I have a lot going on right now. I’m trying to keep up with blogging things while working on side projects, plus teaching as many barre and yoga classes as I can. I’ve had many days where I feel like I’m just treading water. I feel like I’m working like crazy but at the end of the day I feel like I haven’t accomplished much.
I started listening to a lot of personal and professional development podcasts and started reading some related books, too, like The 4 Hour Work Week, based on Erin’s raving about how great it is. I’ve started to understand how important it is to prioritize the things you need to get done, especially when you’re trying to do everything yourself. It’s all about maximizing what you can do with the limited amount of time you’re given every day.
I’m struggling to remember where I first heard this (if you know where this originated, let me know!), but I’ve tried to stop checking my phone when I first wake up for emails and social media posts. Instead, I focus on completing my most important and urgent tasks, like finishing up a blog post for that day. I’ll make a list of my top priorities either right before I go to bed or first thing in the morning so I don’t get distracted. Priority #1 is generally brewing a cup of coffee. 🙂
Actively working on those tasks that I decide are most important and letting go of all of the fluff has really allowed me to feel like I’m getting more done in the day, and in many cases I am. I’m not wasting as much time flipping through my Facebook feed. I’m being more mindful about how I construct my day, and it’s really helped me to feel like I’m getting more out of my day.
I encourage you to try this out for a week! Try avoiding your phone, social media, email, and any other disruptions when you first get up and instead take time to focus on what you most need to accomplish that day. Don’t get bogged down in the distractions. Don’t mindlessly get lost in things that keep you busy but don’t accomplish anything. When you focus on the task at hand, you’ll finish your daily to-dos more quickly, and you’ll be more satisfied with what you’ve done with your day. Good luck!
How do you prioritize your day?
Do you feel like you spend too much time doing unimportant things?
Jen @ Pretty Little Grub says
08.26.15 at 8:47 AMI absolutely need these tips, my life is insanely busy. I’m terrible though for distractions and multi tasking with Facebook, Instagram and emails. I’m going to try out your suggestion and read that book!
Beth @ Running with the Sunrise says
08.30.15 at 7:34 PMI’ve been trying to focus a lot on not multitasking and trying not to get sucked into social media without a purpose. I’m still not perfect, but I think it has helped me improve my productivity. Good luck, Jen! 🙂
Susie @ SuzLyfe says
08.26.15 at 9:12 AMThis is definitely how I lead my weekend. Now, if I could just do it the rest of the week!
Beth @ Running with the Sunrise says
08.30.15 at 7:33 PMI know, it’s so hard. If only every day could be like the weekend. 🙂
Jess@hellotofit says
08.26.15 at 10:24 AMI am a serious offender of checking my phone first thing AM and last thing PM. It doesn’t do me any good!! Challenge accepted 🙂 starting tomorrow…because I definitely checked my phone after the alarm went off this morning.
Beth @ Running with the Sunrise says
08.30.15 at 7:32 PMHope it works out well for you! Let me know how it goes! 🙂
Erin @ Erin's Inside Job says
08.26.15 at 12:26 PMI’ve heard this from a number of different places but I still have yet to follow the advice. Checking my phone in the morning is like Christmas to me haha. Maybe I will eventually…
Beth @ Running with the Sunrise says
08.30.15 at 6:00 PMI’m totally the same way. Especially if I’ve been waiting to hear back from someone. The struggle is real. 🙂
Alexandra @ My Urban Family says
08.26.15 at 12:51 PMI keep hearing this advice as well and know it’s a good one. I think I’m going to try to get up, and eat a quick breakfast before checking my phone. I tend to check it before even sitting up in bed, but I can probably handle all those work emails better with some food in my system and a warm drink.
Beth @ Running with the Sunrise says
08.30.15 at 6:01 PMI got in the habit of checking my phone while still in bed, too. Changing that routine has me feeling much more productive, personally, although I’m sure everyone has a different routine that works best for them. Good luck with making the change, Alexandra!
Nina says
08.27.15 at 12:07 AMI’ve read the Four-Hour Work Week but it was a long time ago. I do like its general premise of being smart with your time. I’m terrible about email and check it first thing in the morning and constantly throughout the day. Thankfully I’m able to prioritize thanks to spreadsheets and calendars lol.
Beth @ Running with the Sunrise says
08.30.15 at 5:59 PMYes, that’s definitely a great lesson from the book. (There are a lot of things that he writes about that I don’t think I would incorporate into my work life, however.) I think you hit the nail on the head here–it’s all about finding a system that allows you to prioritize, and then deprioritizing the things that are huge time sucks and don’t give you much return on time invested.