Ever have those days where you can’t seem to stay on top of your endless to-do list? Things keep piling up and you can’t figure out where to start or how to get things done? It’s ok to feel overwhelmed sometimes, and more importantly, it’s ok to seek help when you are feeling this way.
To us, every month is Mental Health Awareness Month, so it’s important to balance both productivity and self-care. While we are quick to prioritize our goals, there are ways to achieve them while keeping your wellbeing at the forefront.
No matter how much you love (or don’t love) your job, it’s only that: a job. We are so quick to get wrapped up in the nine to five that we don’t spend the time focusing on our own wellbeing. At the end of the day, your physical and mental health are the main priority. You’re not going to perform well at work if you’re not feeling like the best version of yourself. Starting a mindful practice for yourself not only helps reduce stress, but even improves brain structure in the parts of the brain responsible for the body's reaction to stress. One of the easiest ways to begin, is by creating a mindful space.
When checking off your to-do list, break tasks down into achievable steps. If the task is too large, it can be intimidating and cause you unnecessary stress. Make sure to be realistic and thoughtful in the way you go about your daily tasks.
A great starting place: write it down. The best way to turn a goal into a task is by writing it into existence. It’s way easier to ignore a fleeting thought that crosses your mind than a written reminder. If you need to get something done, writing it down is your first step toward completing it.
Next, set and determine milestones for your goals. Identify what you need to do and how long it will take to do it, especially for those larger, more complex tasks. You might try setting reminders, or even using a pomodoro timer, to help you stay on schedule and keep track of any adjustments you need to make.
When you have a lot on your plate, it’s easy to bite off more than you can chew. While chipping away at multiple things at once seems like a good idea, you may not actually be getting anything significant done. Studies show that multitasking is distracting and can impede on your productivity. As your mind shifts from task to task, it takes longer to get into a constructive rhythm.
Avoid this and stay on top of appointments, meetings, and downtime by carefully scheduling out your time. Add commitments into your schedule as they pop up to avoid double booking or missing any important dates. This way you can make sure to keep a balanced routine with an organized schedule.
Sometimes, it can be easy to forget that there is such a thing as too much. Scheduling too many things in one day can cause stress, anxiety, and a decrease in productivity. If you’re trying to successfully complete your to-do list, try not to overbook yourself to the point where you don’t have time to get things done. Make sure your schedule is manageable so you can complete your tasks, prepare for the next day, and have some time for yourself.
Your to-do list means nothing if you don’t have an organized workflow and schedule. It’s pretty hard to get things done if you’re not keeping track of deadlines and having consistent scheduling conflicts. The best way to combat this is by keeping a detailed calendar and a solid routine.
For a less hectic planner, consider color coding your daily tasks. Having a solid color system in place can help organize your schedule; for example, you can categorize based on priority, such as red for deadlines, yellow for appointments, and green for personal plans. As you look at a colored snapshot of your day, you’ll know right off the bat what you need to complete and what you can reschedule if necessary.
Nothing says organization quite like a routine. If you go about each day with no set schedule, time management is nearly impossible. Following a routine helps your brain create habits, which makes it easier to achieve everyday tasks and keep you from overwhelming your to-do list.
If you’re looking at a busy day ahead, you’ll need all the energy you can get. Start the day off on the right foot with Mindful Eating. Combining your mindfulness practice and eating foods that provide sustainable energy, is a win-win, setting yourself up for a positive and productive day.
Aside from a healthy start, it’s also important to be mindful of technology use throughout the day. The convenience of technology cannot be beat; our devices are a planner, camera, alarm clock, and communication hub all rolled into one.