Here’s how to take control of your life and your time so you can be the queen of productivity in the coming year.

We’ve all been there. We designate a certain amount of time to complete a list of tasks and by the end of the day we haven’t gotten through the list. We end up wondering where all the time went. Why do work tasks and home chores take longer than we think they will?

1. Document your time use.

In order to truly understand where your time goes, you have to document it. While you might think that checking email, texting, or scrolling through Instagram only takes a few seconds or minutes, in the end, that times add up. Take a day or two to write down hour by hour how you spend your time. If you’re checking email every few minutes or scrolling through social networking sites, you’re spending time here and there that should probably be devoted to your chosen tasks.

2. Have designated times for checking email, social networking, etc.

Once you realize where your time is going, trim the fat. Even if checking email, social networking, or texting is important for your job, that doesn’t mean that you have to do it throughout the day. For example, I like to check my email first thing in the morning from my phone so I don’t have to check it when I sit down at my desk. Additionally, I allot a few minutes in the afternoon to do any social networking that needs to be done. That means I don’t break up focused energy on mindless tasks.

3. Use your golden hour wisely.

For the majority of us, the first three hours of the workday are the most productive, and as a result, they should not be used on administrative work. Spend the golden hour on the most thought-provoking work, whether it’s a new project, a complicated article, or a brainstorming session of ideas. It’s when we tend to be the freshest and the most focused. However, some of us are actually the most focused late at night, and if that’s the case with you, no worries, just take advantage of that time.

4. Cut the chatter.

Workplace chatter is important because establishing good relationships at the office can make your job more enjoyable. But at the same time, don’t waste too much time chatting with coworkers. And if you’re on deadline, don’t be afraid to walk away. If you go to a coffee shop or work at a co-work space, wear headphones to signify that you’re busy or excuse yourself after you’ve spoken for more than a few minutes. Remember, your time is valuable and it should be treated as such.

5. Stop multi-tasking.

The brain is only capable of focusing on one task at a time. That’s why when you end up trying to do more than one task at a time, you’re using the same amount of energy but simply fractioning it out. In order to ensure you’re putting your best foot forward, write your to-do list from most important to least important and do one task at a time.

6. Get focused.

Spend the beginning of each day getting focused and simplifying your to-do list. Each morning, I decide what three to four tasks need to be done first. Whether it’s writing an article, editing an article, brainstorming pitch ideas, or sending out queries, I decide what’s most pressing before I even start my day. I start with the hardest tasks first and do the most mindless tasks in the afternoon when thoughts are less on point. Meditation is another important tool for getting focused. While meditation does take time out of each day, it also keeps our mind from racing and keeps you on task so that you end up making more out of your day.

7. Pretend you’re billing hours.

This is especially helpful for freelance workers, but it’s also really good for employees. Lawyers, consultants, and public relations executives all bill their time. This helps them to understand exactly where it’s all going. If you were billing your day out, how much of your time would actually make you money? This is another tool for ensuring that you’re not wasting time. In my case, admin work is not where I dwell, because it takes away from my income.

8. Get enough sleep.

You’re more likely to waste time in your day when you’re not at 100 percent. If you’re tired, you’re more likely to get caught up in mindless conversations, take too long at lunch, or look at pictures on Facebook. The mind is less focused and more likely to get lost. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep every night so that you’re ready to take on your day with vigor.

9. Say no.

As I mentioned above, it’s a great idea to choose a few focus points or tasks of the day. But at the same time, you don’t want to let someone else get in the way of you getting them done. If someone asks for your help on a task or invites you to get together when you don’t have time, learn to say no. Your time is sacred and the only way to ensure it is to guard it carefully. Outside of work, decide the activities that stoke your passion and dive right in. Don’t be afraid to say you can’t do something when it’s not appealing and don’t schedule too many activities outside of work that throw you off your schedule. Over-scheduling  can throw the balance off and reduce productivity.

What tips and tricks help keep you on task? Are you a victim of the time suck? Where do you waste your time? We want to know! Drop us a line via Twitter @EcoSalon

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They don’t call them the Monday blues for nothing. Here’s how to combat them, Wonder Woman-style.

I’ve always found the Monday blues to be an interesting phenomenon: Even when you lurv your career, they creep up on you like that takeout you risked eating sans expiry date. Seriously, why does coming back to work feel so icky? Like the mysterious popularity of JNCO Jeans (which still give me nightmares), we’ll probably never know the answer – but at least there are things we can do to turn our Monday blues into a lighter shade.

Below, 9 ways to face your Monday blues and make the day a little easier:

1. Get up earlier

It might sound counterproductive, but it’s a great way to ease into a new workweek. You’ve just spent the weekend maxing and relaxing, and the last thing you want to do is get shoved back into the real world before you’re ready. Give yourself time to linger in your PJs, taste your coffee – and if you’re anything like me, remember your name.

2. Build a morning playlist

Routine is everything, and one of mine is listening to a specific playlist as I’m getting ready for the day (Mozella is my jam). Some people make a playlist specifically for Mondays, but I listen to the same one every morning to make Mondays feel a little less… well, Monday-esque.

3. Visualize

One technique that’s been instrumental in me ditching my Monday blues is creating a Sunday-night ritual: First, I lay out what I’m going to wear the next day, plan my meals, and basically make any decisions that’ll irritate my tired noggin in the morning. Second, I look over Monday’s schedule and visualize myself accomplishing everything on the list – it helps to ease the anxiety I used to feel post-alarm. Now when my alarm goes off, I feel centered and prepared.

4. Do something different

It’s a fresh week, so why not shake things up a bit? Wear a fab new outfit, or do your hair and makeup differently. Take the pile of beauty and fashion tips you have bookmarked and try them out on Mondays.

5. Keep it light

Keep the work you need to do on Mondays as non-challenging as possible. Take the time for easier, more routine items and work your way up to the harder stuff. Basically, if you have something on your Monday to-dos that is compelling you to enjoy a nice, tall glass of bleach, move it to Tuesday. Trust me, you’ll rock it on Tuesday.

6. Give yourself something to look forward to

Plan something you’re going to do first thing Monday morning that’ll motivate you to get out of bed – like starting that new book that’s been collecting dust on your nightstand, or checking out what everyone’s up to on Twitter. Next, plan something to excite you right after work, like grabbing a drink with your BFF.

7. Prep for Monday on Friday

It’s tempting – and for some of us, irresistible – to put off certain tasks until Monday. One of the best ways to cure your Monday blues is to go over what you have left to do come Friday, take the tasks that are going to suck the life out of your Monday – and get them over with. Even if you end up working a little later, the trade-off is so worth it. You’ll immediately feel refreshed and ready to take on the weekend.

8. Unplug

It’s tough to unplug entirely, but if you check your email so often you may as well have stayed at the office, your time off isn’t going to help you de-stress (or de-scatter) at all. Set designated times to check your email throughout the day – shoot for a maximum of three times – and give yourself the mental vacay you so deserve.

9. Take it personally

You know those little things you need to do around the house – change lightbulbs, water plants – that are always an afterthought? Make a list of the 10-minute tasks weighing you down and choose one to tackle first thing Monday morning. It’s a great way to jumpstart the week: It hands you an immediate sense of accomplishment, which offers the same adrenaline rush as a cup of coffee.

How do you beat the Monday blues?

Related on EcoSalon:

11 Ways to Stay Focused and Get Things Done

How to Declutter Your Desk and Increase Productivity

Want Authentic Happiness? 4 Good Habits That Will Change Your Life

Image: KariHak

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