Not everyone’s gifted with administrative skills. But with so much to do between work, errands, chores, and other responsibilities, sometimes it’s necessary to keep a tight schedule. But how do you plan out your day if you’re not savvy with scheduling apps and you don’t keep a Pinterest-worthy planner?
Here are a few easy tips and tricks to help you stay ahead of the game and be proactive about your daily planning.
Early Morning Incentives
If you know that there’s a lot on your to-do list, it can be hard to find the motivation to get out of bed and get the day started. Some people even go back to sleep to avoid the feeling of dread for a little while longer. Instead of starting your day off on such a dreary note, try motivating yourself by doing something you enjoy first thing in the morning.
Do you like to read a good book? Are you a coffee fanatic who appreciates a crafty brew? Whatever your interests are, carve out some time in your morning to enjoy doing something you love. Doing this will give you the incentive to wake up ready to take on the day, as well as put you in a much better mood when it’s time to complete your other tasks.
Color-Coded Categories
For busy days with a lot to be done, it’s necessary to make a list of your tasks. But do you take the time to organize your daily duties in a more memorable, visually pleasing way? Studies show that using color-coding techniques helps to improve your memory, so color-coding your to-do list could help make sure you don’t forget anything from your list.
For example, you can write out your work list in blue, your household duties in purple, and errands you need to run in green. Use stand-out colors like red or orange to emphasize more urgent tasks, such as bills or project due dates.
Set Strict Time Limits
It’s easy to set yourself up for procrastination. Distractions are everywhere, and it can be tempting to use your productive time for more entertaining activities. But the only way to fight procrastination is proactive prevention. Giving yourself a strict deadline can help you to manage your day much more effectively so that you can get more done in less time.
For instance, you can set a timer to make sure you don’t spend longer than 20 minutes cooking breakfast so that you have enough time to catch up on your emails. Or block out your time from 9:00-11:00 am so that you put all of your energy and focus into the work project that’s due soon. Be conscious of how much attention you give to less productive activities so that you can optimize your time to complete more important jobs.
