10 Life Hacks for a Smooth Day
Have you ever rushed to work and felt like your entire day has been a mess? Maybe you wonder how can you be productive during your day and week. Check out 10 tips for having a smooth day. With the Virgo new moon in effect, this is a great time to implement new routines and habits, as new moons are great for implementing and birthing new things.
Wake up early
We've all heard that many millionaires and CEOs are up bright and early. Even if you aren't a morning person, try waking up 30 minutes earlier to have a quiet time in the morning or just more time to get ready so you can on time for work.
Meal Prep for the Week
Meal prepping for the week is a time saver and even probably a potential money saver as well. Who really has time to cook breakfast or make their lunch in the mornings? Spending a couple hours on Sunday getting some meals together for the week will save time to focus on other tasks.
Pick your clothes out for the week
Picking our clothes out and ironing them for the week is a huge time saver. Think about how much time in the morning we spend on finding the perfect outfit for work and then realizing it also needs to be ironed. For some of us picking out clothes in the morning can take up at least 20 minutes of our time. Set aside a couple outfits that you can quickly grab in the morning before work.
Make your to-do list each night
Writing a to-list for the next day on the night before can help clear your mind before you go to sleep and you won't have to worry through the night of remembering what needs to be done for the next day.
Always have gas in your car
How many times have you been late to work or an engagement because you forgot your gas tank was on E? A good rule of thumb is always having at least a half a tank of gas in your car. If your gas is getting low, fill up the night before work so you won't have to rush in the morning to get gas before work.
Make a Priority List for the Week
Before we even go to work and become distracted by emails, impromptu meetings, and tasks, make a list of things you need and want to accomplish the week, whether they are personal or professional goals.
Use a Calendar and Reminders
It's easy to try to rely on our memory to remember every meeting, task, and deadline but with the advances in technology, there are many tools we can use to keep track of the different priorities we have. Rely on digital calendar reminders and project tracking tools to help keep you on top of your daily demands.
Get 7-8 Hours of Sleep
I'm sure by now we all know that getting a full night of sleep is beneficial for health and productivity. Our health and productivity are tied together. When one area fails, the other one follows. Make a commitment to yourself to get 7-8 hours of sleep most nights and watch how your morning mood and productivity improves.
Limit Social Media Activity
Scrolling social media first thing in the morning or even during the workday can be a huge distraction. Studies show individuals spend hours a day scrolling aimlessly on social media. Imagine how much we can accomplish using the time we spend on social media for other purposes. Try waiting an hour after waking up to scroll social media and limiting time on social media when you're at work.
Work in Intervals
Research suggests that focusing on tasks for 25 minutes and taking small breaks in between is more effective than trying to work on a task for prolonged periods. There are many apps and methods like the Pormordo method that helps us set timers for tasks and breaks.
It takes 21 days to build a habit, where you take this entire list and implement these changes or one or two suggestions, any change or improvement will cause a shift in your day and productivity. You own the day don't let the day own you.