We All Slack And We Certainly Need to Stop. Here’s How!
We all need positive habits and behaviors. They make everything that you’re trying to get done that much easier. Forming those habits and engaging in the process is what’s important. I’ve found that being an active participant in your day through personal reflection and prioritizing tasks is what helps me most. Here are a few tips from one human to another about making your day a success.
1. Prepare Yourself Mentally
A little introspection helps put the day into perspective. If you’re not into making to-do lists on paper, at least visualize the day ahead in your thoughts. Take some time for yourself to reflect on yesterday and realize what you need to do differently to make things happen today. Prepare your mind early in the day, before you get out there into a world full of distractions.
2. Do the Difficult Tasks First
Priorities are key. If you haven’t taken inventory of your tasks for the day, it’s easy to let the difficult things slip away. Figure out what either the most important or the most difficult thing you have to do today is and take care of it first. Getting it out of the way early will give you a great sense of accomplishment and make the rest of your day run smoothly.
3. Engage with Those Around You
These could be coworkers, friends, family, or someone new. What matters most is that you are surrounding yourself with people who are also passionate and motivated. Connect with them, even if it’s through a simple conversation. Acknowledging the accomplishments and passions of those around you will broaden your own perspective, give you ideas for yourself, and you may even be able to help someone else’s day out.
4. Roll with the Punches
Don’t be thrown off by any roadblocks throughout the day. There are some situations that you will never have control over. You can only adapt to the situation as it presents itself. Adapt in a way that is positive and that sets you up for success in the future. If you hit a roadblock with a task that you need to get done, frustration won’t help. Take a step back, reset your expectations, and layout a new way to make it work.
5. Reflect on the Day You Just Had
Everyday life is busy. Do some personal reflection at the beginning and end of the day. It’s easy to get lost in the noise and forget to take a breather during the day. That’s why the end of the day is perfect to take a deep breath and look back at what you did. Reflect in a way that works for you. It could be during the moments before you go to sleep, talking things out with a significant other or friend, or simply taking a few moments for yourself to recognize internally what you did well today and what you will wake up thinking tomorrow. Reflection at the end of the day will make your mental prep tomorrow easier and easier with each new day.
