6 Ways to Get More Done Every Day and Feel Great

Do you wish there was a way to get more done in a day? You’re not alone. Many people feel as though there just aren’t enough hours in a day. The problem may not be the number of hours you put in at work or school but the way you approach tasks you want to accomplish. Here are six easy ways to get more done in a day without killing yourself.

1. Break Up Those Big Projects

Whether you need to write a paper or create a presentation for a big client, you shouldn’t try to complete the entire task at once. Break large projects into small, manageable tasks that you can tackle every day. This will help resist the temptation to procrastinate because the job seems so big you don’t know where to start.

2. Figure Out What You Really Need to Get Done

There will always be tasks that need to get done yesterday or multiple demands on your time. An important part of accomplishing more in a day is to prioritize tasks, even when everything seems to be imperative.

Here are some quick tips to help you prioritize:

What tasks are due today? Are their consequences to not getting certain things done today? Are there other people depending on your completing certain tasks today? Do you need to complete specific tasks today in order to complete specific tasks tomorrow?

Answering these questions each day as you ponder your to-do list over your morning coffee will help you ensure you complete tasks that have to be done and save what should be done for later.

3. Schedule Urgent Tasks in the Morning

One of your worst enemies in your battle to get things done is decision-fatigue. Your mind has limited resources when it comes to decision making and will power. Once those resources are exhausted you tend to be indecisive, procrastinate more, and give in to the coffee cake that is calling to you from the lunch room.

Once you have prioritized your to-do list, you need to make sure you schedule the most important tasks for the morning, when you are full of decision juice (and caffeine). Then you can complete less important tasks in the afternoon when you may not be at full power but still have some resources left to make decisions.

4. Know When to Take a Break

Did you know that when you take more breaks during the day you will get more done? That’s right, you now have a legitimate excuse to give your boss when they see you talking to your co-workers or popping into the breakroom. Taking frequent breaks improves focus and retention as well as preserving your mind’s ability to make decisions.

There are different break methods that you can try, including:

Work for 25 minutes and then take a break for 5 minutes (known as the Pomodoro Cycle) Work for 90 minutes and then take a break for 20 minutes (which copies your sleep rhythm) Work for 53 minutes and then take a break for 17 minutes (a combination of the first two

methods)

You may need to try each of these methods for a few days to figure out which one works best for you, but you will be amazed at how much more you will get done without burning out your brain.

5. Don’t Forget to Eat

One of the worse things you can do when you are busy is to skip meals. Your mind needs fuel to accomplish all of those important tasks. Of course, if you eat too much at a meal or eat sugary foods then you are going to sabotage your performance. Try to stick to snacks that will fuel your brain, such as:

Guacamole or avocados Chocolate Nuts Caffeine (in moderation) Water Popcorn or whole grain crackers

These snacks will keep you hydrated, feed your brain, and give you the energy you need to keep working on that to-do list.

6. Make Sure You Exercise

Exercising during you lunch break or mini-breaks throughout the day will help you stay focused, give you energy and provide vital oxygen to your brain. You don’t need to go to the gym at lunch to lift weights to include exercise into your schedule. Other ways to exercise at work or while studying include:

Walk the halls (even a 20-minute walk is beneficial) Use water bottles as weights to do arm exercises Stretch your legs out at your desk Stretch your arms at your desk Stretch your core and back at your desk

By putting less on your schedule, getting urgent work done first and taking more breaks you will find you will accomplish more during the day while performing quality work. Eating and exercising throughout the day will keep your energy levels up and your need to fidget down. You can get it all done if you remember to work smart instead of hard.