Make a list. I mentioned list making in last week’s Monday Motivation post titled When You’re Feeling Blue… as a way to reduce anxiety and stress and the same rings true when you’re schedule gets crazy. I’m a list maker by nature so it comes quite naturally and I find it very helpful. When you’re really busy and your mind becomes a jumble of tasks and to-do’s right them down. And don’t worry about it being organized. Many times, I will quickly try and get everything down on paper that I can think of and after I’m done I will prioritize and put them into a list that makes sense. It’s also a good idea to separate your list by work and personal. 

Create a routine. Creating a routine >> you can stick to << is so important. I’ve found my more structured days where I wake up on time and keep to my schedule are much more productive and leave me feeling accomplished and satisfied. I’ve found creating a routine to be trial and error. Sometimes you’re goals of waking up at 4 am and working out for three hours after work are lofty and you may find it doesn’t work for you. So you shift and make a plan that works! 

A clean space is a clear mind. My biggest piece of advice is to stay organized, constantly, and much like creating a routine, find a method that works for you. I’ve found I can take on more and more, and at work, lots of urgent projects, without losing my mind because I stay meticulously organized. Now, I know that’s not everyone, but I highly encourage you to keep your home, your workspace, and even your email clean. It will help you to not lose or forget about something important. I like to keep a folder and notebook with my to-do list and urgent notes so whenever I go into meetings (and can’t take my laptop) it’s all there and I can add to it throughout the day. 

Ask for help. No one can do it all. No one. So ask for help if you need it. It’s better to communicate up front you are overwhelmed and need to reprioritize than to wait and miss a deadline. Or you’ll find yourself doing so much so fast you may miss important details or produce work that is lower quality. Asking for help at home is also an option. If you need help with the usual chores, cooking dinner, etc. ask a significant other. I know this sounds obvious but sometimes we forget other people can’t read our minds and it may not be blatantly clear you need an extra hand. If you live solo than reaching out to your family is also a great idea. I know when I lived alone I would call and talk to my mom, dad or grandparents and they would do their best to put my mind at ease, help me to reprioritize or remind me I can’t always do it all – and that’s okay!

Take time for yourself. I talked about this last Monday as well but taking time for yourself is so important! Self-care and being kind to your mind and body are critical to a healthy lifestyle and keeping yourself going. Going on vacation is great, but hey, it doesn’t have to be a big trip. I haven’t been on a true vacation for a super long time, but I find other ways to decompress. Whether it’s taking a mental break to watch a beauty YouTube video, going to get my nails done, on a good day, a massage, or partaking in tv time with Heidi and Justin. You can also build it into your day so you have something to look forward to after meeting work goals and milestones. 

Do what you can and save the rest for later. At the end of the day, you can only do so much. Your plans won’t always go as, well, planned, so give yourself a break. The things you have to do, do first, and the rest, try your best and then move it over to tomorrow. As long as you try hard and do your best, you should go to bed with a smile on your face. With most things, consistency is key, and hard works will pay off in the end! Instant gratification is something we all want but great things come with time.