organize your month here.