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We’ve all had those moments in our lives where we know we have a lot to do, but have zero motivation to either get out of bed or get off of Instagram. Trust me, I know all about that. Staying motivated can really seem like a chore some days, and sometimes you just can’t help it- life happens.
When your life is bombarded with negatives, it can be hard to look on the bright side. Some days are going to be better than others, and that’s completely fine. It’s in our nature to be positive at times and negative at others.
Since being an adult means having to participate in a lot of adulting tasks which you may or may not want to ditch for another episode of Friends, I decided to put together a list of things I do in order to get motivated and actually do something productive.
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Make lists
Probably my biggest piece of advice is to list everything you need to do daily. Have a so-called brain dump and just write eeeeeverything down, from appointments to phone calls to birthdays to small and mundane tasks you have to take care of. Next, you will need to prioritize those tasks. I would suggest taking care of the bigger, more important tasks first, and then getting to the rest of your list.
Use a planner
I use a planner for my day job, as well as for my blog. I’m really not exaggerating when I say I would probably be lost without it. Telling myself that “I’ll remember to do so and so” is bullshit and I know it- I have to write it down. If you’re looking for a planner, why not try out the Slay Your Goals Planner? It’s printable, which means you only have to purchase it once, and has sections for everything you might need to slay the day (sorry, had to).
Use your timer
I get a lot more done when I’m in crunch time mode. That’s what setting a timer for specific tasks is great for. For example, before writing this post I set a timer for half an hour. In my mind this means I can’t mess around and I HAVE to get the post written in half an hour. It just gives me the extra push when I know that I have to accomplish something during a specific amount of time.
Airplane mode
Our phones are our biggest means of distraction. That is why when I have something really important to take care of, I switch my phone to airplane mode. What that does is stops any notifications from coming through to my phone, which gives me the time to actually finish what I’m doing without checking Instagram every 10 minutes.
Simplify your tasks
Make your plans as easy to follow through as you can. For example, if you are planning on getting a short workout in the morning before work, make sure the night before that you prepare everything you will need in the morning. Get your bag ready, make your breakfast and lunch, and pick out your outfit. That way in the morning you will be less likely to make excuses as to why you can’t work out.
What’s something you like to do to increase your productivity when you don’t feel very motivated? Leave it down below!
Until next time,
Mariam
Making a list helps me actually get most tasks done. I think it’s so satisfying to cross out tasks throughout the day that it pushes me to finish most of them.
Hannah | theartofskincare.co.uk
Yes, I love lists! I would be so lost without them. Thank you for reading!
Setting a timer is a really good idea I’d never thought of! It would push me to write knowing the clock is ticking instead of checking Twitter or Instagram. I’ve used airplane mode before and got so much more writing done, I’ll definitely do it again!
That’s exactly why I love setting timers! Airplane mode is probably the second best thing to timers, I love using both when I am working on something important!
These are great and usable tips! I’m 100% a list person, and am working to merge my lists with my planner to make everything a little more streamlined. I also totally agree with airplane mode and will have to try out the timer. I like the challenge aspect of getting things done in a time frame. Thanks for sharing!
It looks like you are great at getting things done already! I hope you enjoy the timer as much as I do! Thank you for reading.
Having a list helps me to complete my tasks! I agree with all your other tips!
Thank you for reading!
Making lists can be Magic like they’re your motivation to cross things off and incentive to keep going until you can reward yourself with a tick or check box 😁✔️
Ahh the satisfaction! 🙂
Yes I have started to make plans, and write lists! Also love the reminders feature on my phone! X
Ooh reminders are great too!
Great tips! I’m with you on writing everything down because I genuinely live out of my planners and diaries lol. Have you ever tried Trello? It’s an online platform that I use to manage everything related to my blog. If you haven’t, you might like it so it’s worth checking out 🙂 x
I haven’t! Sounds great though, I will definitely be checking it out. 🙂
Im ‘a to do list’ kinda girl. If its not on my phone or in my diary it might not get done…lol.
I function effectively with a to do list.
My phone is the biggest distraction though…might just try the aeroplane mode idea😬
Airplane mode is definitely going to help you. Notifications can be SO distracting. Thank you for reading!
Making a list really helps me order what I need to do. I have never tried the timer I was keep that in mind the next time I have a deadline!
I hope it works for you as well as it does for me!
ooooh these are such good ideas – I need to make a habit of writing down lists for the week ahead!! I think it will help me juggle a lot of tasks and dates.
thanks so much!!
-Lena
http://www.lenasnotebook.co.uk
Lists are the best! Thank you for reading!