How to optimise your day for maximum efficiency
Have you been wondering how some people are capable of doing more in their day-to-day life while others struggle to accomplish the basic tasks in their to-do list even though we all share the same twenty-four hours?
Well, to optimise your day, you first need to value the importance of the most priceless thing on this planet i.e. TIME. If you think dwindling for a few seconds is fine, ask a marathon runner the importance of it. Many Learners have trouble using their time efficiently. Procrastination can creep in at any point of the day, and render all planning meaningless. If that Learner is you, don’t worry! We’ve got your back with some effective tips to help you optimise your day for maximum efficiency. With these tips, you can take control of the time and optimise it for maximum productivity, focus, and above all, balance your day.
- Create a routine
Start your day right with a morning routine that reinforces your productivity. How you wake up each day followed by your morning routine dramatically affects your levels of success in every single area of your life. Focused, productive, successful mornings generate focused, productive, successful days. Use your mornings to meditate, read or exercise. Doing any of these will help you set a tone for the rest of the day.
2. Set achievable goals
You are probably thinking why you are being repeatedly asked to set goals now? It’s because goals are a great way to get motivated. Unfortunately, the way most of us set goals is not entirely right. We look at goals as end results. Achieving this end result can get a bit overwhelming when you do not plan how to go about it. Our advice is, rather than starting at the goal and working backwards, focus on what needs to be done to reach and surpass that goal. This means focusing on consistent progress and building better habits. Set a daily goal and check your progress every day; this will help motivate you to do more.
3. Finish a task before starting a new one
Multi-tasking may seem efficient. After all, you’re getting more things done at once, right? Wrong! You may think you are doing more at once, but you are actually getting less work done. It’s because each time you move between tasks, it takes your brain some time to switch. However, if you maintain a task-list, note down all these small tasks on that list and get done with them first. It will contribute to your feeling of accomplishment. As you’ve already guessed by now, the key to getting things done is through maintaining a task-list.
4. Eat the frog first
We don’t mean it literally, of course! According to Mark Twain, “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.” With this logic in mind, schedule your most difficult and most important task first. If you happen to have more than one such task lined up, attempt the difficult ones before moving on to the easier ones. Identifying your key priority for the day will get much easier when you follow this method. Ultimately, setting one priority per day saves you time from needless procrastination and multitasking.
5. Take screen breaks
Taking screen breaks doesn’t mean switching from studying online to checking Instagram 20 times a day. When on a ‘break’, try to pull yourself away from your screens and do something totally unrelated for a few minutes. Go for a walk, do some exercise, have a cup of coffee or have a little chat with your parents, indulge in any activity that helps you de-stress for a bit. Don’t forget to make time for relaxation during the day. It can be easy to skip breaks when you’re knee deep in preparation for your final exams, but this is not recommended. Set limits for everything you do throughout the day, be it studying for 5 hours at a stretch or taking a small break. The key is to avoid burning out, staying happy and motivated the entire day.
Any task worth doing is worth doing right. However, it isn’t always possible to attend to multiple tasks at once— and that’s perfectly okay! As Learners hoping to crack your dream Exams, it is important that you learn the skill of effective time management. Remember, it’s not always hard work but also smart work that helps with goal accomplishment.
Unacademy Educators are always within reach and ready to help if you need any assistance with study planning, exam strategy or simply, even for a chat to help you clear all doubts.
Believe in yourself and keep working towards your goal. Together, Let’s Crack It!
