To-Do Lists, Time Blocking, and More: 6 Ways To Plan Your Day!
Are you craving a bit of organization in your life? The need for a good structure to your day is something that often occurs to self-starters and freelancers who don't have the typical 9-5 structure to adhere to. The right organization will help you be more productive and really get into the flow of your work.
But it may take a while to find the right choice for you. In today's blog, let's talk about 6 ways to organize your day and kick your motivation into high gear!
#1 - To-Do Lists
Does your task load feel daunting and overwhelming? To-do lists are a great simple organization structure that helps you visualize everything you need to do in the day and break it down into achievable steps.
There's no fuss to a to-do list. You simply write down your list of tasks on a sheet of paper, a whiteboard, or somewhere on your computer. Once you finish a task, cross it off or place a check next to it. You'll be surprised how satisfying it can be!
If you have a large task, you can break it into several steps so that it's more manageable. You can also split your to-do list into "musts" (things you have to accomplish for the day) and "mights" (things you'd like to accomplish, but it's okay if you don't). Do what works best for you!
#2 - Time Blocking
Time blocking is an excellent option for those who need high structure in order to stay on track. With time blocking, you plot out your entire day, hour by hour. You start with the time that you wake up, then allot a reasonable amount of time for things like meals, work, exercise, even leisure.
The important thing with time blocking is to forgive yourself if you get off track. Days rarely go completely according to plan. Think of your time block as a roadmap for the day, or better yet an itinerary. But if you don't get to everything, just try again tomorrow.
#3 - Daily Goals
If you're an ambitious go-getter who likes to work towards a goal, consider setting daily goals. You can break these goals up into different categories: work goals, social goals, personal goals, home goals, health goals, and financial goals, for instance. This essentially works like a to-do list. Write down your goals, and when you meet them, cross them off. You can even reward yourself for hitting certain goals!
#4 - Stagger Work and Rest
Need to work on your work-life balance? Especially for those who work from home or are self-employed, staggering work and rest can be a healthy way to balance things out and stay refreshed and motivated. Think about it like a pomodoro method for the day: spend a set amount of time working, then take some time to rest, then get back to work, then back to rest.
The key here is to realize that work and rest are equally important. They also rely on each other. Work without rest leads to burnout. Rest without work can lead to listlessness. Both tend to go smoothest when they're hand-in-hand.
#5 - Mix and Match
You don't have to stick to just one organization method. Try mixing and matching. Maybe you want to try some light time blocking, but you also want to have a list of tasks to cross off. Maybe there are days when you need to stagger work and rest and other days when you need to really focus towards a particular goal. Your organization style should work best for you, so play around with it until you get the right combination.
#6 - Play It By Ear
Sometimes the best form of organization is to not plot out your day ahead of time. While some prefer structure and set lines, others really thrive in the freedom of flexibility. If your days tend to have a lot of variety, it may help to make your schedule a little more loosely. Leave lots of room for your plans to change, and even change things up from day to day based on what you think will help you the most.
The important thing is to work out a way to plan your way that puts you in the most motivated headspace. For that, Motivation Depot is here to help! Check out the rest of our blog for regular insights into motivation and goal setting.
