We're in the 2nd week of January and everyone is working on doing the damn thing! And I love that, I love watching and knowing that we're all dream-chasing together. But I also know we all only have 24 hours in a day and there's a lot to get done. So I decided to put together some tips and tricks that to give us an edge in this race against time and get more things done!
I wrote this list bearing in mind that you've probably heard the traditional tips and tricks for being productive like creating a to-do list and keeping a planner. Who knows you may have heard of these too, but I tried to think outside the box and come up with things that currently work for me and that I know work for the most accomplished people in my life.
1. Create a Morning Routine
I started a morning Routine back in 2019 and it really got me excited about waking up in the morning. If you've read any of my previous blogs you already know that I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON, but I'm working on it. Cultivating a routine full of things that make me feel good and incorporates some self-love habits makes me excited about starting my day. I literally go to sleep ready to wake up already because I really love the flow of my mornings.
Here's my morning routine from today:
7:00am Wake Up
7:30am Yoga & Meditation
7:35am Breakfast & Podcast
8:15am Brain Vomit ( this is when I dump all the things on my mind to-do, worries, ideas, etc)
8:30am Clean the Kitchen
9:15am Proof-Read Engagement Blog Post and Prep Instagram Post
10:00am Morning Snack & write
11:00am Shower
11:30am Charge camera & Tidy room
11:45am Draft Blog & Instagram Post
12:00pm Go outside- breath
Every routine looks different, some are an hour to two hours long and some outline the whole morning, it's really what works for you. You can be super detailed and write in your skincare routine or generalize.
2. Wake up an HOUR Earlier!
I know I know, I could easily say girl just stop hitting that snooze button ( because lets me be honest that will save you so much time. But when you wake up earlier, you really get the sense that you're ahead of the world and realize you DO have time to do the things that you want. Whether it's writing that blog, trying that new yoga routine or simply marveling at nature as you watch the sun come up, take that extra time to do something you enjoy. Not only will it pep you up, but you'll also be willing to turn your focus to the workday cause you've already taken out some time for yourself. It doesn't seem like much but one hour makes a big difference.
3. Start your day with a Motivational Podcast
There are a million self-help, photography and fiction books I want to read but I have so little time cause we're always go-going. Listening to podcasts is a great way to get inspirational messages with practical advice. You can fold laundry while you listen, go for a run or even be at your desk doing your work with it playing in the background.
Being able to walk around with a motivational voice in your head and still be able to focus and get other things done was a lifesaver for me because I'm a chronic multitasker and I need my brain to do multiple things at once. To solve that I use to watch tv and fold clothes or watch tv and write or watch tv and do nothing, the last one happening the most often because it required my visual attention. Now I can just listen and get my day going and I've been way more productive.
Try it out and I promise you'll feel engaged and productive.
Podcasts I love:
4. Move Your Body!
Move your body! It doesn't matter how as long as it feels good. You can dance, you can run, you can stretch or take up strength training. Whatever gets your heart pumping, do that thing. Exercising introduces large amounts of oxygen in your body which gives your brain a nice little boost and increases your energy.
5. Create a Top 3!
Of course, you should plan ahead, I recommend looking over your schedule for the week and the next day the night before and adjust it. That helps loads because you'll be mentally prepared for everything to come. BUT Creating a top 3 will really change how your day flows. It's actually something I picked up from a podcast I've been listening to.
Your top 3 are your priorities for the day, the things you HAVE TO get done. My top 3 for today was
1. Clean the Kitchen
2. Post on the blog and Instagram
3. Review and adjust January & February Content Calendar
6. Keep Your Momentum!
We all know how easy it is to come home after a long day of work, plop on the couch with the plans to go to the gym but end up watching 12 episodes of friends instead. Why does that happen? Because we lose our momentum. Once your body stops moving, it settles and all the days work just settles on you like a warm blanket.
Now try it this way, come home from work and grab your workout gear and head straight to the gym. You won't even have a chance to talk yourself out of going to the gym. I know this from my own personal experience and watching my husband. When Brett comes home, he changes for the gym and we head out because we know from prior experience that when he sits down for too long he gets tired and it's hard to get him to move after.
So keep moving and rest when you're done!
7. Be loud about your Plans
Now I don't mean you have to post about it all over Instagram and tell everyone you know about what you're doing. You can do those things if that works for you and you can thrive under the pressure, but I know that can be too much sometimes and lead to you crumbling instead of growing. I mean specifically telling the people in your life who already push and encourage you. The people are going to check back in with you to make sure you did that thing you said you were going to. Let them know what you're up to and let them keep you accountable.
Let me know if these tips help you as you move into the New Year and start dream chasing. Do you have any tips and tricks of your own to stay productive? Drop them down below, I would love to know!
Sincerely,
Viranda Michelle Gonzalez
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