Alright, I lied A bit. This post will not grant you an unlimited amount of time, But it will help you "Stretch it a bit." It's like being frugal. You can make things last a bit longer.
Create A Daily Plan!
I feel naked without my planner. I have no idea what to do, Or how to go about my day. I often find myself procrastinating or avoiding the things I know I need to do When I don't use my planner.
Even a small to-do can do wonders for your productivity.
Although there are a lot of great Moleskine Planners out there, that makes the whole process more fun! Sometimes a fancy planner can be costly. But If you only have to buy it once a year, Or every two years. It can give you so much time back, That it makes it all worth it.
Leave Enough Time for things
We often underestimate how much time it will take to accomplish a task. So make sure you leave enough time. Don't be afraid to set a timer and time the activity A FEW TIMES to see how long it truly takes you. I say a few times, Because the first time, You may rush through the task, Knowing the timer is chipping away.
So timing it a few times will give you a more accurate perspective.
Set Realistic Deadlines
Same as the above. But if you have a 6-month long goal, That could take a year. That may not be more harmful than good. Although I like my deadlines to be a little "Shorter" Than necessary. That way I speed to my goal faster. There's a saying that things expand to fill the allotted space, And I agree 100% I often make the mistake of thinking " I can do all this today, and that's it. " But I also want some "personal time." But because I gave myself the approval to spend the whole day on it... What happens? Exactly that. No free time for me, Instead something that would take a normal person a couple of hours ends up taking me a full day.
So make sure to set realistic, But obtainable, Challenging deadlines to meet your goal.
Learn to Say No
I've had to use that No a little more frequently lately. I might be going on a short vacation soon, And I've been super stressed. Of Course, it seems that everyone needs my help all the sudden ( I swear it always happens that way.)
Don't feel bad when you have to say no, Sometimes you have to put yourself first. And it's perfectly okay! If people aren't understanding about that, you may want to consider your friendship with that person.
You can stretch your time further with practice. It doesn't happen overnight, Sometimes it takes habit building to get to the point where you are extra productive that you don't have to think about it. I've been keeping a planner for almost ten years now! And it helps a ton!
