Have you ever heard of the Pareto principle?
This principle states that a mere 20% of causes is responsible for 80% of effects. This principle is often used in business management, but you know what, this principle can apply to how we run our lives too!
Because oftentimes we find ourselves overwhelmed by all the things we need to do. Sometimes the day has not started yet we are already feeling tired. Isn’t it that the minute we wake up, we are already bombarded with things that demand our attention? And they’re coming from all directions! Our phone, television, laptop, emails, and even from the toxic people around us. We equate business with productivity but is this really the case? At the end of the day ask yourself if you really hit your goal for the day just because you were busy? Chances are, you did not, and have to reset again the next day.
Pre-planning your day will protect you from distractions that could derail you from meeting your daily goals.
Why Schedule Your Day?
Organization breeds inspiration and knowing what lies ahead will keep you motivated.
You can get more done and are less likely to forget tasks or become sidetracked.
Scheduling your day will help you decrease your stress and make you feel more in control of your life.
Simply put, your chances of having a burnout is minimized when you organize.
How to Schedule Your Day
Check your calendar or planner every night to prepare for the day ahead.
Prioritize your tasks. Come on, think clearly. What are the really important things that you should do today? What can wait? Ideally your daily schedule should bring you closer to the achievement of your long term goals. So - which tasks will contribute the most to the fulfillment of your dreams? Also ask - do you really have to do everything yourself? Do not be afraid to delegate. Let other people’s strengths work for you as you optimize your own strengths too. Streamline your tasks…and simplify your life. (A cool tip is color-coding your tasks based on what facet of your life it covers then make sure they are balanced, with each aspect given its due attention.) Ticking off your tasks will surely make you feel accomplished everyday. One tip though is to do the most difficult task first – and the rest will be a breeze. Surely if hitting your goals everyday becomes a habit, what will then stop you from achieving your long-term goals?
Block time for each task. And stick to it. Do not spend any more time than planned else you will find yourself lagging behind schedule. Do not linger! Do not fuss making sure everything is perfect or you will just end up not finishing your task. Perfectionism is the worst!
Don’t multitask. Thinking of lumping tasks together to get things done faster? Studies show this is actually counterproductive. You ought to know that multitasking is a myth - you are simply switching from one task to another. According to the research by the American Psychological Association, multitasking is 40% more inefficient and ineffective than focusing on one task at a time. This is due to the lag time while your brain shifts attention from one task to the other. The difference is especially glaring for more complex tasks. Multitasking leads to the degradation of the quality of your work. Nothing beats focus in terms of churning out superb, stellar work.
Just as a captain steers his ship, so should you control your day. Otherwise, you will just be buffeted by the wind without having anything to show for it.
“Either you run the day or the day runs you.”
-Quote by: Jim Rohn #PakHChau #Productivitytips #Scheduleyourday