Hello everyone!
I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July. Today I am going to be giving you some tips on how to increase your productivity and get more things done throughout the day, even in the summertime. Since I got back from my trip, I’ve constantly had lots of items on my to-do list and little things to catch up on. I’ve been slowly powering through all the tasks and I’m proud to say I’ve done at least a couple things each day, so here I am to pass on some advice to you!
Step 1: Write out your current list of to-dos the night before. Include everything, no matter how small or seemingly unimportant it is, just so you don’t forget. It will also feel nice to check off a bunch of things, even if they were small. This way you know what eventually needs to get done and once you see where you’re at during the day, you can pick and choose what to focus on.
Step 2: Use a planner or calendar to plan out appointments and such so you know what time is already blocked out from your day. I personally have been using Google Calendar during the summer, but during the school year I would use the planner my school provided. This kind of goes along with the to-do list since you have to keep updating it in advance, but it helps since you see what time you actually have to work besides the time you’re busy with actual engagements.
Step 3: Wake up early and start your day with a good breakfast almost immediately. It’s simple: if your day starts earlier, you’ll start getting stuff done earlier. Make a healthy breakfast and drink some water before getting ready for the day, and maybe go on a quick walk/get your daily workout in if you have one to get it out of the way. Then you can start tackling your duties!
Step 4: Group things that can all be knocked out at once. For example, if you need to buy a birthday gift and also an outfit for the birthday party, you can go to the mall later and buy both of these things. If you have to do a couple different chores at home, get them done during the same period of time. If you have to respond to a bunch of emails and also do some other tasks on the computer, do that all at once; I think you get the point now. This will have you completing more things within a shorter amount of time and also reducing the amount of places you will have to go to.
Step 5: Take breaks. You don’t need to be running around the whole day- if you’re insanely busy, at least make sure to take a lunch break. Recharge or even just work on the easier tasks like responding to texts/emails while you eat. This can also help you evaluate how much you’ve already gotten done as you reflect back on your to-do list and planner.
Step 6: Get the things you HAVE to do/most time-sensitive tasks done first thing, then more leisurely tasks later in the day when you’re starting to wind down. This will help you relax a little more while still keeping your productivity levels up, and it’s just important to keep your priorities in check. Something school or work related definitely comes before cleaning out your junk drawer, but as long as you manage your time, you can easily get both done!
Step 7: Eat healthy meals. I know I mentioned this before with having a healthy breakfast, but sugar slows you down and won’t make you feel good if you’re eating a bunch of it throughout the day. Eat your protein and veggies, and of course some carbs/sugar in moderation. As cheesy as it sounds, treat your body like the temple it is- you need to be in your best shape to keep working!
Step 8: For tasks that can’t just be completed in one sit-down, devote a block of time to work on them each day until they are finished. Put this block somewhere in your planner/calendar each day and give however many minutes you can/you think you’ll need (for most projects, 20-60 minutes should suffice). This way you know you have to work on it rather than procrastinate, but you won’t be sitting there working, bored and stressed for hours on end.
Step 9: Reward yourself for completing however many tasks you did during the day. I know there’s still a lot left on my to-do list (even with things being crossed off each day, there’s always things being added as well), but that’s just how it goes and it’s still great that I’ve been working to get as much done as possible each day. My grandparents are visiting and staying at my house so I’ve also been spending a lot of time with them, but I’ve still devoted a bunch of time to my daily tasks and other things I wanted to get done. Be proud of yourself for spending your day wisely, especially during the summer! Don’t forget that you have plenty of time to do all the things you need and want to do eventually- there’s no need to be stressed, continue enjoying the summer while you can!
Step 10: Continue to plan for the next day going forward and do it all again! Consistency and having a schedule really helps with productivity, so make sure you keep up with adding items to your to-do list and updating your planner or calendar. Have an idea of what you want to do each day, and make the most of your time (whether by doing a bunch of work, or just relaxing and enjoying the summer). I know you guys will accomplish great things either way, so just stay on top of your stuff and you will be golden.
I hope these steps helped clue you into how I’ve been trying to be productive this summer and how you can too! Let me know if this helped you or if you think there’s something I should add. I’ll talk to you guys soon- keep being productive.
-Brooke
adventures of a typical high school student 