These summer days when you're supposed to get something done and at the end of the day you realize you haven't completed your tasks and you know that it won't take you anywhere if you skip sleeping and start doing that...so you go to sleep wake up next morning and same story, is too nice outside...you're distracted...you're too euphoric...you wanna go to the beach with your friends...
YOU NEED TO GET YOUR STUFF TOGETHER AND ORGANIZE YOUR TIME!
Sure, but how? Well, here I am to tell you how I organize and I actually get to do everything I was planning for on a day. Not saying this is going to work for all of you out there, we all have different motivations and schedules and will power, but at least this is working for me and I just hope you can pick some ideas from my tips!
Room Setting
You won't believe this but your room is like your sanctuary, you need to understand that this space is going to kick you out of it or in positive cases, will call you in and invite you to spend your time doing what you're enjoying to do (or ok, school work you might not enjoy) making things easier for you and helping you to find your inspiration and make the best of your time.
I am privileged to have a room with views to a gorgeous mountain, which of course, gives me a lot of positivity in the morning and reminds me of the beauty of the nature and how blessed I am to get my work done here. But I know not all of us might have same conditions, and even my ''so privileged'' room needs a pimp in the inside so I get more inspirational.
Tip: Decorate your room in a simple and subtle way, yet choose something that inspires you every day. Back in Finland, I decorated my bedroom by choosing simple colors for the bed lining, the lamps and furniture, white helps but think that is really high-maintenance, however I recommend you both white and woody colors. On the walls, to give more personality to your room, choose either
paintings with pastel or plain colors (or try to choose them with less than 10 different shades, so it won't distract you too much),
wall stickers that resemble something you really like
this,
pictures of your dear ones that mean a lot to you or someone that inspires you (avoid posters of bands, etc.).
Keep your desk tidy and ONLY with the necessities on it. I always have my computer, a bottle of water, a pen and a notebook and a book if I need it but most of the time I find everything I want in Internet and e-libraries so no need to pile up your books on your working desk.
Morning Routine
In the morning, I usually take a quick shower (even if I took one at night) to refresh myself from the sleep, I have my face all cleaned, put on some comfy clothes, no make-up, I clean my room from the morning mess and I take a healthy breakfast usually consisting in milk and fruits and sometimes some lean meat. All is in its place and I get my desk prepared. My favorite time to get things done.
Tip: Have your essentials nearby your area of working. You don't want to lose time looking for that one book one friend have gave you 2 years ago. Get only the essentials with you and try to have a clean desk, no excessive materials around and place it in such a way that the light comes from the left if you are right handed (and right if you are left handed). In this way, if you need to write, the shadow of your pen won't cover the notebook area where you're writing. Choose tranquil colors.
Afternoon Routine
Many of us get super lazy and powerless during the afternoon, and makes sense. If you're having lunch at 2 p.m. your digestion will take about 2 hours, meanwhile your body gets prepared for digestion, blood on your body concentrates in your stomach-tummy area to help the process of digestion get completed. Result? Not much energy left for your brain. Don't judge yourself for not being too effective at this time of the day. Enjoy this time for doing something else, take a break and have a walk (walks after eating helps and fastens digestion), meet a friend, do whatever you want which is not requiring too much thinking.
Tip: Enjoy your afternoon for planning. I always make plans during this time of the day. I skip all kinds of activities that require too much thinking because I know my brain is not going to cooperate at its fullest since my body is focusing on digestion. I usually have lunch and then plan the rest of the day and write down some notes for the rest of the week, or I measure my progress with my work and set some little goals to help me organize my stuff.
Evening Routine
This is when things get serious. You are completely unfocused and you just wish to go outside or just lay in front of the TV and do nothing. It's evening, sunset is about to show its beauty and you're trapped in your little cage to work. Well, taking small breaks every 30 minutes will improve your capacity to overwork, eat light (and less caloric meals) and try to relax as much as you can in the breaks.
Tip: I love summer evening, when sun is setting and it gets all breezy outside. What I sometimes do is just move my desktop to my garden table. If you don't have a garden then just make sure to take more frequent
breaks while you're working and go to the window to enjoy the landscape (whatever that is, city lights, roofs, sun, forest, etc.) and think how fortunate you are, just
relax...it's your time to say goodbye to another day you've worked hard for. When I finish my work, I usually do a summary in my head about what I've been doing that day and I double check it with my diary, to make sure I have sticked to the plan. If I ended it up successfully I
reward myself with something, that's sometimes a little chocolate, a relaxing bath, a book, watching my fave series...and soon to bed!
Other tips that can help a lot
♥ Keep a planner/diary/journal
♥ Set goals every Sunday for the following week
♥ Check your planner every morning
♥ Check your planner back at the end of the day
♥ Measure your efficiency, try to see if you have a pattern
♥ Breaks are important, take them every 1-2 hours
♥ Switch off your Social Media notifications
♥ Have a good night sleep
♥ Get motivated and be positive about the work you're doing
♥ Set an inspiring and personalized simple atmosphere
♥ Be happy!
