The Secrets Of How To Take Control Of Your Day

Do you want to take control of your day, become more organized and learn how to stay focused? If so, read this article!

Do you want to take control of your day, become more organized and learn how to stay focused? If so, read this article!

If you are like most people, you probably get distracted by other tasks before you even start writing your daily schedule. You might go through your emails or social media accounts first instead of getting started with your task list. However, if you set aside some time every night to write down all of the things that you need to complete during the next day, it will be easier for you to stay focused on one task at a time.

Most people feel like they are out of control. They feel like they are on a roller coaster that they can't get off. The good news is that you can take control of your day. In this article, we will share with you some tips on how to do that.

How to take back control of your time

red brick wall with live, work, create. quote

We should use our time wisely because we never know when we'll be gone. Time passes quickly, and we need to make the most of every day.

We need to:

  • take more control over our life.

  • plan ahead and schedule things better.

  • stop doing unnecessary tasks and start prioritizing what needs to be done first.

  • learn how to say 'no' when we really mean it.

Time management is an important aspect of life. We all need to manage our time well. There are many ways to achieve this goal. We should be aware of how much time we spend each day, what activities we engage in, and how we allocate our time. We must also know when to stop working and relax.

To find answers to these and related questions, we consulted professionals in time management and productivity coaches. We asked them what stops people from taking back control of their free time and time at work. We also asked them about actionable advice on taking back control of our free time and time at work.

Make the Most of the Morning

Wake up early to take control of your day

Mornings are the time to start your day off in the correct direction. To start your day off with intention and a plan, countless leaders attribute as the key to success. Admiral William McRaven delivers a commencement address to the graduating class at UT Austin in a graduation speech. He says, "I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you've done for me. You're my heroes. And I'm going to be forever grateful to you."

He said that if you make your bed every morning, you'll feel proud about yourself and be more motivated to complete other tasks. By the end of each day, you'll have done several things that you didn't think you could accomplish.

Successful people start the night before creating a to-do list for tomorrow. They prioritize tasks and make sure they get done. They also check off completed items to see how well they did.

President Obama wears only gray or blue suits and he doesn't eat anything. He:

  • doesn't wear any jewelry.

  • tries to limit his decision making by eliminating mundane decisions such as what he's going to wear or eat.

  • breaks down large tasks into smaller tasks and groups them together.

Block out time in your calendar

You'll be able to see how long each task takes and whether you need to adjust your schedule accordingly.

Cal Newport recommends scheduling time for focused work. Scheduling time for focused work helps you manage your time better. You get more accurate feedback about how much free time you really have.

Reflections come from yesterday. Key moments or conversations that were important to reflect on. What behaviors do we want to repeat? Where do we need to change? These questions allow us to reflect on what kind of leader we want to be.

Self-reflection is powerful because it helps us focus our attention on what we really want to accomplish. We should reflect on ourselves every day to see if we're doing what we want to do.

Set goals

When people think about taking control of their day, they often think about time management. But one of the most important parts is actually setting goals. Do you have goals? If so, take a few minutes to write them down. Write down what you want your life to look like in three years. What are your career goals? Do you want to have a family one day?

By setting goals, you are literally telling yourself that you are going to take control of your day. You know where you are going, and this makes it easier to take control of your day.

Why Time Blocking Works

Time blocking is a great way to manage your time. You should be able to focus on one thing at a time without being distracted by other things. This method helps you stay focused on what you need to do.

You set aside specific blocks of time for important tasks or projects. Your schedule is broken down into chunks of time where each task or project is completed. At the end of the day you feel like you accomplished something.

Batch Similar Tasks

Batched tasks are great because you can get more done in less time. Emailing back and forth takes up too much time. Creating video blogs takes up too much time as well. Pre-prepared meals are great because you can eat healthier. Meal prep on Sunday is great because you can save money and time by eating healthy foods during the week.

You should batch your jobs as much as possible. This will save time and energy.

Develop Your List

Start by making a list of everything that needs to be done for the week. Include all your work projects, family commitments, even your physical fitness goals. The goal is to include everything from the phone calls you need to make, the meals you need prepare, and even your exercise goals.

I need to complete my homework by Monday morning.

Determine Your Priorities

Determine Your Priorities with a to do list in order to take control of your day

I'll try to do my top priority first thing in the morning. My second priority will be done after lunch. And then I'll spend the rest of the afternoon responding to email, returning phone calls, and checking social media.

Create a Daily Blueprint

Create a morning ritual to help you take control of your day

You should plan out what you need to do every day. Create a schedule for yourself. Don't forget to include exercise, sleep, and eating. Plan out your daily activities.

A sample blueprint for someone who works from home might look like this:

  • 5:45 a.m. to 6:15 a.m. Wake Up.

  • 6:15 a. m. to 6:45 a.m.. Exercise.

  • 6:45 a. m. to 7:15 a.m.. Breakfast.

  • 7:15 a. m.-7:45 a.m.: Get Kids Ready for School.

  • 7:45 a. m.-8:15 a.m.: Check Email.

  • 8:15 a.m.-9:30 a.m.: Work on Priorities.

  • 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m: Break.

  • 10:30 a. m.-11:00 a.m.: Return Phone Calls.

I'm going to work hard today because my priority project is really important. My lunch break starts at noon, and I'll be busy answering emails and checking social media during lunch. After lunch, I'll get back to working on my priority project. When my kids return from school, we'll discuss what happened today.

Team meetings, training, and conference calls should be accounted for when calculating your hours worked. Also, ensure you include travel time when calculating your hours worked if you're traveling for business purposes. Finally, you may want to create a different schedule for the weekends.

People who need to be flexible in their schedules should try using a calendar planner. This type of planner allows you to make changes as needed. People who prefer a more rigid schedule can use a weekly planner.

Block Off Your Entire Day

You should start writing your weekly plan as soon as possible because you need to get started before you forget what you should do. Make sure you block out time for each task and then schedule them accordingly.

You should schedule your work into blocks of time. This helps you avoid procrastination. You should know how much time you need to spend on each report section. It would be best if you started working on the first part of the report as soon as possible.

Plan Your Work Day Hour by Hour

Scheduling your workday hourly helps you stay focused and intentional throughout your workday. You'll know what needs to be done when, and you won't let yourself get distracted by other people's agendas.

I'm going to use my time block template to manage my daily tasks. I'll start by looking at my calendar and seeing what needs to be done today. Then I'll write down everything I need to do. After that, I'll review my to-do list and prioritize them according to their importance. Finally, I'll ensure I finish everything before leaving the office.

Take A Break From Work

Burnout is inevitable when you're working too much. It would be best if you took some time off every once in awhile.

You should take regular vacations. Time off from work helps increase productivity, creativity, and focus.

Taking breaks helps restore motivation in a study by the university of Illinois. Even briefly stepping away from a task or project can dramatically improve motivation and concentration. Research shows that taking breaks can renew and strengthen motivation.

Employees who take frequent breaks are more productive than those who don't. Breaks help them stay focused and reduce stress.

Remind yourself of the benefits of taking a break

We get burned out, stressed, and less productive when we work too much. We need to take breaks to reduce these problems.

Conclusion

Taking control of your day isn't easy, but it is possible. It starts with prioritizing your to-do list and breaking down tasks into blocks of time. It would be best if you also got organized and take action on your goals every day.

So now that you know just how easy it is to take control of your day , what are you waiting for? All you have to do is wake up a little earlier, turn off your computer and TV and get to work. Remember that it is important for you to think about what you want to accomplish before you start each day.

These steps will help you take control of your day. It won’t be easy, but it is worth it. Follow these tips and you will be on your way to a more productive day!

References

Steel, P. (2007). The nature of procrastination: A meta-analytic and theoretical review of quintessential self-regulatory failure. Psychological Bulletin, 133(1), 65-94.

https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2006-23417-004

Ariely, D., & Wertenbroch, K. (2002). Procrastination, deadlines, and performance: Self-control by precommitment. Psychological Science, 13(3), 219-224.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1111/1467-9280.00441

Ferrari, J. R. (1992). Psychometric validation of two procrastination inventories for adults: Arousal and avoidance measures. Journal of psychopathology and behavioral assessment, 14(2), 97-110.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00964897

Covey, S. R. (2004). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Restoring the Character Ethic. Simon and Schuster.

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-7-Habits-of-Highly-Effective-People/Stephen-R-Covey/9780743269513