‘If you fail to plan, you plan to fail’ - remember this quote? It’s the perfect mindset for completing your goals. I challege you to keep it in mind.

It's difficult maintaining your motivation and productivity throughout the day. It's significantly more challenging for those of you who work full-time and still find a way to carve out additional time to sit and write. Or work on whatever your craft is.

If you're like most people, you have a small window where you feel at your best, and the rest of the day is a constant struggle to get everything done. Energy levels will always ebb and flow, but having a plan in place will support you when you feel you're trying to keep up.

Here are some tips that can help you feel more productive.

Start Your Morning Slow

Your morning routine is crucial as it sets the mood and pace for the rest of the day. Sure. You'll have moments or days where you will have a spike of energy during lunch or a crash just after. However, generally, if you start your morning feeling in a rush or behind - that anxiety tends to follow.

Try starting your morning calmly and slowly. Instead of jumping out of bed quickly and running to complete the morning tasks, try connecting with yourself now. Check in with your body and think of some quiet ways to start your day. It might be writing in a journal or reviewing your to-do list for the day, reading your book, or listening to a podcast.

Likewise, you can get in a good stretch, do a yoga routine, or drink coffee silently. Regardless of the quiet activity, starting your morning slowly, in a non-stressful way, sets the tone for a healthy day, allowing you to feel more energized and motivated.

Set Your Intentions For The Day

During your morning routines, set some intentions for your day. These are like a to-do list, but more than just tasks to be completed. They include how you want to feel and what kind of day you intend to have.

Take a few minutes each morning to write down your intentions for that day. Begin with tasks that need to be done, but include notes about how you want to feel, what you have been putting off, and what you hope to accomplish before the day ends.

Focus on creating more time for yourself or setting boundaries with work. You may need to have a challenging conversation with someone or start changing your life. Whatever it is, clarify what you intend to do and implement that day.

Eat The Frog

"Eat The Frog" is a productivity concept from author Brian Tracy. Essentially, his message is this: Do the most challenging thing you must do all day before you do anything else.

You want to look at your most important tasks and get those done at the beginning of your day before any other jobs. Doing this will give you the feeling of accomplishment and the momentum to complete any remaining charges.

Break Up Your Tasks

When looking through your task list, break them into smaller goals you can achieve throughout the day instead of one big goal. Then stay present with a task at a time.

This will help to keep you feeling motivated as you check things off your list, and it will also help to prevent burnout. I look at these like checkpoints in a video game. You can only think about some of the work needed; you need to focus on one checkpoint at a time to clear to the next.

Focus on One Project at a Time

Stop trying to multitask! Seriously, we could improve at multitasking. I know some people with exceptional skills will claim so, but we aren't built that way.

Multitasking can seem like it keeps you more productive, but the opposite is usually true. In fact, I've always struggled with multiple projects. Something equally entertaining pops up when my mind is interested in one thing. In my arrogance, I've believed that I can do both. I can be different. Whatever I gave to one project, I was taking away from the other. Whether it be time, money, or support. Instead of completing a project thoroughly, I ended up with half-completed tasks past the deadline. It felt great, though, because I was busy.

Working on multiple projects constantly pulls your focus from one thing to the next, and you never give any task the proper attention. Instead, work on one task until each is completed. That feeling of being busy is a false lie and doesn't equate to success. You might have to train yourself to do this, but it will be worth it in the long run. Once you get into a groove with one task, you will find that you can complete it much faster and with fewer mistakes.

Set a Timer

Try setting a timer if you have trouble focusing on just one task at a time. I use the Pomodoro technique and a visual timer that I can see. Start with 20 minutes and see how much you can get done in that time. Once the timer goes off, take a short break before starting the next task.

Take Breaks

Remember to take breaks! This is essential for your productivity. Working non-stop will eventually lead to burnout, so take time for yourself throughout the day. Get up, move around, snack, or step outside for fresh air. These things will help rejuvenate you and keep you focused when you return to work.

Develop a Power Hour

The "power hour" is a boundary around tasks you must complete. Have a project or task in mind that you will work on, such as a writing prompt, a new poem, planning for social media, or finishing a book.

The idea with the power hour is simple: designate one hour each day to shut off social media, silence your phone, shut your office or bedroom door and shield yourself from interruptions. This is also an excellent way to limit distractions you create independently. So, stick to a timer, go to the restroom, and arm yourself with any snacks you may need (this prevents you from wanting to get up!).

End With a Reflection

As your day ends, reflect on your accomplishments for a few minutes. Set some intentions for the next day and list tasks that need to be done. Planning ahead in this way will help you to feel prepared and motivated going into the next day or week. Remember to focus on one task at a time, take breaks when needed, and end your day on a good note.

*What’s your best advice for how to be productive? Share with us below or tag us @awritersbusiness***

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Improve Your Productivity with These Quick Tips