How do you make the most of every day? You make every day count. The secret to doing that lies in paying attention to the small things you do.
It’s very easy to fall into those patterns where your brain just kind of shuts off. That’s usually what happens when you crowd your time with things like mindlessly browsing the internet or sitting in front of the TV. Over the last two years or so I felt almost as if I was slowly falling out of the pattern of intentional living. I noticed that I spent less time doing things that used to bring me joy, things that helped me grow and kept me feeling excited for each day. Once I’ve fallen out of that habit of constant growth, it was so hard to get my routine back to where it was. That’s when I had to remind myself, once again, that the key to making a change is to focus on those small daily habits. It’s all about taking it one step at a time.
Procrastination, poor time management, over-indulgence- these are things we’re all a little guilty of, right? None of it is a big deal until it becomes a daily habit where you find yourself just watching the days go by, waiting for the weekend, hoping something will change.
The first thing I did when trying to get back into the pattern of intentional living, was keeping track of where my time was going. I literally wrote down everything I did during the day, however productive or unproductive it was. This can be a real eye-opener if you find yourself not knowing where your time goes. Here are some of the other things that helped me take back control of my days and make the most of every single one of them.
7 WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY DAY
1. STAY ORGANIZED
Keep your space free of clutter, put things away “as you go” and it will make cleaning your space a lot easier and save you frustration whenever you’re in a rush or trying to find something. Each evening, I like to sit down with my calendar and draft a flexible plan for the next day. Doing this helps me stay organized as writing my “to do list” makes it easier to see how much and what kind of prepping I need to do for the next day.
2. TIME BLOCKING
As someone who is very easily distracted and has ADHD, I’ve always struggled with productivity. The thing is, I also hate not being productive and not getting things done or sitting around doing nothing always makes me feel anxious and can drive me crazy. Time-blocking turned out to be a game-changer for me as it provides a much-needed structure to my very often scattered mind. It also helps me make the most of every day as I set my schedule around my priorities and keep it very detailed to avoid getting lost in multitasking or distracted.
3. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS
When it comes to your goals– both big and small, personal and professional- the key is to just start and remember that change begins with a single step. Keeping track of your progress will help you make the most of every day, hold yourself accountable but it can also put things into perspective. How? Well, it’s easy to get discouraged when you don’t see or get immediate results. The truth is that most goals are accomplished by taking a small step or action, every single day. When you record every action you take toward your goal, however small, you notice your progress and make every day count.
4. PRIORITIZING
Prioritizing your daily tasks is the key to avoiding taking on too much or overfilling your time. There are times when you find yourself being incredibly busy, but at the end of the day you really haven’t accomplished much or haven’t done anything productive. Tackle your most important tasks first thing in the morning, or as soon as your schedule permits it. Yes, those “big” tasks are usually least-pleasant ones, difficult or time-consuming. It’s important to remember that your willpower is just like a muscle and the more you use it and practice prioritizing, the easier it becomes.
5. STAY ACTIVE
Science proves that people who stay physically active manage stress better. Working out during the workweek also improves focus, mood, and productivity. We all sometimes tend to overcomplicate the whole “exercise” thing, but the truth is that as little as 20-30 minutes of light to moderate exercise a day can make a big impact on your overall wellbeing and productivity.
6. BE PRESENT
How many times do you wake up and the next thing you know you’re back in your bed, getting ready to sleep? Some days can drag on forever, and some pass by very quickly- too quickly at times. Staying mindful and present during your mornings or the times you spend with people that are close to you will help you appreciate those little “everyday” things. You also become calmer and happier, the more you live in the “now.” Pay attention and be present (especially when interacting with others) instead of rushing through your day or wasting your time wishing you were someplace else.
7. UNWIND + RESET
One of the best ways to make the most of every day and really get a fresh start the next morning is to reset and decompress the night before and let go of all the stress of the day. Before you get to bed, take some time to unwind and relax. Some of my favorite ways to do this are through deep breathing exercises, meditation, journaling or things like self-massage (I recently started using this bed of nails mat which really helps me relax after a long day) or, if I have enough time and energy I’ll indulge in a long bath and an audiobook. The key is to find some time at the end of the day to reset a little, to do something you really love- this is especially important during times of higher stress.
29 Comments
Linda Libra Loca
January 31, 2019 at 3:42 amI agree, having an off day is perfectly fine as long as it is an intentional off day, These are important for wellbeing.
Anne|Linda, Libra, Loca
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 12, 2019 at 7:00 pmThey definitely are!
Anika May
January 31, 2019 at 5:27 amI definitely need to work on unwinding more! Working from home a lot means I sometimes forget to end the work day and go to sleep still thinking about work! Great tips x
Anika | anikamay.co.uk
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 12, 2019 at 7:00 pmI do a lot of work from home, too, so I can definitely relate. So important to know how to manage your work time + “home” time. Thanks for reading, Anika!
Lisa Autumn
January 31, 2019 at 5:39 amSO motivational babe!
x Lisa | lisaautumn.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 12, 2019 at 7:00 pmAw thanks, Lisa.
Shannon
January 31, 2019 at 7:36 amThis has given me so much motivation to make the most out of my days, I spend way to much time procrastinating, so these are really brilliant tips to stop me from doing so!
Shannon | https://shannonmichelle1.blogspot.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 12, 2019 at 7:12 pmAww so happy to hear that, Shannon! Thank you so much for reading!
Fortune Dushey
January 31, 2019 at 9:32 amThese are all great recommendations! Thanks for all the tips:)
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 12, 2019 at 7:12 pmThank you for reading, Fortune!
Elisabeth
January 31, 2019 at 9:59 amLove these tips – thank you so much for sharing!
xo, Elisabeth
https://athomewithelisabeth.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 12, 2019 at 7:12 pmThank you so much, Elisabeth!
Susan
January 31, 2019 at 2:53 pmThese are really great tips.
Reading is another before-sleep ritual that is a wonderful habit to adopt.
http://a-woman-of-a-certain-age.com/
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 12, 2019 at 7:13 pmYes! Reading is such a good way to unwind.
Geneveve Caren
January 31, 2019 at 6:19 pmThank you for these amazing tips. This gives me such motivation & inspiration!
Caren | http://www.genevevecaren.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 12, 2019 at 7:13 pmAw thanks so much, Caren!
Lisa Santos
January 31, 2019 at 6:31 pmGreat tips! xx
http://www.thelisasworld.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 12, 2019 at 7:13 pmThank you!
L'queen
January 31, 2019 at 8:56 pmThis was very helpful. It’s important to declutter and prioritize. I feel like doing that in the last couple of months has helped me a lot. Thanks Paula
http://www.lqueenwrites.com
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 12, 2019 at 7:13 pmThank you so much, Beauty! Decluttering once in a while can be so refreshing and really helps finding that focus again.
Julia Speaks
February 2, 2019 at 10:12 amI unconsciously do most of these things already, especially planning – I’ve been planning and scheduling for years now and it is a habit that has never let me down. I always know where I’m going, and I even plan in some reset time – so that I make sure that I don’t drown myself in tasks and to-dos. Thank you for sharing your advice!
Julia x
Last Post: Why I Fell Back in Love With Fashion Basics | https://juliaspeaksbeauty.blogspot.com/2019/01/fashion-why-i-fell-back-in-love-with.html
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 12, 2019 at 7:18 pmThat’s so great, Julia! It sounds like we have a similar habit when it comes to planning. I definitely need to force myself to have some kind of a schedule/structure, otherwise I’m all over the place, haha! Thank you so much for reading!
Claire | Rose Tinted
February 2, 2019 at 2:57 pmThis was a great post with really useful tips, that I definitely need right now! Thank you :-) xx
Claire | Rose-Tinted
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 12, 2019 at 7:18 pmThanks so much, Claire!
Samileen
February 4, 2019 at 4:27 amTime blocking is something I have started doing. And its soo helpful.
Saman || Beautydetour
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 12, 2019 at 7:24 pmRight? I don’t know what I’d do without it.
The Sunday Mode
February 5, 2019 at 6:12 amI find exercising has really helped me to become more productive overall. I’ve always exercised but I’ve really stepped it up over the past month. I find working out harder makes me feel like I can do anything, and then that thought carries throughout the day and I get more stuff done.
Julia // The Sunday Mode
Paula @ lifestylegleam.com
February 12, 2019 at 7:24 pmThere’s something about exercise that just makes life better in general. I love the feeling of getting stronger and it definitely somehow translates into daily life and other goals.
chitranshi raletta
May 29, 2019 at 8:00 amThis has given me so much motivation. Thank you for these amazing tips.
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