Your day can be a success... Or not. Everything depends on whether you manage your day or let your tasks to manage you. I’ll give you 3 easy ways for you to manage your day better.
There was a time some years back when my to-do list grew and grew. Why? Every day, there were a zillion urgent tasks I felt I had to do, and the strategic ones stayed on my list for months... No, actually, for years!
And as a result, I was a total mess. I was totally stressed out as I couldn't control and manage my working day. I had let everybody else dictate what I should do as a perfect business owner.
All the following tips on how to manage your day better are my favourite ones, and I can honestly tell you -- they've come into my life the hard way. I discovered them when had to start taking care of myself after my burnout.
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1. Start saying "no"
You don't have to do everything that other people (let's call them experts) suggest.
Need some examples? Here it goes... There are a lot of articles and books on social media and marketing. And, of course, there are all these various mandatory marketing channels listed. And no, you don't have to go everywhere at once! Take it easy and start with one of them!
And similar way, you don't have to do everything (actually, anything) what other people ask you to do, even if they say you're best in this... or something like that. No, no, no! Please check first whether you have time and energy to make these favours. It's not in your interest to exhaust yourself and make longer (working)days only to please somebody else.
2. Cut your big tasks into smaller pieces
Do you know how to eat an elephant or mammut or even cow? You just cut it into small pieces. The same principle applies with big projects and big tasks. Our mind goes immediately into panic mode when it sees this huuuuuuge task. And the result? It does everything to delay the start. When you cut your huge task into smaller tasks, these seem to be totally manageable. You can see the differences for yourself – a big launch on all possible channels versus finding a suitable photo from stock photo site for your Instagram graphics.
3. Make use of your waiting time
Did you know that according to a Timex survey, Americans wait on average of 20 minutes a day for the bus or train? And according to the Fact Site, the average person throughout their lifetime spends five years waiting in lines and queues where roughly six months of that is waiting at traffic lights. Same website states that people spend 20 minutes a day on the toilet, which over the course of 80 years sums up to roughly 13 months and 1 week. Additionally, you're waiting when your coffee gets ready, when your computer stops installing a new version of some software (AGAIN!!!!), when your favourite TV show starts, or for when you can take the dinner out of the oven. Actually, you could use this time to:
- read that article you saved into Pockets, bookmarks, or Pinterest
- listen to an important audible audiobook related to your business
- lay down with your eyes closed and relax
- massage your shoulders and neck
- or do a few pushups or sun salutations according to your preference.
These were my 3 tips to manage your day better, save some time, and reduce your stress.
Even if you utilize only one of these tips, it can help you enormously! You will experience less overwhelm, less stress, and less panic. Instead, you’ll have control over your day and your tasks. Isn't it amazing how these simple systems add some clarity and ease into your business life? And it’s not only business life -- you can use the same principles and tools in all aspects of your life.