Ever feel like there’s just not enough time in the day? Like maybe if you had just a few more hours, you could accomplish more?
We all get the same 24 hours in a day; however, many of us do not maximize that time & use it to our advantage. I know this used to be true for me. I used to feel like I didn’t have enough time to get done what I needed to do – & more importantly get done what I wanted to do – in a given day.
But I found a way! Instead of making excuses about how much time I didn’t have, I began to change my daily habits so that I could best maximize every hour of my day.
Here are four lifestyle changes to make if you want to get time back on your side, boost your daily productivity & live your best life every day:
Have a daily morning routine
The way you start your day sets the tone for how it will play out. In fact, I would go as far as saying that the first hour of your day is the most important hour of your day. What you do in this time will either make or break your ability to conquer what’s ahead.
One of the cornerstones of my morning routine is waking up, getting out of bed & staying out of bed. I even make my bed right after waking up so I’m not tempted to crawl back underneath the covers for a “few more minutes” of sleep. Sure it’s not be fun at first, but I thank myself later when I’m not feeling rushed in the morning.
A great morning routine also includes having a balanced breakfast, drinking plenty of water & doing some exercise. In addition, you want to wake up with plenty of time before you need to go to work so that you are not rushing around.
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
Visualize your days
Another piece of my morning routine & a key to getting time on your side is visualizing the day when waking up. This includes making a to-do list of what needs to be accomplished for the day, as well as asking big questions like “What can I do today that will make me better than I was yesterday?” or “How will I achieve my goals today?” (If you don’t have goals for yourself, checkout my article on why you need them.)
Visualizing your day not only allows you to map out how the day will go, but it will inspire you to achieve great things. I love visualizing what I want to accomplish at the start of my day & then reflecting back on my achievements at the end. This is a great source of motivation that keeps me focused on what is important so I can use my time wisely to achieve those things.
In addition to creating daily to-do lists, use a calendar to keep yourself on track for days or weeks in advance. Whether you prefer an app on your phone or an old fashioned paper version, a well-kept calendar will keep your schedule in order & give you things to look forward to.
Do you take time to visualize your days?
Limit the time you spend watching TV or using your phone
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spends almost three hours a day watching TV. In addition, Statistica.com reports that the average person worldwide spends 2.25 hours a day on social media. Although some of this usage may be productive, don’t kid yourself if you spend most of your time binge watching Netflix or snooping on the latest Facebook argument.
Spending too much time on electronic devices will kill your ability to maximize your time & do more with your day. Think about it! If the average person is spending close to a combined five hours a day on their phone or watching TV, imagine what else could accomplished in that time instead.
I used to spend an incredible amount of time watching TV & using my phone (far more than the averages listed above). One of the best things I ever did to reduce the time I spent on my phone is simply turning off notifications & ringtones/vibrations. Rather than have every possible notification grab my attention & distract me from other things I could be doing, I’ve limited my notifications to just texts & phone calls. Not only has this boosted my productivity, but it has also done wonders for my mental health since I’m no longer constantly worried about things on social media that don’t have much of an effect on my every day life.
In terms of limiting TV use, I recommend finding a hobby you enjoy so much that it makes watching TV seem like a waste of time. For example, a great hobby that I’ve taken up recently is hiking, which allows me to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors & get some exercise. When I do watch TV, it is usually at the end of the night after I’ve accomplished everything I wanted to do for the day.
How much time are spending each day on your phone or watching TV?
Keep up with healthy habits
Our bodies are like machines. When they’re not taken care of properly, they won’t work properly.
Basic things like daily exercise, good sleep, stress relief & a healthy diet are crucial to anyone being able to live their best life. In addition, we are able to maximize our time best when our bodies are functioning at their best.
Everyone’s heard of the countless benefits that these practices bring, but sometimes our daily lives make it much easier said than done. Just like anything else, it is important to set goals for yourself to achieve these things if you are struggling to do so. I’ve found that it is easier to make small changes that eventually turn into routine lifestyle choices. Simple things like drinking more water or taking a few minutes each day for self care can turn into life long habits that spur other changes as well.
What healthy habits do you practice every day?
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How do you plan to start putting some of these lifestyle changes into action? What other things do you do to keep time on your side? Was this article helpful? Comment below & let me know what you think!
Andrew Kissling 