How I Learned to Take Control of my Day
It sounds so cliché, but it really is amazing how quickly the day flies by. Though technology is supposed to make our lives easier and save us time, somehow I find myself with less time than ever. And I do believe technology is to blame! It’s all those emails, texts, tweets and Facebook posts that end up taking up the bulk of my day. Though I’m at my desk most of the day, I find that when the day is over, I really haven’t achieved all that much. Sound familiar? Out of sheer necessity, I’ve created a formula that has changed everything and allowed me to finally take control of my day. I hope you find this formula as helpful as I do!
- Before going to bed each night make your “to do” list for the next day. Your list should ALWAYS contain three BOLD action items that will help you achieve your personal and/or professional goals. Without these bold items, your “to-do’s” can become a constant hamster wheel with no real progress to speak of.
- Set your alarm for one hour earlier than you usually wake up. You can do this…I promise. You’ll be amazed how much you get done in that one hour—this is when your house is likely to be the quietest. For me it’s 5am.
- Be sure to leave your alarm clock in your bathroom so that you HAVE to get out of bed to turn it off. The chance of you hitting that snooze button is all but eliminated. This is ESSENTIAL!
- Whatever you do, DO NOT check your email or texts when you first wake up. Those emails will take your time and attention and will get your day off course. By choosing to check emails first, you’re letting someone else control your day. Their needs are coming before yours. This causes you to begin your day by being reactive to someone else, rather than being proactive about your own goals. Remember those three bold actions on your “to do” list? Start your day by achieving at least one of them over your morning cup of coffee. This starts your day by focusing on what’s important to you. The sense of accomplishment sets the tone for your day.
- Before you even think about opening your “inbox”, open your calendar and schedule two important things:
- A 60 minute meeting with yourself to achieve the remaining bold actions you laid out the night before.
- Two to three 20 minute blocks of uninterrupted time to return emails. Do not read or return emails at any other time. It doesn’t matter when it is—could be when you’re waiting to pick your child up from school or when you first arrive at work. This is crucial to taking back control of your day! Stick with this schedule…you won’t believe how much more you accomplish in a day.
- Don’t even consider going to bed until you’ve made your “to do” list for the next day. Don’t forget your three bold action items. And don’t forget to set your alarm…in your bathroom!
You’re on your way to taking control of your day and achieving your goals in record time. Please share your journey with me. I’d love to know if you find this formula as successful as I have.
Great advice…. I’m going to follow every step!! How did you know I needed that? LOL
Great tips! I have found that writing out my to do list the night before not only eases my mind, but helps me sleep better! And yes, getting up before everyone else does….really helps me accomplish many things! Thanks for sharing!
Great plan ~ I do many of these myself. If I don’t, I feel exactly how you said – like the day just slips away from me without the important things being accomplished in the end. I try to “eat the frog” and get the big things over with first so I can have a feeling of accomplishment every day.
Wow, those are great steps, Marcy! It is going to take a lot to not open my emails first thing in the morning but I am going to give it a go! Great post!
Great insights and road map to getting the most out of our day! Will be implementing several of your tips! Thanks!
Great advice and tips! I like the idea of putting the alarm clock in the bathroom!
Love this article. Everyone can use tips on making our days more effective.
I love how you say that checking email first thing in the morning is like saying that someone else’s needs come before yours…GREAT way to reframe my habit of checking email first. Tomorrow it’s ME first: wake up one hour earlier, open my eyes, have a large glass of water on my front porch, decide that today is MY day for doing what feels good. Thanks for the reminder that I deserve it.
So glad to hear these tips have been helpful. Please check back in to let us know how effective they are for you. Jennifer’s comment about how writing her to do list before bed eases her mind and helps her sleep better is so true! I also keep my Iphone on my nightstand in case a “to do” comes to mind in the middle of the night–I’m able to type it in to my “reminders” so I can let it go and get right back to sleep!
I’m working on a blog for next week about our internal snooze button–looking forward to hearing your thoughts! Marcy
Great tips. A crucial part is #1. Writing your list down before bed. This allows your subconscious to process a productive method to complete your goals (all while you sleep)
You nailed this post! I have to STOP checking my email, etc first thing. Darn iPhone makes it all toooooooo easy and accessible! Thanks for the reminder! I need to check myself!
Thanks for the follow on twitter as well! Followed you right back of course!
xo
These are great tips! I’m the worst at checking email first thing in the morning – and then sometimes I forget to follow up on them!