How to Make Every Day Count

Do you ever feel like you could’ve gotten more done with more time?

We’ve all been there. Despite the fact that we all experience the same 24 hour days, some days feel like they’ve wrapped up in the blink of an eye and you have nothing to show for it. Every day presents its own challenges and obstacles, and keeping course and remaining productive can become increasingly challenging and overwhelming.

What does it mean to be productive??

We see the word “productive” and the first thing many of us think of is “time.” We need time throughout the day in order to complete the tasks we have on our plate. For many of my clients, including myself, the challenge becomes how to do more in less time, and how to still make room for fun at the end of the day too.?

In reality, productivity has more to do with how we use our time. We all have goals we’d like to accomplish, so how canI use my time effectively??

Set Your Goals

Henry Ford so famously said: “You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.”??

Setting meaningful goals from the start can be a challenge for anybody. Whether having goals that are too subjective, not outcome focused, specific, and/or measurable, or just being overcommitted, it’s important that we rein in the complexities of goal setting.?

With that said, I’ve designed an equation for effective goal setting:??

CliftonStrengths? + Core Values + Mission? = Goals that leave a legacy

If you need just a little guidance on where to start when utilizing this new equation, here’s a framework to get you moving.?

When you’re setting these new goals…

• Be passionate and you’ll reach these goals faster
• Review your goals daily and celebrate yourself after quick wins
• Use this mantra - “Is this helping me reach my goals?”?
• Goals don’t change, but the strategies underneath them sure do
• You only get results from what you finish

Design Your Day to Achieve your Goals

There’s a few ways you can get started in changing the blueprint of your everyday life, whether at work or at home. Here’s a starting point:

1. Take an audit of your calendar to discover where you’re really spending your time
2. Eliminate unnecessary tasks and distractions (more on this later)
3. Control your external environment to work for YOU
4. Create a daily ritual for planning out your day?

For me, my daily ritual starts with tapping into my CliftonStrengths? and designing my day around my energy, not my time.?

As I sip on my morning coffee, I grab The Strengths Journal? and I think ahead to what I want my desired outcome for the day to be (and why). Are there any priorities that I need to take hold of to make it a successful day? I take note of the top 3 and make sure to celebrate those small victories throughout the day. For each priority, I assign one or two of your CliftonStrengths to boost my energy and confidence as I trek through the day.?

Once the day has concluded, it’s important to look back and reflect to energize yourself for the next day. You can do so by listing your gratitudes, naming something you learned today, and writing about a fear you conquered. Use this confidence to propel yourself into the following day.

Avoid Distractions

Now that you’ve got your day designed and your blueprint laid out, what hurdles can you expect to hit along the way? How can you avoid them??

One of the most popular distractions over the years has been social media.?

It’s safe to say many of us have fallen under the spell of social media use, but how can this impact you reaching your goals and being who you want to be personally and professionally? When you realize that internet users average 147 minutes per day on social media in 2022, it’s not hard to see how productivity can be impacted.?

The fact is, however, that this is only one versus the many other distractions like your mindset, work environment, multi-tasking, etc.

To overcome distractions, you first need awareness of what distracts you and why. Then, you can create your “no distractions plan.”?

Here’s mine to get you started:

1. Turn off all notifications
2. Batch tasks by category
3. Block time on my calendar for focusing and catching up only?
4. Play Gamma Brain Wave Music in the background
5. Let my partner know when I need focus time to garner support?

So, how can I create an environment that benefits me instead of hinders me?

• Luminate Natural Light. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that individuals working in natural lighting stayed on task 15% longer than those working under artificial lights.
• Curate Your Color Scheme. Colors like yellow encourage creativity, whereas muted tones soothe and relax. Choose colors that align with your goals.
• Incorporate Plants! According to one of our favorite partners, Gardenuity, having plants in a workspace is proven to reduce tension and anxiety by 37%, depression by 58%, and fatigue by 38%. On the positive side, productivity jumps 15% when you have potted plants around.
• Play Productive Music. These 6 Types of Music Are Known to Dramatically Improve Productivity

Beginning today, I hope you choose to see time in a different light and use that to overcome whatever obstacles your day may throw at you. Use your new daily ritual as a catalyst that opens up new opportunities for a more productive and fulfilling life.?

Resources for Increasing Productivity and Dominating Your Day

• Start using The Strengths Journal?
• Work 1:1 with a Gallup-Certified CliftonStrengths Coach
• Listen to our FREE podcast, Dominate Your Day!?
• Join our e-mail list to receive FREE Monday Motivation each week
• Follow Dana Williams Consulting for the latest updates.