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When was the last time you went to bed at night satisfied with the day you’d had?
And no, I’m not talking about just your day job or duties at home. I mean all the other things on your plate you have to get done each day.
Did you get dinner to the table on time? Did you get that whole load of laundry done?
I know the never-ending list of tasks we as women are expected to get done. And some days, we pile an unrealistic amount of tasks (and stress) on ourselves and expect to somehow get it all accomplished.
I want to relieve some of that stress and give you a few tips on getting the most out of your day, even if that means not getting the entire to-do list checked off.
Prioritize
One of the first steps to getting the most out of your day is to learn the value of your time. We all only have 24 hours in a day, and yes sleep needs some of those hours too. You need to prioritize your tasks each day to make sure the important stuff gets done.
This may mean choosing time to study the Bible over scrolling through Facebook. Taking the time to write out a budget over watching one more episode of your TV show. Understand just how precious your time is, and you’ll start to treat it differently.
Create Simple Routines
If having a rigid schedule each day and assigning a task to each minute you’re awake doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, then choose something simpler. Having a few routines and habits in your life can be a huge help towards making sure the important stuff gets done, and leaving you time for the things you want to do.
There are a few different ways you can structure routines. You could have a morning and before bed routine. Or you could have routines for tasks, such as a cleaning routine and a cooking routine. Practice with both and see which works best for your family.
Do Something for Yourself
This is my favorite one on the list! If you are constantly focused on meeting your goals and providing for others, it can be very easy to get burnt out. Take a breather to do something just for your own enjoyment and relaxation.
This doesn’t have to be two hours at the spa. Who has the time or money for that every day? This can simply be something you enjoy that you usually put off since you don’t have the time. Read a fiction novel, watch a show you actually want to watch, or even take a bath instead of a quick shower. Give yourself a few minutes to rejuvenate each day.
Plan Your Meals
Even if you don’t enjoy meal planning and having your whole menu laid out for the week (or month), you can save a huge amount of time by having a general idea of what you’re going to eat.
Take a quick stock of what you have in your fridge and pantry and see what meals you could quickly throw together. Decide what you’re going to make for dinner that night that way you’re not scrambling to figure it out when the family starts asking.
Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses
You know yourself and what your energy levels are. Play to your strengths and use your peak times of the day to get the important things done. Don’t try to do your creative work at the time of day when you typically take a nap. You’ll be tired and probably won’t produce your best work.
When you feel a burst of energy coming, grab your task list and knock as much off of it as you can.
Start an Appreciation Journal
Sometimes we get so caught up in everything that went wrong in a day, that we forget the little moments that went right. An easy way to fix this overwhelm is by keeping an appreciation journal.
All it takes is a notebook and a writing utensil. Every evening, jot down a few things that made you smile that day. If you have a hard time remembering, try keeping the journal with you and writing them down as they happen.
You can read more about the effects daily gratitude can have on your life in this inspiring book.
Step Outside
To me, there is no better feeling that the sun on your face and the wind in your hair. I am one of those people who loves to drive with the windows down while blaring my favorite music.
One of my absolute favorite things to do is sit on my patio in the morning while I drink my coffee. There is something so serene and rejuvenating about a morning spent outdoors.
Take at least a few minutes to spend outside every day. Bask in the summer heat, see your breath in winter’s cold, smell the crisp autumn air, and view spring’s beautiful scenery.
Get Your Body Moving
I used to think that I hated exercise. What I didn’t know is that I just hadn’t found the right form of exercise for me yet.
As soon as I started going to a “boot camp” and doing strength exercises, I found that I actually enjoyed working out. I loved the feeling of getting strong and learning what my body was capable.
Another perk of exercising frequently was my desire to be more healthy overall. I stopped craving fried foods as much and wanted to feed my body fresh food.
If you don’t already exercise, taking a few minutes each day to be active can lead to healthy changes in your life overall. Experiment with different forms of exercise. Maybe you hate running but would actually enjoy lifting weights. Get your body moving and start finding joy in your exercise.
Find a Clean You’re Happy With
If you’re not one of those people who gets joy out of a spic-and-span home, then you may find yourself struggling to keep a clean and clutter-free house.
But the benefits of having a clean home can be pretty powerful. You and your family will feel more relaxed when everything is in its place. There is just something mentally draining about staring at clutter. You’ll save time by not having to look for things, and you’ll save money by wanting to be home rather than wanting to escape a dirty house.
Take ten to thirty minutes each day to do a quick clean-up of your home. This doesn’t have to be a deep clean, and every room and surface doesn’t have to be spotless. Just determine how much “clean” you and your family is happy with, and make sure you end the day with it as much as possible.
- Related post: How to Create a Cleaning Routine You Actually Enjoy
Go to Bed Early
I used to consider myself a night owl, but ever since I started waking up at 5 am every day my life has completely changed for the better. I have a few hours in the morning to myself before I have to go to work or take care of any other commitments.
The only times I struggle to get out of bed that early is when I didn’t go to sleep early enough the night before. Most nights I try to get to bed between 9 and 10 pm.
Sometimes we sacrifice sleep to get the most done in our days, but this is not a healthy approach to take. Our bodies need lots of rest to function properly and for our minds to work efficiently.
If you can help it (i.e., you don’t have a newborn waking up all hours of the night) try to get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. Your body will thank you for it.
By forming these ten daily habits, you’ll find you’re able to get the most of our your day much easier.
I don’t want you to get overwhelmed though and try to tackle everything at once. Take a few habits on at a time and work your way towards forming the ones you need.
Here’s those daily habits one more time:
- Prioritize
- Create Simple Routines
- Do Something for Yourself
- Plan Your Meals
- Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses
- Start an Appreciation Journal
- Step Outside
- Get Your Body Moving
- Find a Clean You’re Happy With
- and Go to Bed Early
Take some time to tackle this list and go to bed happy tonight my friends.
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