How to be More Productive – Essential Tips for Busy Days

A saying goes “When people ask you not to bite more than you can chew, tell them that you’d rather choke on greatness than nibble on mediocrity”.

There is a price to pay for the prize of greatness and it’s never a cheap price. The aim is not to be busy all our lives but there is a season when life will be very demanding; days when you will have little or no time for yourself (if you are not at that season yet, it will definitely come so you equally need this blog post). These seasons stretch and expand you and sometimes you feel like you’re going to break but most times it’s just making you a better version of yourself.

While we’re encumbered with loads of assignments and work, we ignore the fact that it us taking a toll on our bodies. Don’t ignore your physical health, you need it to sit at the table of greatness.

The whole of this semester has been very demanding on me and looking back, I realize I may not have gotten it all right but I have actually done a commendable job and I am very optimistic about my results. It is just a week to my exams and I thought to share healthy habits, tips and “wisdom nuggets” which I engaged that made things easier for me.

These tips are not going to make all the work go away but they’re going to help you maximize your time, remain healthy and feel fulfilled at the end of each day.

Always have breakfast

Breakfast can be called the most important meal of the day because it provides the body and brain with fuel after an overnight fast. Starting your day without breakfast leads to you overworking your body. Your body requires a level of glucose and energy to enable you concentrate, assimilate, make meaningful contributions and generally make the best out of your day.

Always be on time

Tardiness has a way of making you unproductive. You should always be on time to give yourself a buffer in case something delays you. Trying to show up at the exact time of your appointment sometimes leads to lateness because of unplanned events. With a long day ahead, the last thing you need is exhausting your energy trying to hurry which often leads to disorganization. To make sure you are ready for the day, always arrive early so you will have a few minutes to relax, think about the tasks ahead, and get organized. Being on time begins from waking up on time which in turn is determined by your bed time.

Go to bed on time

“Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise”. Whenever I don’t sleep well at night, my days are usually not very productive. So I only sacrifice my sleep to to pray, read or spend time with God. Any other thing can be done during the day. Research shows that mornings can make or break your day. It is very common for successful CEOs to start their day well before 6 a.m.

Related Post : How to behave in the presence of greatness

Give yourself breaks

Occasionally take walks in between your work. Take naps if necessary to re-energize your body and mind.

Stay around positive and hardworking people

They help you do more!

Reward yourself from time to time

Buy books, food or clothes for yourself after accomplishing any task or meeting any target.

Understand Yourself

Last session, I stayed in the hostel on campus and it was quite an experience. Everybody (family and friends) wanted me to stay in the hostel because according to them, “it would make things easier for me since my classes are not too far from the hostel and it would help me read better because it is in school”. They have a point but they were talking based on general evaluation; that hostel helps some people does not mean it’ll help me.

I also, with the mentality that since my classes were all through the day, it’d be better and easier for me to stay in school but I was wrong. It didn’t work like that.

After every exhausting day in class, the last thing I needed was going back to a room full of excited ladies who have no idea how busy my day was because theirs wasn’t.

So I would go back to the hostel everyday and end up wasting the little time I had in the evenings and eventually, by nightfall, I’d be too tired to read, have a healthy meal or prepare for the next day which always led to me getting up late to the next day.

This semester, I stay at home and have been going to classes from home. I immediately realized that home works better for me. I get to pray, sleep well, have my privacy, and even read better. I stay overnight with friends in the hostel when I have late tutorials or group reading.

In a nutshell, all I’m saying is understand yourself and stick to what works for you.

Busy days can be productive and fulfilling only if you use them well.

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