You can make time yours by keeping these tips in mind. Just as with anything in life, you have to work at this to make it a keystone habit. Take some time to read through the following life hacks that you can use to make the most of your day, whether you’re working from home or from the office.
(1) Find Focus to Make Time Yours
I like to make lists…anyone else? Maybe it’s a teacher thing, but either way, lists are how I organize my thoughts, so why not use them to organize my day? Each night before I go to bed, I make a short list of things I need (or want) to accomplish the next day. It sits on my desk, right next to my computer and coaster so that when I set my coffee down and open my computer in the morning I can look it over.
Take Time To Organize your Priorities
Usually, when I make my lists, the items are not in any order of importance. Sometimes there are time sensitive items and I mark them as such, but I like to wait until morning to decide what to do first. I look over the list and order them for the day, choosing the one the needs the most focus for the top. If I’m honest, I usually re-write the list so it looks pretty, but simply numbering the items would probably use less time.
What do you want to make time for?
You have to deciding what you want to make time for. Each day, when you choose the number one item on your list, you have to commit to and honor that item like the Holy Grail. Here’s when it gets difficult…this is all on you! No one is going to look over your shoulder to make sure you’re completing your tasks. You have to be honest with yourself and accountable to only you. If it helps, post your top priority on a Facebook page or group you belong to. Ask that Facebook community to check in on you later to see if you completed the task.
(2) Diminish Distractions to Make Time Yours
We all know how distracting life can be…especially when you work from home and have extra “freedoms” you don’t normally have at a workplace. However, some distractions such as email, social media, and news media, can occur just about anywhere. Since you can’t become a hermit…no, no, stop thinking about how you can actually do that…you have to consciously compartmentalize your interruptions.
You can organize your distractions
Redesigning the approach you take when you use technology can prevent time-suckers from taking control of your day. Simple things, such as disconnecting Wi-Fi (unless you are actively using the Internet for an item on your list) or logging out of social media can improve your workflow immensely. This is, of course, assuming that social media is your main obstacle. Another option is to make use of “time-chunking” as I call it, and commit to small chunks of time where you abstain from your distractions. This takes will power, for sure, but that’s kind of the point. You have to consciously make these changes for them to become habits in your daily routine.
(3) Energize Effectively to Make Time Yours
It’s no secret that your body and brain have certain requirements to function properly. In order to focus and tackle your to-do list, you have to take care of yourself: physically and mentally. Coincidentally, I’ve written blog posts about these specific areas of life. So, if you need some inspiration, check them out by clicking on each word in this paragraph. Also, coincidentally, it’s no surprise that the third element of making time yours encompasses both number one and number two.
It’s all one, big cycle
You can’t expect to succeed with the first two tips without giving your body and brain what it needs. You have to get some form of exercise, proper nutrition, adequate amounts of sleep/rest and social interaction. No one is going to make sure you get all of these things; you’re an adult, you have to fend for yourself. Take your energy seriously because it gravely impacts focus and productivity if it is neglected.
(4) Reflect Reasonably to Make Time Yours
Sometimes, you try a new brand of sparkling water and it just doesn’t float your boat. The same is true for figuring out a system to make time yours. It is in your best interest to think about how your days are going and whether you are feeling successful. Just as most things in life, you might have to make adjustments to tailor your system. As you make a list each evening, (see step 1) reflect on the your day and if the order you chose to complete your tasks worked well. Additionally, think about your energy throughout the day.
Contemplate, but don’t dwell
I’m not saying you have to write a lengthy journal entry about how you tackled the day…just mentally reflecting is enough. You can make this a part of your bedtime routine. It can aid in your re-energizing for the following day. It can also calm you down and lay the scene for a peaceful night’s rest. If you do need to make few notes, keep a journal near your bed. This can actually help you in the long run. If you run into a snag and need to get back into “work-mode” you can flip through your notes.
Make Time to Make Time Yours
This may seem redundant, but you have to make the time to use these tips. You have to put in the effort, and when these things become habits, I think you’ll know you’ve succeeded. Just like anything else in life, you may struggle at first, but don’t give up! Living a successful life is within reach, and you have the ability to make it happen. If you need motivation, you can search Facebook groups or pages for support. You can also find YouTube videos to get you in the right mindset. There are even educational platforms out there that specialize in this sort of thing, as well as other ways to make time yours through becoming an entrepreneur. Whatever you do, stay the course and enjoy the journey…you got this.
