For now, forget about productivity tools and apps. Manage your time better every single day and by the end of it, you’ll realize how much you accomplished. Think about it. We only have 24 hours a day. If you want to take care of your health better, you have to allow six to eight hours of sleep.
With only 16 hours to do everything in your to-do list, it can be overwhelming to work, run errands, prepare lunch and dinner, and deal with heavy road traffic. And yet, people who have great time management skills can accomplish more than what they set out to do.
Be Realistic
What are your errands for the day? If you’re going to the bailiff office, make sure you allow time for the traffic, walking, and waiting time. Be realistic when it comes to the time it will take you to go to and from work. If you start your day an hour late because you thought Monday traffic was going to be a breeze, you won’t be as productive as you would like to be.
How much time can you spend making breakfast? If you have an hour every morning to prepare your food and drive or commute to work, then don’t expect to have gourmet breakfasts every day. Reserve those for weekends when you have more time in your hand.
Check Yourself
Do you stray away from the schedule? If you find yourself looking at your phone every 30 minutes or so, remind yourself of the other things you have to accomplish. Have a time check. Are you keeping to the schedule? If you are falling behind, stop wasting time chatting with your colleagues about non-work-related matters. You can do that over lunch break. Accomplish first what you need to do when you set yourself to do them.
Tackle the Hardest Tasks First
People have the highest energy in the morning. That’s why you should use it to tackle the hardest tasks first. These tasks are your most hated, too. Get them out of the way before you go through with the rest of the day. You will feel better and more productive knowing that you are already done with the most nerve-wracking and energy-draining task of your day.
Start Doing Something
Procrastination is the enemy of productivity. But everyone is guilty of delaying to start a task. Make a deal with yourself. Do at least five minutes of the task. You will end up doing the entire task even after five minutes. Do that every time you feel like not doing anything. Remember that starting is always the hardest part about finishing a task. So, get off that couch and give one task at least five minutes of your time.
Productivity is a state of mind, and so is time management. Program yourself to accomplish the tasks you want in a day. List them down and commit to them. At the end of the day, your productivity will play a role at how fulfilled and accomplished you feel about yourself.