Until we can manage time, we can manage nothing else.” Drucker.
Everyone wants to be more productive. The most valuable asset that each and every one of us has is time. One of the biggest questions that many people face is, how do I use my time more wisely. After being asked for tips on how to become more productive on Twitter, I thought it was important to share some of my best tips that have kept me productive this year.
The list is as follows:
1. Find A Routine
Routines provide instruction on what to do when you wake up. There are so many times that I wake up, and I feel overwhelmed. This feeling comes from all the tasks that I have to get done in the day. The feeling of being overwhelmed can easily fall into anxiety and make me immobile. When I have one of these moments, I take a deep breath and fall right into my routine. I know that I need to:
- Take a Shower
- Brush My Teeth
- Wash My Face
- Make a cup of Apple Cider hot tea (my favorite)
Once I begin moving my body and start tackling my non-negotiables on my to-do lists, that action enables me to get my day started and handle the rest.
2. Prioritize Prayer
In my experience, praying has become an essential aspect of my life that has tremendously improved my mental health. I define prayer as: “communication between the Creator (God) and the created (Me).” So often, my thoughts run wild, and I start to get stressed. When I have these moments of mental turmoil, I love resorting to prayer. By merely speaking out my concerns and trusting that someone is listening makes me feel better. Prayer also allows me to be self-reflective because when I hear my prayers aloud, I can assess where I may be delirious or overthinking.
3. Wake Up Early
Waking up as early as physically possible is always a treat. The mornings are my time of silence where I can breathe, think, and pray. When I wake up too close to an appointment, meeting, or work, that obligation takes over my mind before I get a chance to set the tone for my day. Waking up early allows me to have control over my day before my obligations do.
4. Don’t check social media first thing in the morning
I believe that our minds are most sensitive in the morning. This is why I make it a point to be extremely intentional about how I spend my mornings. If you can win the morning, you can win the day. (always remember that) When you check social media first thing in the morning, and you read about social ills, people’s frustrations or, sexual fantasies, you invite that energy in to start your day. The internet can be a toxic place. It is never smart to begin your day with that practice. When you wake up, take a breath, brush your teeth, have a dance party THEN check your Instagram, Twitter, and social media feeds that can incredibly improve your day and overall mood.
5. Sleep with your phone in another room
To resist the temptation of checking social media first thing in the morning, I advise you to place your phone in another room overnight. Let it charge in the bathroom or kitchen next to your tea mug. By placing your phone in another room, it makes it harder to roll over, grab your phone, and start reading social media feeds. 
6. Stop taking calls after a certain time
Don’t let anyone have access to you 24/7 (unless you are a doctor); be sure to set standards that work for you. I don’t answer calls after 8pm. By 8pm, I’m decompressing, reading a book, and heading to bed. No matter what my mornings and my nights belong to me.
7. Ignore phone calls
We all have those friends and family members that love to talk on the phone to hear themselves speak. While we may love those people, it is crucial to set boundaries and be okay with letting a phone call go to voicemail. I always make sure that I save everyone’s number, keep my voicemail box empty, and stay up to date on my text messages. I know whether a phone call is urgent or not. There are moments where I see a friend of mine who may want to gossip or talk about something less productive. Relationships are a treasure of life, but so is time. Never be ashamed to ignore phone calls that can be overbearing and unproductive.
8. Exercise Daily
There is so much data explaining the positive benefits of exercise. I do my best to move my body for at least 30 minutes a day. Doing so has helped my skin clear, my thoughts clear and helped me shed a few inches from my waist. I always say, a sweat a day keeps the stress away.
9. Consume Content Twice As Fast
Consuming valuable information regularly is a secret of successful indiviuals. Whether it is YouTube videos, audiobooks, or podcasts every day should consist of some learning. One way to improve your learning and do it efficiently is to increase the speed of whatever content you are consuming to learn. YouTube, Audible, and Apple Podcasts all can speed up your streaming, find that tool, and use it often.
10. Drink Sleepytime Tea
Everyone has a thing that helps them decompress and get to sleep. Some people smoke weed, others drink red wine, some hard liquor. In my experience, one of the best and healthiest ways to get to sleep quickly is by drinking sleepytime tea. Weed is not legal in all states and smells terrible. Too much wine could cause you to be drunk and immobile if an emergency were to occur. There’s never any benefits to drinking hard liquor (besides maybe at a party or out with friends). If you struggle to get to sleep, try drinking sleepytime tea an hour before you go to bed.
Conclusion
What tips do you have that keep you more productive? I’m a single man with no kids or pets, so I understand that my suggestions may be different from the next person. Which of these tips do you plan to implement into your daily life? I look forward to seeing you become a more productive person.