7 Tips to Create Your Most Successful Week

So, you have finally figured out, you are not a cat after all, right? You can’t just lounge around all day with nothing to do, can you?

Of course not! You’ve got responsibilities, a life to live, right?

If you are like most, you feel as though you have far more to get done than you do time to do it.

But, don’t worry, if you typically find yourself overwhelmed by your daily or weekly schedule, we’re here to help.

For most people, Monday is the start of another week, in which, they will most likely fall behind yet again. Appointments, phone calls, non-emergency emergencies, monotonous tasks, errands, meals, etc.

There is no question, even those with the best of intentions will often find themselves wanting, needing more time. Good news though. There are some surefire ways to get ahead and get much more done.

If you really want to increase your overall productivity, while reducing your stress levels, here are seven things you can do now…

Don’t Wait Until Monday

One of the most efficient and productive things you can do to make the most out of your time is to…PLAN IT!

Sounds silly we know, but you would be amazed at how few of us actually take just the time to do so.

If you want to see your productivity increase exponentially all you have to do is set aside 30 minutes (we suggest Sunday evening) to map out the week to come.

Take the time to survey the week ahead. Map out the most important things and place them accordingly on your calendar. (Please use a calendar app on your phone…efficiency matters.)

What are the “hard” appointments that must be completed? Meetings, appointments, phone calls, etc. Get these on your calendar first. Doing so will give you a bird’s eye view of the time you have left.

Important note: your exercise time should be included in the above “scheduling”. Yes, it should be a priority and treated as such, so look at your week and decide when you will workout and what those workouts will be…and put them on the calendar.

See What’s Pending

Did you miss something last week? Was there anything you didn’t get to that you wanted to, or needed to? If so, now is the time to review and move anything of importance to this week’s calendar.

Whatever the “leftovers” from the previous week are, decide if they absolutely must be done this week or if they can be scheduled for a later date.

Tip…do your very best to not fall prey to common mistake of over-scheduling what can be done and under scheduling the time it takes to do the things you place on your calendar.

Batch Your Tasks

The second most powerful productivity tip we could possibly provide…batching your tasks. We aren’t going to get into the weeds of the science here, but planning like-tasks to be tackled, at the same time, is proven to improve your completion and success rates.

In simple terms, if you have calls to make, set time aside on your calendar to make them all. If you have emails to write, schedule some time to do nothing but write said emails. If you have reports to read, tackle them all within the same calendar slot.

Bouncing from a phone call, to an email, to reports, back to an email, then another call, etc….NOT GOOD! Very inefficient.

Batch, baby, batch!

Set Yourself Up for Success

As referenced above, far too many of us over-judge how much we can get done and under-judge the time it will take to do things.

Being realistic is definitely a key to greater productivity. Failing to set your goals and schedule properly will simply lead you right back to where you have been for far too long….with things undone and piling up, simply because you over and/or under-estimated.

When you lay out your calendar for the week, spread things out, allot for more time when you batch, determine what the real priorities are, etc.

Plan Your Meals

Notice, we didn’t say “prep” your meals. We said “plan” your meals. While you can certainly take your efficiency to a whole new level by prepping your meals in advance, we are realists here at 3D Labs Nutrition, and we know that is certainly not for everyone.

We are simply suggesting you plan your meals for the week in advance. When will you eat out? When will you eat at home? If you are eating out, try making the decisions Sunday night, almost as if a planned date.

This simple suggestion will not only eliminate so much wasted time, but also the unnecessary effort and frustration that usually accompanies making such decisions at the last minute. You know…

…where do you want to go for dinner? I don’t care. Where would you like to go? Oh, I don’t care either. How about Italian? No, I don’t want Italian. 🤣

Imagine what this one suggestion could do for your “relationship”!

Pick Your Attire

Don’t laugh! Imagine what mornings would look like each day if you simply said, Sunday evening, here are the outfits I am going to wear this week and hung them, ready and waiting, in order to be put on each morning after hopping out of the shower.

You might not agree with this yet, but give it a try, then tell us how much mental “energy” has been wasted over the years by doing this last minute, each morning.

Another quick note…any monotonous, trivial decisions that can be minimized, should be minimized ASAP. Your daily choice of clothing as an example.

Set Aside “Me” Time

Whether you want to hear it or not, you are your greatest priority. (All the moms reading this….RELAX for a second, so we can explain.)

Yes, if you have children or close loved ones that you are “responsible” for, or to, you will almost certainly feel as though they should come first.

But you would be WRONG! Not because they don’t matter, but instead, because they matter so much to you.

You see, the better we take care of ourselves, the better we are able to take care of others, and for longer. Plain and simple.

If you don’t make yourself a priority, you can rest assured, over time, your happiness, and your health, will begin to fail. When this happens, your usefulness to those you love, is minimized.

Find the time, on your schedule, for you! Go for walks, workout, meditate, etc. Whatever you can/should be doing to live a happy, healthy life. Do not minimize this. You will regret it.

One Final Thought

Increase productivity does not happen by chance. It is not something you fall into. It's not something that you get lucky enough to have happened to you.

If you really, truly, want to get more done, in less time and/or get more of the things you really want to be doing done, you need to make increasing your efficiency and productivity a priority.

After all, time is the one commodity we can never replace. Losing it is final. Do your very best to make the most of yours.

One day you will likely wish you had more or had done more with that you had.

Always Remember...

…we would love to hear your thoughts on this, or any other article we write, so please, drop us your comments, ideas, input, and suggestions in the comments below.

And, by all means, if you think anyone in your world might like something we write, use the share buttons below to help us spread the word!

Now, onward! You only have one life to live, one body to live it in...so take care of it. Progress, not perfection. Good, better, best with your food intake and some form of "movement" daily. Get your nutritional foundation from food, supplement where necessary, and drink plenty of water.

And, don’t forget, always consult your physician before making any changes to your diet or exercise regiment.

Live a 3D Life...Decisions Determine Destinations!