get more done everyday

How To Get More Done Every Day

weight loss dietitian sharing tips on how to get more done every day
Let’s talk about how to get more done every day!

You won’t ever hear me saying “we all have the same amount of hours as Beyonce.” I do not like this phrase because, even though we all have the same amount of hours in a day, we do not all have the same privileges. What I mean is, for some, they have budgets to delegate to nannies, chefs, personal trainers, etc which means they are able to get way more done than the average mom.

As moms, we often feel overwhelmed with all things we have to get done that have NOTHING to do with our own personal goals. It’s always for someone else.

So how can a mom with zero budget get more done every day to help move the needle towards your goals? Let’s talk about it.

I used to get to the end of the day and wonder why I wasn’t getting much done. Then that would make me feel bad about myself and it would put me in a negative spiral where I would feel the need to write out a long organized to-do list for the next day.

But shockingly enough (not really shocking) by the end of the day, I would have accomplished a million things — none of which were actually on my list. This is because of the many interruptions that get in the way of accomplishing my bigger priorities.

How To Get More Done Every Day

When I became a mom, I quickly learned that our days are full of distractions and random tasks that get in the way of our goals. And it’s not that I lacked focus or motivation, it’s just that the system I had in place was not working. This is all to say that when you have the right strategies in place, it all becomes so much simpler.

how to get more done everyday

So today, I am breaking down ways to work smarter, NOT harder and it’s going to help you squeeze the most quality time and productivity out of each day.

Planning your “BIG 3”

You are only going to focus on three big important tasks every day. I know it’s tempting to want to do more, but trust me on this. Write down 3 tasks that are going to help you move the needle towards your big goals. By planning your day around these big 3 important tasks, it helps keep you focused. Take it a step further and estimate how long it is going to take you to complete each task. Then figure out exactly the time of day you can get those tasks done. For example, before hiring a babysitter, I was either working during nap time, after the kids have gone to bed or during screen time. Be very honest with yourself on the time of day when you KNOW you can squeeze in a task on your Big 3 list. 

Keep Track of Where You’re Losing Time

With all the social media platforms and constant emails distracting you from your day to day, you can easily lose hours of time. Everyone spends time in different ways, but once you see exactly what you are doing with your time, you can start figuring out how to manage your time better.

You can choose a day or two where you track your day in 15 minute increments. Set a timer, and when it goes off, write a quick note of what you did during each 15 minute period. It is definitely tedious but SO eye-opening.

If this feels like it’s too much, you can set time limits on social media platforms that lock when you exceed a certain amount of time on the platform.

I have a reminder on Instagram that pops up when I spend more than 20 minutes on the platform. It is a great way to remind me to stop scrolling and be more intentional with my time.

Check Email at Specific Times

It can be so tempting to check email all day long and refresh it constantly.

Email is something I definitely struggle with but I have since muted notifications. I constantly need to remind myself that I don’t need to be reachable ALL the time and the same goes for you.

YOU. DO. NOT. NEED. TO. BE. REACHABLE. ALL. THE. TIME. Choose a specific time or two when you’ll check it and that’s it. Set those boundaries!

The Pareto Principle

The Pareto principle (also known as the 80/20 rule) states that roughly 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes. This is important to understand because it can help you identify which tasks to prioritize so you can make the most impact.

Remembering that 80% of results come from 20% of actions helps you  figure out what tasks to prioritize to really cut down on the amount of time you spend working. You really only need to focus on the needle-moving activities to move forward with your goals. It is not about doing ALL the things, it’s about doing the RIGHT things. 

Don’t Waste Time Multitasking

 Multitasking and jumping from task to task is actually not helpful. Science has proven again and again our brains really aren’t good at multitasking and the belief that moms are great at multitasking is such BS.

Staying focused on one task at a time is much more beneficial and you get that important work done right. I understand constantly getting interrupted by your child needing something from you, but trying to stay focused on getting one task done at a time is a game changer. This way you ensure you are actually completing a task which helps you feel good!

Know which level of productivity you are operating at

There are 3 levels of productivity. 

Level 1:

Those who are at productivity level 1 are reactive. You spend most of your time doing things like answering emails or phone calls, helping everyone else or quickly reacting to urgent (not important) situations.

Level 2:

Those who are at productivity level 2 are mostly proactive. You consciously make time every day to be proactive by crossing tasks off your to-do list and you finish most days feeling that you got important work done.

Level 3:

Those who are at productivity level 3 achieve results. You accomplish one or more goal-dependent tasks each day and you make sure that your “big picture” goals are always visible to you.

At this level, you cross things off your to-do list, but, also, you consistently complete tasks that bring you closer to achieving your most significant results. For example, if you are working on losing weight and eating more vegetables, ask yourself what specific task would move you closer to achieving that goal? It could be something like having ready cut vegetables on hand for snacks and getting a 30 minute workout in.

In order to achieve the highest level of productivity, you need to make sure that every goal you want to achieve has at least one task represented in your daily “Big 3.”

Prioritize rest and sleep

It’s hard to get more done every day when you are tired, burnt out and sleep deprived. In order to get more done, you must prioritize your sleep and rest in the same way you prioritize your Big 3 goals. Work on getting 6-8 hours of sleep each night to have more productive days. When you have more energy, you stay focused and you are less likely to procrastinate.

image sitting on floor planning
Set up a routine and system that helps you get more done every day

I hope this post gave you some tools to create your own routine and has helped improve your time management skills. It is important to mention that some days you might not get as much done as you were hoping or you simply just need a break from constantly accomplishing things and crossing tasks off your list. Having those days is valid and normal. I typically have a day or 2 like that every week because #momlife.

But for most days, when you have a strong structure in place, like identifying your Big 3 and minimizing distractions, you’ll find that you are way more likely to be productive with less effort. 

Did this help you out? Let me know which steps you’re going to put into action and let me know what you want to read about next. I LOVE hearing from you!

Feel free to send me a DM on Instagram if you have any questions!

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