As I write this, it’s the holiday season and I have way too much to do. But I have learned a few tricks from friends through the years that really help me to stay productive and healthy, even when my schedule is full.
Here are ten tips that work for me.
1 – follow my morning routine. Morning routines can be whatever you want them to be, but creating one and following it most of the time is helpful for setting up your day. If you want some ideas for setting up your perfect morning routine, read my post HERE.
2 – my best mornings actually start with a great evening routine and getting to bed on time. Here’s how to set up your perfect evening routine.
3 – get seven hours of sleep a night. I really prefer eight hours, but seven hours will do when I’m busy. I just have to commit to going to bed on time to ensure I get those seven hours.
4 – work out in some form five or six days a week. This doesn’t have to be boot camp. Just moving your body in some way that you enjoy will make a huge difference in your energy level and in the way you feel. I tend to work out in the morning because that works for me. Find a time during the day that works for you and get started.
5 – find the right food plan and follow it. I do intermittent fasting and tend to eat one big meal and a snack every day. That works for me. Find what works for you. (If you want to know more about intermittent fasting, two of my favorite books are Fast, Feast, Repeat by Gin Stephens and Waist Away: The Chantel Ray Way by Chantel Ray.
6 – brain dump all the things that you need to do. I keep a gigantic list going but I also organize and prioritize that list. (I’ll write another post to show more about how I do it. Stay tuned.) To get started, just write down everything that comes to mind that you need to do. You could try keeping lists on separate pages (home, work, holiday prep, family, etc.) OR you could put some code letters or words beside each task on your list.
The next thing you need to do is identify which items really must be done first. It’s easy to think that every single thing is important and that everything needs to get done right away but it doesn’t. Identify the most urgent tasks, get those done, then move on to the next tasks.
7 – for every “work” session (early morning, late morning, early afternoon, late afternoon, evening), try to limit what must be done to three tasks (no more than five). Focus on doing those most important tasks first, then move on to other things on your list if you have time.
8 – take breaks. Get up and walk away from your desk. After you complete a task, do some small chore that makes you feel more organized or makes your space cleaner. Take a real lunch break. Walk outside and get some fresh air. Do some yoga stretches.
9 – take a little bit of time to read something that inspires you every day. It could be a Bible study or devotional or some kind of self-improvement book. Even just a few minutes helps give you some perspective and focus on what’s most important.
10 – ask for help! Seriously – who says you have to do it all? Delegate tasks, hire some help, let people know that you need some help! Do not feel guilty about that.
