1. DE-CLUTTER YOUR SPACE
Nothing screams "there is no way I can do this" more than a cluttered work space. It feels impossible to start a new task when the evidence of the rest of your to-do list is scattered all around. Take a few minutes each day before you begin working to organize your space in a way that makes sense to you.
2. MAKE A LIST
When I sit and think of everything I need to get done, I get too overwhelmed and I end up doing nothing. So, pull out your planner, a notebook, or a random scrap of paper and empty your mind onto a page. It doesn't have to make sense the first time you write it, go back and prioritize! Stay realistic and positive. You probably can't get an entire weeks worth of work done in an afternoon, so don't place that expectation on yourself. Take everything and break it down into manageable pieces.
3. DO SOMETHING THAT BRINGS YOU JOY
This one is my personal favorite. After I have made my list for the day, I put on a song, turn up the volume, and dance. My current go to: Crazy In Love by Beyoncé. It clears my mind and sets me up to be in a good mood - even if my day is jam packed.
4. GET STARTED
Now that I have let myself have a few uninterrupted minutes with Beyoncé's vocals, I'm ready to sit down and make things happen. Jump right in and begin, the longer you think about where you should start, the farther behind you will feel.
5. TAKE BREAKS
Lately, I have been taking breaks when my coffee cup is empty. Once the cup fist cup is empty, it's time to get up, stretch, and refill. After the second cup is empty, I wash the cup and take a few minutes to clean the kitchen. By this time it's mid morning, my next break can come at lunch. In the afternoon I let my wandering mind tell me when I need a break. When it gets too hard to focus or things just don't seem to make sense, I let myself get up and take another break. Sometimes I watch an episode of The Good Place, sometimes I let myself get lost in whatever novel I'm reading (I have to set a timer for those breaks), and sometimes I need to just sit in silence and let my mind go blank. Whatever break you choose, set a time limit for yourself - one episode, twenty minutes, or whatever works best for you.
6. REWARD YOURSELF
Maybe you took a hard test, maybe you finally tackled the task you've been avoiding all week, or maybe you simply got a few tasks done. Whatever the case, sometimes you deserve a reward! I love a warm bath after a stressful day, I remind myself that after a hard day of work, I can slip into the bath tub with a glass of wine and my favorite podcast, it keeps me motivated because rewards feel like proof that I am doing the best I can.
7. DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP
Did you have 10 things on your list today and you barely finished 2? That's okay! We all have days like that. Some days I feel really motivated in the morning, I am flying through my to-do list, and then suddenly I hit a road block and it takes me hours to finish a task. Stay positive, remind yourself that it's okay to have rough days, find things that keep you motivated, and remember you can always give yourself the day off (just make sure you always keep time sensitive to-do's for your most productive times of the day).
8. WHEN THE DAY IS OVER, LET YOURSELF HAVE DOWN TIME
Some days keep you busy well after bedtime. Just remember, once you finish for the day, give yourself a little downtime. Even if that downtime comes as your brush your teeth and climb into bed. Your to-do list will be there tomorrow, try and get your mind to focus on things other than the looming to-do (easier said than done, I know). My favorite down time activity is playing a game, one that forces me to focus on the game rather than letting my mind wander back to my to-do's.
Keep in mind that everyone is different! I know some people who can get up at 5am, start their workday, and be done with their to-do's by mid afternoon. I also know some people, who never set an alarm and stay up late finishing their to-do's. I am somewhere in the middle, I like a little downtime before my day gets going and I also want to be done before my boyfriend gets home at 7. I had to stop having the expectation of being a morning person and find out exactly what kind of routine was best for me. Find your happy place and go from there, hopefully these 8 tricks, that have done wonders for me, can help you too.
