How to Make Your Day More Productive!

It’s easy to get to the point where you feel as if you are so overwhelmed you don't even know where to start your day. I’ve felt like this so many times. I’ve woken up in the morning and have been so stressed out because there are so many things that I want to accomplish in one day, but it’s impossible.

It’s important to remember you’re only one person and to not be hard on yourself for not always being able to check everything off your to do list. However, you can make your life a little less stressful by setting a goal for yourself to be more strategically productive.

When you start thinking about your to-do list, so many things come to mind. We have to work, clean, cook, walk the dog, exercise, maintain relationships, make time for Jesus... I could go on and on. The key is to make a plan so you can be more productive and accomplish all the things on your overflowing plate. I’m going to share some things that I’ve found to help increase my productivity!

1. Make your mornings count - Start your morning off right. I know everyone is not a morning person, but make yourself one. Wake up, go one a walk, make a healthy breakfast, drink a cup of coffee, stretch, think about what you want to accomplish that day and, most importantly, devote time to God by reading a devotional. This will start your day off on a positive note!

2. Exercise - Do you ever feel so drained that you can’t concentrate? I’ve felt like this many times and most of the time it’s because I have not worked out. Working out 30 minutes a day is life changing. Honestly, I don’t love a hard work out, but even 30 minutes of cardio in the house or a quick walk is a game changer. It increases the amount of energy, and therefore can increase your productivity.

3. Plan out your week - On Sunday, before your busy week begins, take 10 minutes to think about your week. This will help map out what you have going on each day so you are prepared for what’s to come. On my planner, I like to lay out everything I have going on and eliminate the things I don’t think I can tackle that week.

4. Set weekly goals for yourself - This is one thing I really enjoy doing to make sure I’m keeping up with all of my responsibilities. If you set goals for yourself each day you instantly feel motivated to try to complete those goals.

5. Make a checklist- Having a list of things you need to complete to reach your weekly goals is key. You need stepping stones to get where you want to be.

6. Celebrate your successes - This is crucial to being successful. You work hard all week long and, to continue to stay motivated, you have to celebrate when you do something well!

7. Don’t sweat the small stuff - Everyday is not going to be perfect and that’s OK! You’re only human, and you’re going to spill coffee on your keychains or get stuck in traffic. In order to be productive you can’t sweat the small stuff!

8. Take breaks - To work your best you have to give yourself a moment to breathe. Take a lap around the office or stop by a friend's cube and talk to a coworker!

9. Set aside distraction- (put the phone down)- if you want to be successful you have to put your phone down and concentrate on one task at a time. If you set your phone aside for a few hours you’ll be amazed how good it feels.

10. SLEEP - In order to be productive during the day you have to have an adequate amount of sleep. The earlier you go to sleep the earlier you can start your day!