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4 Ways to Have a Super Productive Day

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Have you ever felt like you are discontent with your job performance? Most of us have. And what do we do about it? The most obvious thing to do here is to push yourself harder. And harder. And then a little harder. Does that do any good, though?

It may seem so in the beginning, but the further we push ourselves, the more accustomed we get to all the stress, and the closer we are to the point of burning out. That’s clearly not what you should aim for.

So, what to do? Well, as suggested by efficiency gurus like the late Steve Jobs, what matters most is not how much time and effort you put into your job, but rather how much rational thought you put into it; quality over quantity.

Here are 4 ways to have a super productive day:

1. Prepare beforehand

Before starting your working day, it is best if you do all the preparations beforehand. This will spare you the time and effort of making decisions. Once you wake up, you need to be all set and ready to go, and not waste your precious time on what to wear or what to have for breakfast.

As you understand, clothes and food are just a few examples of decisions that you can make beforehand to save you some time. Be advised to plan as much as you can up to a week’s time ahead. Planning may seem to some as a waste of time, but rest assured that it will only take you 30 minutes to an hour tops to plan the entire week.

As a bonus, having your plans written down and following them will contribute to your feeling of control and confidence, and who doesn’t like that?

“A strong, positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success.” – Joyce Brothers

2. Stick to your to do list

The easiest way to practically apply your planning is to create a to-do list, we know. However, we get carried away and split it into several others, thus multiplying entities beyond necessity. Some may have several to do lists with activities categorized topically. Others create different to do lists for different days of the week, confusing the concept of a to-do list with a timetable.

What you should do is cut it all off with that Ockham’s razor, and leave only one master list of activities that need to be done. This will help you stay focused and avoid confusion. If something needs to be done, you put it on the list, no need to complicate it.

That said, the list should be flexible. You must have the opportunity to update it, should a new task arise or some new circumstances occur.

3. Prioritize

Given what’s said above, it is not recommended to just pile up all the things that need to be done in a random shapeless list. It is useful to sort your tasks by priority. The ABCDE principle can be applied. Here is how it works:

  • A is for the top level tasks which you need to accomplish to avoid some dire consequences.
  • B is for other important tasks which need to be done to avoid some of the less drastic consequences.
  • C is for the tasks which it would be nice to have done, but they can be put off a bit without loss.
  • D is for the tasks that can be delegated to others.
  • E is the final group of tasks that are eliminated. These are the things that you don’t do at all.

Once you’ve grouped all your tasks according to this principle, you look up your list at the beginning of your working day and start with the A tasks. You don’t proceed to any of the B tasks until you are done with all of the A tasks, and you don’t get started with a C task before all the B tasks are ready. If you follow these guidelines, you will see how your performance rate boosts.

“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” – Stephen Covey

4. Eat well

Since we were kids, our parents kept nagging us about the importance of a balanced breakfast. If your parents were good at it, you probably never noticed the positive effect that it has on your performance, and took it for granted.

In our adulthood, we often overlook it and prefer to sleep a few extra minutes, instead of having a decent breakfast. While sleep is important, your food is literally the fuel on which your body runs. A healthy breakfast does not need to be fancy. It can be as simple as a ham sandwich with tomatoes.

Just don’t expect your organism to run well on just a cup of coffee or even two cups. By having a good breakfast, you help your body and mind to jump straight into work at the very beginning of the day.

How do you help make your day productive? Please leave your thoughts below!

My name is Jacob Chambless. I work as an educator at Jacksonville University. I am always ready to help students, sharing my experience and tips on particular subjects. Writing articles is my passion. I want to share my knowledge with other people. You can check out my blog Life-Underwriting and connect with me on Facebook.

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Life

How Learning the Skill of Hope Can Change Everything

Hope isn’t wishful thinking. It’s a state of being and a skill that has profound evidence of helping people achieve success in life

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Hope as a skill
Image Credit: Midjourney

Hope isn’t wishful thinking. It’s a state of being and a skill that has profound evidence of helping people achieve success in life.

Wishful thinking, on the other hand, is like having dreams in the sky without a ladder to climb, having a destination without a map, or trying to operate a jet-engine airplane without instructions. It sounds nice but is impossible to realize. You don’t have what you need to make it happen!

What Real Hope Is

Real hope is actionable, practical, and realistic. Better yet, it’s feasible and can be learned.

One popular approach is Hope Theory. This concept is used by colleges to study how hope impacts students’ academic performance. Researchers found that students with high levels of hope achieve better grades and are more likely to graduate compared to those with less hope.

Hope can be broken down into two components:

  1. Pathways – The “how to” of hope. This is where people think of and establish plans for achieving their goals.
  2. Agency – The “I can” of hope. This is the belief that the person can accomplish their goals.

Does Hope Really Work?

According to Webster’s Dictionary, hope as a noun is defined as: “desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment.”

As humans, we are wired to crave fulfillment. We have the ability to envision it and, through hope, make it a reality.

My Experience with Hope

For 13 years, I was a hopeless human. During my time working at a luxury hotel as a front desk agent earning $11.42 per hour, I felt the sting of hopelessness the most.

The regret of feeling my time was being stolen from me lingered every time I clocked in. Eventually, I decided to do something about it.

I gave myself permission to hope for something better. I began establishing pathways to success and regained agency by learning from self-help books and seeking mentorship.

Because I took action toward something I desired, I now feel more hope and joy than I ever felt hopelessness. Hope changed me.

Hope Actually Improves Your Life

Wishful thinking doesn’t work, and false hope is equally ineffective. Real hope, however, is directly tied to success in all areas of life.

Studies show that hopeful people tend to:

  • Demonstrate better problem-solving skills
  • Cultivate healthier relationships
  • Maintain stronger motivation to achieve goals
  • Exhibit better work ethic
  • Have a positive outlook on life

These benefits can impact work life, family life, habit-building, mental health, physical health, and spiritual practice. Imagine how much better your life could be by applying real hope to all these areas.

How to Develop the Skill to Hope

As acclaimed French writer Jean Giono wrote in The Man Who Planted Trees:
“There are also times in life when a person has to rush off in pursuit of hopefulness.”

If you are at one of those times, here are ways to develop the skill to hope:

1. Dream Again

To cultivate hope, you need to believe in its possibility. Start by:

  • Reflecting on what you’re passionate about, your values, and what you want to achieve.
  • Writing your dreams down, sharing them with someone encouraging, or saying them out loud.
  • Creating a vision board to make your dreams feel more tangible.

Dreams are the foundation of hope—they give you something meaningful to aspire toward.

2. Create an Environment of Hope

  • Set Goals: Write down your goals and create a plan to achieve them.
  • Visualize Success: Use inspirational quotes, photos, or tools like dumbbells or canvases to remind yourself of your goals.
  • Build a Resource Library: Collect books, eBooks, or audiobooks about hope and success to inspire you.

An environment that fosters hope will keep you motivated, resilient, and focused.

3. Face the Challenges

Don’t avoid challenges—overcoming them builds confidence. Participating in challenging activities, like strategic games, can enhance your problem-solving skills and reinforce hope.

4. Commit to Wisdom

Seek wisdom from those who have achieved what you aspire to. Whether through books, blogs, or social media platforms, learn from their journeys. Wisdom provides the foundation for real, actionable hope.

5. Take Note of Small Wins

Reflecting on past victories can fuel your hope for the future. Ask yourself:

  • What challenges have I already overcome?
  • How did I feel when I succeeded?

By remembering those feelings of happiness, relief, or satisfaction, your brain will naturally adopt a more hopeful mindset.

Conclusion

Hope is more than wishful thinking—it’s a powerful skill that can transform your life. By dreaming again, creating a hopeful environment, facing challenges, seeking wisdom, and celebrating small wins, you can develop the real hope necessary for success in all aspects of life.

Let hope guide you toward a brighter, more fulfilling future.

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Life

The 5 Stages of a Quarter-Life Crisis & What You Can Do

A quarter-life crisis isn’t a sign you’ve lost your way; it’s a sign you’re fighting for a life that’s truly yours.

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what is a quarter life crisis
Image Credit: Midjourney

The quarter-life crisis is a well-defined set of stages—Trapped, Checking Out, Separation, Exploration, Rebuilding—one goes through in breaking free from feelings of meaninglessness, lack of fulfillment, and misalignment with purpose. I detail the stages and interweave my story below. (more…)

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Life

Here’s The Thing About Learning, Unlearning, and Relearning

Stop hoarding and start sharing your knowledge and wealth for the benefit of humankind

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sharing your knowledge
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Few people have the habit of hoarding their wealth without spending.  However, it limits their motivation as they tend to get into their comfort zones.  When people start spending money, then there will be depletion in their coffers. (more…)

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Life

3 Steps That’ll Help You Take Back Control of Your Life Immediately

The key to finding “enough” is recognizing that the root of the problem is a question of self-esteem and deservedness

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How to build self worth
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“It’s never enough.” (more…)

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