We all have to-do lists that are a mile long, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make the most of our free time. In fact, finding time for yourself is essential to productivity and success.
Here are some different ways you can use your free time to take control of your life, be it by increasing productivity or just taking care of the basics:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Identify the root causes of procrastination to effectively address and overcome them. |
| 2. Utilize time-management techniques to optimize your productivity and make the most of your free time. |
| 3. Set specific goals and break them down into smaller, manageable tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed. |
| 4. Create a supportive work environment and minimize distractions to stay focused on your tasks. |
| 5. Stay motivated by rewarding yourself for completing milestones and seeking accountability when needed. |
Get A Journal
This is one of the first things I do when I want to get my life together. Everyone is busy, and it’s easy to get sidetracked by the daily grind and lose sight of your long-term goals.
Even if you don’t have much time and can only write down one thing each night before bed, this will help keep you on track with your goals. You’ll be amazed at how much clearer your head will feel after just a few days!
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Build A Morning Routine
A morning routine is a set of habits that you do every day, or most days depending on your schedule. It helps you start your day with a positive mindset and can help stave off the procrastination that’s inevitable when life gets too busy.
For example, some people like to meditate for 15 minutes in the morning before they start their workday. Others prefer to go for a run or spend time with their pets (or both!).
Whatever works for you will be what makes your morning routine effective; just make sure it leaves you feeling refreshed and ready to face whatever challenges come your way during the day.
Some people find it helpful to build up their new habit slowly by starting with something small like making coffee or taking out trash from the night before.
And then building up from there as they get more comfortable with doing things on autopilot throughout the day (which we’ll talk about later).
If getting out of bed early seems impossible right now because everything else feels so overwhelming.
Start by waking up even earlier than usual at maybe 7:30 am instead of 8:00 am so that way at least half an hour has passed before anyone else wakes up and starts demanding attention from you or asking questions like “what are we doing today?”
Do Some Mindfulness
A great way to get in touch with your emotions is through mindfulness. Mindfulness is a type of meditation, but it can be as simple as taking a few minutes to sit, breathe and think about the things going on around you.
It’s also a great way to start the day because it helps clear your mind, so that when you step into work or school later or whatever else needs to be done you’ll be ready for it.
You can do this anywhere and at any time: during lunch break, before bedtime, or even while walking through the park!
Create To-Do Lists That Work For You
Write down your tasks on a calendar. You can use any calendar you like, but I recommend Google Calendar. If you’re new to Google Calendar, here are some tips to help you get started:
- Create a new calendar event for each of your major goals and deadlines.
- Use color-coding or symbols (like arrows) to indicate what needs to be done by each date.
- Use recurring events as reminders so that they show up on the same day every week or month! This will keep them in mind when you’re planning out each week, month, and the year ahead of time.
- Set notifications for yourself if there’s something particularly important happening soon for example if tomorrow is my friend’s birthday party and I need to buy her a gift before then!
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Don’t Expect Perfection
You will make mistakes, and that’s OK.
You are not your mistakes.
Don’t worry about what other people think of you or the work that you put out into the world. It is not for others to judge but for yourself alone to decide if it was good enough, useful enough, or even just plain fun enough for anyone else at all.
Once you understand this very simple truth about creating things, especially writing you’ll find yourself more willing to take risks and come up with new ideas without fear of failure holding back your progress like a mental anchor tied around your ankle.
Stop Being So Hard On Yourself
As you’ve probably noticed, there’s a lot of pressure on us to be productive. We’re always being told that we need to get more done in less time and do it better than anyone else.
So, if you’re procrastinating because you don’t think your work is good enough yet or you want to get everything right before moving forward with something, stop beating yourself up over it!
You won’t be perfect at everything all the time and that’s okay. Just keep working towards your goals and don’t let self-doubt hold you back from achieving them any longer.
Find Your Core Values
If you don’t know what your core values are, it’s time to take a step back and think about this question: What is important to me? What do I believe in? In our lives, we tend to follow some basic principles that guide us through life.
These are our core values. They usually come from the people around us our family members, friends, community members, and even world leaders.
We must learn how to define them for ourselves so that they can direct our actions in a way that helps us meet our goals and resolve problems as they arise.
Remember That Your Happiness Matters
The first step to making your free time work for you is to remove any negative thoughts that are preventing you from doing so.
Don’t worry about what other people think, don’t worry about what you think you’re supposed to do and don’t worry about what other people think you’re supposed to do.
Remember: no one has a perfect life; everyone has problems and stresses that hinder their ability to be happy, but if everyone ran around worrying about how others perceived them, no one would ever get anything done!
You need an outlet for the things that bother or frustrate you in life and I’m going to help ensure that outlet is using your free time.
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Ignore The “Noise”
It’s easy to get distracted by the noise in your head. The voices tell you that you’re not good enough, or that it’s too hard, or that things never work out for people like you.
We’re all guilty of this at some point or another if not in our daily lives, then certainly when we’re trying to accomplish something big.
Your Free Time Is A Gift From God
When I started my freelance career full-time, there were days when I’d find myself struggling with self-doubt and procrastination.
On those days when I couldn’t seem to get anything done, every time I turned on my computer or opened up a browser window and saw an article on how successful freelancers have achieved their goals (which was often), I would immediately think: “Why can’t I do that?”
And then I’d feel bad about myself for being so far behind. But the truth is: no one else has figured out exactly what works for them yet either!
They’re just figuring it out as they go along too and if they can do it while they’re working their day job to support themselves financially until they get established enough as freelancers…well then maybe so could I!
Find Ways To Break Up Tasks Into Smaller Chunks
Use a timer. I love timers. Some people think that time is the enemy, but for me, it’s my best friend. Time doesn’t care about what you want to get done or how frustrated you are with your lack of progress it just keeps ticking along, whether you like it or not.
That being said, time also helps us break down large tasks into smaller chunks by giving us an end goal (the end of our designated work period) and measuring how long we need to work toward that goal.
Use a checklist. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my years on Earth, it’s this: checklists exist for a reason!
The same goes for calendars they’re great tools that help us keep ourselves organized without having to remember what we have going on at all times (and they help other people know what we have going on!).
Use a to-do list app/software/website. Checklists aren’t enough? Then consider using an app like Trello or Asana instead of writing out all your tasks by hand;
These apps allow users to create different boards where they can organize their tasks and assign due dates for each task listed within them (which makes getting stuff done easier).
Work Out Regularly (Or At All)
You may have heard that working out can help you lose weight and improve your health, but did you know that it also makes you happy? And did you know that working out regularly can boost your happiness even more?
Studies have shown that people who exercise regularly are happier than those who don’t. And one study found that even if people start exercising after they begin feeling unhappy, their mood improves when they continue to work out.
So keep yourself fit by starting a regular workout routine today!
If you’re having trouble getting started or feeling motivated to go to the gym or do yoga at home, consider hiring a personal trainer to motivate and guide you through the process of getting fit and then stick with it!
A good personal trainer will help keep track of what exercises are best for your body to type as well as how often is right for each goal (e.g., strength training three times per week).
Plus they’ll give expert advice on how much weight should be used during each rep so there’s less chance of injury while still seeing results fast.*
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Learn To Say “No” To Things That Don’t Enhance Your Goals Or Make You Happy
If you say “yes” to everything, then you will never have time for the things that are important to you.
So when someone asks you to do something, think about whether or not it’s going to help achieve your goals and make you happy.
If it won’t, there is no reason why you should say yes.
Of course, this isn’t always easy because we may have a lot of friends who can be very persuasive and they might even guilt-trip us into doing things with them by telling us how much they need our help or support.
But as long as your answer is firm, don’t worry about seeming rude: saying no will not hurt anyone’s feelings (unless perhaps their goal was for everyone around them to feel miserable).
Take Control Of Your Money Situation And Financial Health
You need to take control of your money situation. This means making sure you’re not in debt and that your savings are growing.
You should also be spending wisely and saving money, instead of wasting it on things like the latest smartphone or designer clothes.
Make Time To Reflect On What You’ve Learned Each Week, Month, And Year, And Celebrate Your Victories
You’ll be amazed at how much more productive you can be once you start to notice the little accomplishments along the way.
When you feel like giving up, take a minute to refocus and ask yourself: what have I learned from this experience? What have I accomplished so far? What am I proud of? Be sure to celebrate every victory even small ones!
You can motivate yourself without being mean to yourself.
The first step to making the most of your free time is to stop being so hard on yourself.
The next time you feel like those hours are wasted, remember that it’s not about what you’re doing, but how you’re feeling about it. Are you enjoying the moment? If not, then maybe what’s needed is a change in perspective or outlook.
It’s easy to get caught up in our minds and forget all of this; luckily, there are ways we can train ourselves to stop procrastinating and make our free time work for us instead of against us!
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Conclusion
I hope these tips have inspired you to take a closer look at how you view your free time. The best part is that you don’t have to do too much hard work to find ways to make the moments in your busy life more meaningful, productive, and joyful.
Start by taking a few small actions like writing down what makes you happy or keeping track of your money situation and seeing how things turn around!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources that provide further insights and tips on how to stop procrastinating:
Mind Tools: How to Stop Procrastinating: Explore practical strategies and techniques to overcome procrastination and increase productivity.
Spica Blog: How to Stop Procrastinating: Discover effective methods and mindset shifts to combat procrastination and achieve better results.
Asana Resources: Tips to Stop Procrastinating: Learn valuable tips and best practices for overcoming procrastination and staying focused on your goals.
FAQs
How can I break the cycle of procrastination?
To break the cycle of procrastination, it’s important to start by identifying the underlying reasons behind your procrastination habits. Once you understand the root causes, you can implement strategies such as setting specific goals, breaking tasks into smaller steps, and using time-management techniques to stay on track.
What are some effective time-management techniques to overcome procrastination?
Some effective time-management techniques include prioritizing tasks using methods like the Eisenhower Matrix, using productivity tools and apps to organize and schedule your work, and practicing techniques like Pomodoro Technique (working in focused bursts with short breaks) to maintain productivity and combat procrastination.
How can I stay motivated and avoid procrastination?
To stay motivated and avoid procrastination, it can be helpful to set clear and achievable goals, create a supportive and organized work environment, break tasks into smaller, manageable parts, and reward yourself for completing milestones. Additionally, finding accountability partners or utilizing tools that provide reminders and deadlines can help you stay on track.
What are some strategies to overcome procrastination when faced with a daunting task?
When faced with a daunting task, it can be helpful to break it down into smaller, more manageable subtasks. Prioritize each subtask and work on them incrementally, focusing on making progress rather than aiming for perfection. Setting realistic deadlines and seeking support or guidance when needed can also aid in overcoming procrastination.
How can I stay focused and avoid distractions when working?
To stay focused and avoid distractions, consider creating a dedicated work environment free from distractions like social media or noisy surroundings. Use time-blocking techniques to allocate specific periods for focused work and schedule breaks for rest and rejuvenation. Additionally, utilizing productivity apps or browser extensions that block distracting websites can help maintain focus and minimize temptation.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.