How to Be Productive

Life can get hectic at times, I get it. We get hit with commitments, responsibilities, while trying to balance a social life so you are not a hermit your entire life. It is easy to feel like there isn’t enough time. Being a mom, a law student, a member of a HUGE family, and pushing toward my own aspirations it hasn’t been easy but I have figured out a few ways where I find myself being productive if I follow what I mention below.

1. Get yourself a planner!

It can be an online calendar or a physical planner but that is the first step to organize your life. Writing or typing out your thoughts will allow you to really think about what you need to tackle and arrange them in the order you want to tackle them. Generally, plan out the week or month, wait to get into more detail with step two.

I do offer a free weekly planner and updated calendar for the year in my library of printables for my subscribers if you are interested!

2. Begin your day with a specific to-do list.

You can start the day with a specific to-do list or make it the night before. What’s important is that you lay out what you want to accomplish with detail and in order of priority or importance. It’s great to have monthly or weekly goals however, breaking it down daily makes it more attainable. If you want to do something by the end of the week, you may very well keep pushing that task toward the end of week to the point where it is not done.

3. Make a NOT to-do list.

This may be more significant than a to-do list. You could have great intentions for the day, and know exactly what you need to do but then that guilty pleasure comes up. For me, it’s reality shows. I know I need to cut many of them out of my life slowly but surely so I would put that on my not to-do list. That way I consciously know that I am going to put that hour to better use.

4. Learn when are you the most productive.

Usually you will hear people say, “wake up early!” I wouldn’t suggest that. Listen to your body, pick up the patterns, and get to know yourself. If you know you are not a morning person, never have been a morning person, then forcing yourself to wake up at 5am to be productive will actually not be productive at all. Your brain may not run well that early and that is okay. If you know your brain is wired at night then schedule your day to do a lot of work in the evening.

5. Choose your company wisely.

We are all energy. If you surround yourself around negative energy, or in this case, around people who are unproductive, you will be unproductive. Or at least not reach your full potential. We don’t want that.

Surround yourself with positive individuals, with people who have similar goals to you, with people who want to tackle the day in a healthy, mindful manner. Keep the negative energy away from you as much as you can.

6. Move.

You don’t have to wake up at 5am everyday but make it a goal that once you hear your alarm clock you do not press snooze. I don’t know about you but when I use to snooze, each time I woke up I was even more tired than 5 or 10 minutes ago. It’s not worth it. Stick to the time you set and get up. There are apps out there that make you solve math problems before the alarm shuts off, or you can set your alarm at a distance from where you sleep so once it goes off you have to get up and walk to turn it off.

If exercising helps you feel energized, motivated and clear minded that is a great way to get your body moving.

7. Don’t stress out.

Stressing out about everything you need to get accomplished is not going to do you any good. The tasks are still going to be there regardless of how stressed you get so why even put your body through that? Take a few deep breaths and tell yourself, “all is well, everything is okay.” Tell yourself that as many times as it takes to get you in a calm state.

Once you are calm, you can then begin to tackle the day piece by piece. Focus on one step at a time. We are the ones in charge, we are the ones that put ourselves down so we are the only ones that can truly put ourselves back up. I know it may be easier said than done but if you catch yourself stressing out you are ahead of the game. The fact that you are conscious or aware that you are stressing out is already most of the work done for you to destress. With that awareness, you will find the uselessness of stress which then leads to destressing of the mind.

8. Plan and adjust.

I know, I know I am telling you to plan yet adjust. Hear me out. Planning is essential to being productive. Meal prepping or picking your outfit for the next day the night before are great things to practice. Not only does it give you peace of mind before going to sleep and a sense of accomplishment before bed, but if something arises (say you disregard #6 and snooze too much : ) you are able to move quickly the next morning to your job or school without stress.

Plan what you are able to but do not get too stuck in those plans. It is better to plan your tasks than not plan but life doesn’t always agree or go according to your plan, so be open to adjustments. Regardless of what is thrown your way be confident that everything is okay. You will work it out.

9. Find inspiration.

Whether its nature, friends, Pinterest, YouTube, or blogs 😉 find things that inspire you. Use it to your benefit. Vibe with that energy and produce something, I mean that is what being productive is all about right? And remember, its constant inspiration. Never stop wanting to be inspired. The world is too big to not find new inspirations. Keeping things as fun or exciting as you can pushes you forward.