Writer Robin Sharma said, “Don’t confuse activity with productivity. Many people are simply busy at being busy.”
Today marks the first official day of fall here in the Northern Hemisphere, and chances are you’re ready to welcome in the season after an exceptionally sizzling summer.
While the start of fall brings a buzz of excitement for sweater weather, cozy socks and ordering something pumpkin-y from the bakery, it can also come with a rush of activities and to-dos, leaving your schedule jam-packed and your mind swirling.
To avoid feeling overwhelmed this year, today we have some tips to schedule your life in a way that serves you — rather than stresses you out. Here’s how you can get more done this season and with more ease!
Brainstorm for Tomorrow
At the end of your day, take 5 minutes to do a “brain dump” and write down everything you need to do the next day. This way, you can get right to work in the morning, rather than wasting time trying to figure out what you need to accomplish in the moment.
Be realistic about how much you can take on in one day and put a star next to the most important items. When planning for tomorrow, keep in mind the less on your plate means the more time you have to relax and enjoy, so eliminate what you can, outsource or move anything unimportant to another day.
Schedule Your Biggest Priorities Earlier In The Day
Writer Dale Carnegie once said, “Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves.” Tackle your biggest project first thing in the day. Your mind is fresher and your body has more energy, so you’ll be able to accomplish that big task with more ease than if you waited until the afternoon.
Give Your Tasks Undivided Attention
While many people take pride in multitasking, the truth is that doing so can slow us down and prevent us from actually accomplishing things. Whether you’re paying a bill, sending an email or something else, focus fully on that to-do. Stash your phone away if you need to, close other web browsers and do your best to have tunnel-vision from start to finish.
Revisit Your Schedule
Sometimes we spend more time than expected on a task and run out of time for everything else. To prevent your day from slipping away, glance back at your schedule every time you finish a task and adjust it as needed. This way, you’re reminding yourself what else is on your plate and preventing your day from spilling over into your night.
Even though life gets busy, it doesn’t have to be so stressful. Take time to schedule your day in a more productive way, so you finish up faster, and have more time for all those fun fall activities.
Happy fall, friend!
With love,
Emily and the EveryDay Happy Team
P.S. Join us on Instagram to feel inspired, uplifted and for daily tips to create more joy in your life.
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Quote du jour
“It’s not always that we need to do more but rather that we need to focus on less.” — Nathan W. Morris
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