Power Your Productivity with These Timesaving Tips

You know that feeling, you’re cruising through your day,?when suddenly?you look up?only?to be shocked that it’s already 3 o’clock!?Surprised and because you still need to do this, that, and the other thing,?but?sadly, you?realize?there just aren’t enough hours in the day.?

That feeling of never having enough time to knock out your daily to-do list isn’t just frustrating;?it can lead to stress and can be taxing?to?your mental health.?

Not to fear! These simple tips can help you streamline your day to boost productivity and tame that hectic schedule.

Set a Sleep Schedule & Stick to It!

Most smartphones offer a feature called?“Bedtime.”?It’s a nightly reminder, set at a?specific?time, to?tell?you to?begin?winding down?to?get ready for bed at the same time every night. Then?it sets?a daily morning alarm,?for?the same time every morning. This is a great way to begin to develop a healthy sleep schedule, to?“train”?your body to get a good night’s?sleep and?be up early,?ready to tackle the day.?

Another simple daily tip is to make your bed every morning, right when you wake up. It may sound silly, but it is a great way to check off one task right off the bat and set the tone for?a?day of accomplishments, even the small ones.?

Move Your Workout to the Morning?

It can be tough some mornings. The idea of hitting the gym or that exercise bike before your morning coffee, but there’s a reason the most successful people in the world work?out in the morning.??

Getting your heart?rate up and your blood pumping first thing in the morning?is essentially a jumpstart for your day. It’s a great way to boost your metabolism, energy, focus, and optimism. Plus, you’re much more likely to eat healthier and hydrate after a morning?workout?(along with that morning coffee, of course)!?

Time Tracking & the Two-Minute Rule

If you’re anything like me (a neurotic writer),?you may have trouble being a perfectionist?or struggle with being a little indecisive.??

Setting an allotted amount of time for certain tasks has been a lifesaving tip for me. It helps me to?prioritize?a task schedule and to organize my day.??

THE TWO-MINUTE RULE

The two-minute rule has been another tip that has been an enormous?help to me. The idea is to knock out anything that‘ll take two minutes or less and do it right away before taking on any?more significant?tasks. Completing the task right away actually takes less time than having to get back to it later. Plus, the mental freedom of checking it off your list means you can put your full attention into larger tasks and skip the anxiety of procrastinating.??

Be Proactive

Sometimes it’s?unavoidable,?but?running around putting out?“fires”?all day and allowing incoming phone calls and emails to dictate how you spend your day will mean these?“emergencies”?may be all you’re able to?accomplish.??

If you can,?plan?for obstacles?so?you?can focus on the priorities and skip the fire drill. Set aside time for responding to emails, but don’t let them determine?how?your day?will?look. Have a plan of attack at the start of each day, and then do your best to stick to it.?

I also like to turn off notifications when I’m working on a big task.?No one can be expected to resist the allure of an email, voicemail, or text notification. During?certain times, turn off your notifications, and instead,?build in time to check email and messages?later.?

Take Care of Yourself Throughout the Day

You can’t expect to hop in the car and get to work if you don’t fill it up with gas, right? Well, your body is no different.?

With a busy day ahead,?it’s tempting to skip meals and drink like a million cups of coffee, but it just doesn’t work. Taking the time to eat nutritious meals, snacks, and drink plenty of water will ultimately bring out your best clarity, focus, creativity and keep you powered up through the day without the dreaded afternoon crash.??

Take frequent breaks,?too. Taking a quick walk?or chatting?with your work neighbor can?boost?your?productivity?and avoid burnout. It’s also perfectly ok for you to set your own pace. Remember,?your life- including your workday—is?a marathon, not a sprint.??

Written By Derek Doyle