If you want to be more productive and recapture your free time, try this! Organize tomorrow, today. As soon as you open your eyes, you're already clear about what needs to be done.
It’s much more effective than trying to plan your day as you go.
It is best to do this in the evening, when you’re thinking more clearly and objectively about the next day. It’s easy to plan a trip to the gym the day before. It’s not as easy to do it on the same day when it’s raining, and you’re just not in the mood.
The best time to plan tomorrow is today!
Here are five quick steps you can do tonight to boost your tomorrow.
1. What do you want to accomplish? Depending on your job, health, family, hobbies, and life in general, what you want to accomplish will vary. Make a list of all the things you want to get done tomorrow. Include tasks that help you to reach your goals. Your list might look like this:
Make a nutritious lunch for kids.
Be at the office by 7:45.
Give a great presentation at work at 2:00pm.
Speak with an employee about frequent absences.
Eat a healthy lunch.
Work out for 30 minutes.
Practice piano for 30 minutes.
Make a dentist appointment
2. What are the best ways to accomplish those tasks? Think of your resource constraints (including time) and determine the best way for you to finish the tasks you’ve identified as most important. The key is to be specific so you've already got a plan.
What foods will you include in your child’s lunch?
What is the best route to get to work? What time do I have to get up in order to be at work by 7:45?
What do I need to do to be prepared for the presentation? Do I need to reserve a room? Who should be present?
What will I have for lunch? Will I bring it or go out to eat?
What type of workout will I do? Where?
3. What are the obstacles you’re likely to face? Consider everything that might get in your way and develop a plan that will address those obstacles. If something goes wrong, how are you going to handle it?
Make a plan that has the greatest possibility of avoiding the fewest obstacles as possible.
4. When are you going to do your tasks? Decide when you’re going to do each of the items on your list. Making a time commitment to yourself makes it less likely that you'll change it.
5. Evaluate your day and try again. At the end of the day, take a look what you got done and and look for ways to do better. Use what you learned to improve your process.
What did you accomplish?
What did you fail to get done?
When are you going to do it?
What could you have done better?
Make the most important decisions about your day the night before. The day is for executing, not deciding.
Save your decision-making time for the evening when you can be more objective and thoughtful.
Do this for a few days and you'll find you have more focus during the day because you're checking things off your to-do list. You'll find you have more time to relax, too!
We made a free printable daily planner for you, if you'd like to give it a try!It's perfect to list your top 3 priorities and schedule your day.
