Optimize your day! Have you ever had a mile-long to-do list, out of which you managed to strike out only 3 items at the end of the day? I struggled with the same issue for months together. I soon learned that the problem was not a lack of time. It was, in fact, the way I under-utilized my time.
You see, the core issue was that I didn’t utilize my time efficiently. Recently, I took an inventory of my day and worked out an optimized daily schedule that works well for me. The rest of this article will give you a glimpse into how you too, can make the most of your day.
Step 1: Determine if you are a morning lark or late owl
Personally, I believe we can achieve a lot if we wake up early (not that I’m a particularly early riser, of course). However, people are tuned differently and our bodies follow different patterns. So you will first have to determine if you are a morning person, or a night person. When do you feel most energized and refreshed – is it early in the morning or late at night?
Morning people are alert and have a clear mind in the mornings. On the other hand a night person can concentrate and work on projects late into the night. Figuring out when you work best, will definitely help you be more productive at that time.
Step 2: Block out your sleep time
It is said that an average person needs 8 hours of sleep every night, but I know a lot of us survive on much less. Figure out how many hours of sleep you need and come up with approximate times when you plan to wake up and go to bed. When you set apart a time block for sleep, also include a buffer of about 30 minutes for your morning/night routine.
It is important that you do not skimp on your sleep on a regular basis. When you don’t get enough sleep, you accumulate a sleep debt, which will either lead you to a burn out or make you oversleep when you least expect it. (I usually sleep for about 7 hours on weekdays and give myself permission to sleep in on Saturdays.) So, make sure you set apart enough time for sleep.
Step 3: Figure out when your energy levels are high
Most of us do not have the same energy levels throughout the day. And we tend to be more productive when our energy levels are high. Some finds they are most productive in the afternoons, while others are most productive in the mornings. Take a look at your day and chalk out the hours of the day when you feel most energized.
Step 4: Determine when your work conditions are most conducive to optimize
We all know that we work best when there are no distractions and we can focus at the task at hand. And yet we plod on trying to get work done even when our work atmosphere is not exactly favorable. If you determine when your work atmosphere is distraction-free, you can religiously guard that time, set a timer if necessary and concentrate on completing your task within the allotted time frame.
Step 5: Plot out your daily/weekly tasks
Based on the results of steps 4 and 5 above, you will be able to jot down which hours of the day/days of the week you are most productive. Based on your energy levels and work conditions, set apart time blocks to complete your most important projects. You can then allocate the rest of your time to other things on your to-do list.
Bonus tip: Reward yourself
Give yourself something to look forward to when you’ve completed your tasks. It’s a surefire way to make sure you get it done!
I have personally followed the steps mentioned above, and find them to be very effective. I hope this process will help you optimize your day and make the best use of your time as well.
Do you have any time optimization tricks up your sleeve? Do share with us in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
