10 things to do  to supercharge your productivity

Personal Mission statement

Yes, a mission statement is most often used in the corporate world. But just think, If organisations find it essential to have a mission statement why shouldn’t regular people? I’ve found that a personal mission statement creates a guide to everything else. A personal mission statement gives you a clear vision and a sense of purpose. It describes who you are and how you intend to live out your life. It is based on your core values, your desires and your interest. If your actions throughout your day do not align with your mission statement, then you will find it impossible to find balance and organisation.

Set Goals

Your goals will be influenced by your mission statement. Make a specific decision about what you want to do. Set your goal. A goal gives us purpose and gives us a mark which guides us in the right direction. Make sure your goals are SMART.

Specific

Measurable

Achievable

Relevant

Timely.

Review previous goals; assess what you did well, what needs improvement and how you could have done things better. Set new goals and visualise yourself accomplishing them.

Budget For The Month

At the start of the month is a good time to assess your previous month’s financial activities and to make plans for the new month. Take account of your income, housing, utilities, food, and travel expenses. Consider your debt payments and just how much you would like to save that month.

Clean Out Your Purse

I know it sounds odd but it could make a world of difference. My purse used to be stuffed with anything from used tissues and wipes to foreign currency from our family vacation two years earlier. I always meant to clean my purse out, but I kept forgetting or not having enough time. It meant I could hardly find what I needed in there and it presented me with wasted time and frustration. Clearing out your purse provides you with the same benefits as decluttering your home.

• Stress Reduction.
• Improved Your Focus and Concentration
• Better able to accomplish goals
• Improved Creativity
• A Sense of Accomplishment.
• Improves Your Environment.
• Letting go of the Past and Making room for the NEW!
• Boosts Your Mood.

Use a life planner

Life planners are perfect and I really don’t know how I managed without one for so long. Life binder planners are usually packed with several resources, including a personal mission statement guide, goal setting guide and tracker, monthly, weekly and daily planners, budgeting tools, meal plans, master grocery list, journals, a project planner and affirmation posters among many excellent resources. They are perfect for pulling all of your organisational needs together and guiding you through the year. We’ve teamed up with The Mahmee Tree to offer you this amazing Day at a Glance printable out of The Mahmee Tree’s 50 page life binder planner. This Day at a glance printable will not only help you plan your day but will also provide a tool to help you review your day. If you like the Day at a glance be sure to check out the 50 page life binder for resourceful tools to help you plan and organise your life even better.

Develop a Morning Routine

The free spirit in me resists having a routine. However, I have learnt over the last few years that sticking with one  keeps me on track. Routines help us to solidify new positive habits. It means you don’t have to rely solely on will-power to get you to accomplish task. The most difficult part about a routine is establishing one. In the early days of establishing a daily routine you will need to exercise your will and get motivated, but once your routine is established as a new habit, it will be easier to perform the routine and accomplish far more than you normally would.  A routine will also provide structure to your day and make you more efficient.

I recently saw a quote by Stephen Richards which said “Sometimes all it takes to change your life is to change your routine” and I almost raised my hands in a ‘Hallelujah’ because I knew the impact establishing a routine has had on my life.

A routine isn’t just about fulfilling task and setting goals. its also about self care and also doing things that are pleasant.  It could be your regular cup of tea in the morning, your moment of mediation, prayer, painting your nails, time for your gratitude practice. It there is not care or no aspect of pleasure, a routine can become a burden.

So set your alarm, get to bed on time, soak in a warm bath, do your meal prep, paint your nails, do a mini declutter, meditate, pray, exercise, set your daily goals, make your bed. You will be surprise what the small change of establishing a routine will do for you.

Meal Plans

This is by far one of my most loved organisational tools. I use a meal planner and master grocery list from my Life binder. It helps my family maintain a healthy diet, prevents me from running out of my essential ingredients and it ensures that I know exactly what I am preparing for each meal every day. I begin with a weekly plan and break it down further into a daily plan. You can also keep your favourite recipes together with my meal planner It will help to make your meal prep far more efficient.

Tip – Cook in batches, freeze school dinners and family dinners wherever  possible. That way you can easily defrost and have a warm dinner in a matter of minutes.

Declutter once a week

Decluttering can seem like an endless emotional task. You know you need to get rid of ‘that thing’, but it holds so many memories. I am as sentimental as any human being could possibly be and as a result it translates into me being naturally inclined to hoarding. At the same time I am unable to function effectively in the presence of clutter. So I follow Marie Kondo’s principle ‘Does It Sparks Joy?’ I take the item into my hand and immediately decide on whether or not it engenders a feeling of joy. All the ‘No Joys’ go into a bag immediately to be taken out. I then go through my ‘Yes Joy’ pile once again to figure out what I haven’t used in several months, note anything that’s broken or anything which will no longer fit. If it ticks any of these boxes, it goes out. I take a photo of whatever holds sentimental value and I quickly stick it into a bag (5 second rule) to take straight out of the house into the bin or to my car to take to the charity shop.

Choosing one area of your home to declutter each day works perfectly for many people who have limited time. If you spend just 5 mins per day you will see an amazing difference in a short period.  Now all you need to do is find a solution for that permanent limp you’ve developed from walking on the ridiculous accumulation of Legos (Ok that’s just my issue)

Have a place for everything.

Getting this just 50% right will help keep you far more organised. The simple ability to locate things can provide an efficiency boost to your entire day. When was the last time you tried finding the thermometer or the swimming cap and instead was tempted to purchase a brand new one instead of looking for it for another hour.  Try putting things back in their designated places. Encourage your kids to do the same. They may forget but with regular reminders even a 3 year old will eventually get it right.

Daily planner to do list

Use a daily planner with a ‘To Do’ list extracted from your monthly goal developer. Seeing a clear outline of your task will help you feel organised, keep you on track and give you a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. It also provides structure, creates efficiency, and will save you time. Organising your tasks in a daily planner can make everything more manageable and create focus.