This report includes nine powerful tips and three actionable steps you can take right away. It also includes a list of suggested readings for those who are looking for even more information.
This article is from a Series
of 52 tips Report on the subject of self improvement. If you want to
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TOP TIPS
How
much time do you spend planning each of your days? If you are like the majority
of people, you spend no time planning. You wake up and slip into your same old
routine. At the most, maybe you take some time to jot down a few important
things you want to accomplish. If you want to boost your productivity and get
more done in the same amount of time, you should consider effectively planning
your day using these nine tips:
1. Make it a Habit
You
can't get the full benefits of daily planning unless you do it routinely.
Planning your day the night before or the morning of is the best time to do it.
Make it a habit by doing it regularly and at the same time each day (or night).
2. Embrace The Ritual
Once
you have created a daily planning routine, it is time for you to embrace it truly.
Don't treat your planning as a chore. Instead, find a quiet and comfortable
spot, pour yourself a coffee or get a snack, and enjoy your planning time.
3. Choose The Right Tools
Make
sure you have the right tools to plan your day. For example, some people like
to use a pad of paper, and others prefer a bullet journal. Don't be afraid to
embrace technology as well. Dozens of apps can help you plan your day.
4. Make a To-Do List
Planning
your day has to be more than visualizing and mental notes. You need to write
down everything you want to complete. The easiest way to do this is to dump all
your tasks into a to-do list. These lists don't work for everyone, so find
whatever solution works for you. The end goal is to get your plan out of your
head and onto paper.
5. Properly Prioritize Your
List
Once
you have a list of things you want to accomplish, it is time to prioritize it
properly. First, figure out which of your tasks are most important and most
urgent. Focus your time on the tasks that check off both of those boxes
(important and urgent).
6. Combine Your Plan With
Productivity
Now
that you have a list of prioritized tasks, it is time to schedule them for your
day. A great way to do this is to use a popular productivity method like
"Pomodoro" or "Eat the Frog." If you aren't interested in a
method like these, you should at least create deadlines for each of your tasks.
7. Build-in Flexibility
When
you are scheduling your day, make sure to leave yourself some buffer time
between tasks. You never know what obstacle might pop up and slow you down.
These buffers are also important because you should be taking regular breaks.
Taking regular breaks allows you to reenergize and refocus for maximum
productivity.
8. Reward Yourself
You
don't have to take a spa day after every task you finish, but regularly
rewarding yourself is an important step for productivity. As humans, we respond
very positively to rewards. So rewarding ourselves for a job well done is a
great way to keep us motivated.
9. Include Time for
Retrospection
When
you are planning out your day, it is important to schedule some time for
retrospection. This wind downtime gives you a chance to look back at your day
and honestly assess. What worked? What didn't work? What adjustments could you
make for the next day?
FAST-ACTION STEPS
a) Find
a planning tool that works for you. For example, consider a simple pad of
paper, a bullet journal, or some sort of planning app.
b) Choose
a productivity method. Figure out what time management method works best for
you. Some of the most popular methods are Pomodoro, Eat The Frog and
Time-Chunking.
c) Plan
your day for tomorrow. Now that you have the right tools take some time right
now to plan your next day.
FURTHER
Affiliate links:
1. The Purposeful Planning Method:
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3. Bullet It!: A Notebook for Planning Your Days
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5. The Anecdote Daily Planner 2021
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