Following the long weekend, you may be eager to be more productive. These tips will help.
Planning – Kill the to-do list and convert tasks to a calendar. You'll be forced to choose your priorities and needs.
Add personal goals, rest periods, and strategy time to your schedule and stay off email, social media, and news.
For recurring activities, plan them all one time. For example, pick all your outfits (well, shirts) once instead of deciding daily.
Changes – Connect positive habits with normal ones. For example, add a 7-min HIIT before your shower.*
For big goals, concentrate on next steps. Celebrate each and every step -- sounds silly, but proven to reinforce behavior.
Accountability – Act like someone is watching. This belief makes us work harder.
For me, I track progress weekly recording accomplishments, lessons, and goals making notes which could be shared.
Work - Determine your energy cycle and complete the most important projects during your highest energy levels.
Attack the hardest task first** and it will set the vibe.
During open periods, block notifications and work in shifts of 45 minutes with 15 minute breaks.
Continuous improvement does not mean constant growth. Expect setbacks. Evaluate and keep the tips which work.
* Much obliged to BJ Fogg for the thoughts on positive habits. His book, Tiny Habits, continues to impress me. Also, many versions of the 7-minute HIIT appear on the internet, it works almost anywhere, and it’s been shown to increase muscle mass.
** Mark Twain declared, “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.”