How to plan a productive day

In the previous post, we talked about how to plan a productive week. Once you’ve got a handle on the week, it becomes easier to make the most of each day. That’s what I’ll be talking about in this post: how to plan each day to best use your time.

Click here to get templates for planning your week and your day!

Start the day off right

Have you ever overslept and it threw off your entire day? Your morning sets the tone for the rest of the day, so try to create a morning routine to set yourself up for success. This varies for everyone, but you know you best. What will give you the best start to the day? A relaxing morning with coffee and reading, starting the day with a workout, cooking a hearty breakfast. Whatever gets you in the right mindset to start the day, plan enough time to do it. If you’re not sure, try out some different routines and see what sticks.

Choose your Top Three

Do you ever make a to-do list for the day, determined to get everything done, and then get discouraged at the end of the day when you’ve only accomplished half? That’s totally normal. Not only is it discouraging, it makes it easier to procrastinate the big things that should get done for the smaller tasks that feel more urgent. To prevent both outcomes, forgo the to-do list in favor of a Top Three.

Using your Goals list for the entire week and the schedule you made when calendar blocking, choose the top three things that need to get done that day. I also call this a “success list.” What do you need to do today to feel successful when you go to bed tonight? This includes things from all areas of your life, not just creating. Packing for a trip, going to the gym, resting to recover from a cold, sending that one email: if it needs to get done today, make it a Top Three.

You can also create a separate to-do list if you really can’t narrow it down to three, but commit to finishing those Top Three before moving on to anything else.

Start with the big tasks

It’s natural to want to procrastinate the big tasks of the day that you’re nervous about or just don’t want to do. It might be working out or sending an email or cleaning the kitchen. Instead of putting it off for later, tackle it first. It’s likely one of your Top Three anyway, so go ahead and get it done. You’ll feel better having it off your plate, and it will motivate you to keep going

Take time to reflect

At the end of the day, take a few minutes to look back at your day. Whether it’s taking some time to journal, meditate, or just think back over what happened, carve out a few minutes to reflect on your day—what worked, what you’d like to change, what you’re grateful for, what you want to work on tomorrow. Just like each week it’s important to go over the previous week, doing this routine each day will provide a nice sense of closure for the day and give you a starting point for the next.

When you plan your day, recognize that you’re human. You can’t work for twelve hours straight without a break and maintain a good quality of work. So when you’re planning your day, schedule times to take a break. Whether that’s reading or watching YouTube or going for a walk, give yourself time to relax and rejuvenate so you can keep your productivity and creativity up.

Want to get a jump start on planning? Click here to get templates for planning your week and day to make the most of your time!

Featured image by Emma Matthews