Productivity

  • How to Change Your Life in 75 Days

    If you’re ready to challenge your discipline, resilience, and commitment, the 75 Hard Challenge might be just what you need. This popular mental and physical challenge pushes participants to their limits for 75 days, demanding consistency and mental toughness.

    Whether you’re all in for 75 Hard or looking to ease into the Soft version, having the right tools to track your journey is key to staying on top of your goals. Let’s dive into what these challenges are and how my templates can support you along the way

    JUMP TO SECTION

    What Is the 75 Hard Challenge?

    Created by Andy Frisella, the 75 Hard Challenge is designed to build mental toughness, self-discipline, and personal growth. The rules are simple but strict. You must complete all of the following every single day for 75 days, without any exceptions. If you miss any of the rules you have to start over:

    75 Hard Rules

    • Drink 1 gallon of water
      Staying hydrated is essential, and 1 gallon ensures you’re taking care of your body.

    • Complete two 45-minute workouts
      One workout must be outdoors, rain or shine. The goal is to push through discomfort and stick to the plan no matter what.

    • Follow a diet
      The diet is your choice, but it must be a clean eating plan with no cheat meals or alcohol allowed.

    • Read 10 pages of a non-fiction book
      Personal development and learning are key parts of the challenge. Audiobooks don’t count—you have to actually read!

    • Take a progress photo every day
      It’s not just about physical change but documenting your journey.

    SHOP THE TEMPLATES

    What Is the 75 Soft Challenge?

    The 75 Soft Challenge is a gentler variation that maintains some structure while allowing for more balance and flexibility. It’s a great option for people who want to improve their habits but aren’t quite ready for the strict commitment of the original 75 Hard Challenge.

    75 Soft Rules

    • Drink 3 liters of water daily
      A slightly lower target but still a solid focus on hydration.

    • Exercise for 45 minutes a day, 5 days a week
      You still need to stay active, but you get 2 rest days to allow for recovery.

    • Eat a balanced diet, with occasional indulgence
      The focus is on eating well, but you can have alcohol in social situations and allow yourself a treat from time to time.

    • Read 10 pages of any book daily
      Encouraging consistent reading without limiting it to non-fiction.

    • No daily progress photos required
      Unlike 75 Hard, you don’t need to take a picture every day, removing some of the pressure to track physical changes

    SHOP THE TEMPLATES

    Introducing My 75 Hard & 75 Soft Notion Templates

    Whether you’re tackling the strict 75 Hard or going for the balanced 75 Soft, staying organized is key. These challenges demand daily dedication to tracking workouts, meals, water intake, and more—so why not make it easier? That’s where my Notion Templates for both challenges come in!

    I’ve designed these templates to keep you on track, motivated, and consistent throughout the entire journey. Here’s how they can help:

    • Daily Task Tracker: Log your workouts, meals, water, and reading with ease.
    • Progress Bar: See how far you’ve come and stay motivated.
    • Meal Planner & Recipe Bank: Plan meals and store recipes.
    • Workout Log: Track exercises and stay consistent with a calendar view.
    • Hydration Tracker: Easily track your daily water goal.
    • Personal Growth: Log your reading progress and reflect on what you’ve learned.
    • Progress Check-ins: Review your progress with summaries, reflections, and photos.

    These templates make it easy to focus on crushing your goals without the stress!

    Ready for the Challenge?

    Head over to my Template Shop and grab your 75 Hard Notion Template or 75 Soft Notion Template today. Set it up in minutes, customize it to fit your goals, and start making progress immediately.

    SHOP THE TEMPLATES

    Final Thoughts

    The 75 Hard Challenge pushes you to your limits and builds mental toughness, while the 75 Soft Challenge offers a balanced, less intense path to progress. Both are great for improving your habits and mindset. 

    Whether you’re going all in with 75 Hard or taking a gentler approach with 75 Soft, my Notion Templates will keep you organized, motivated, and on track!

  • 30 Days of Self-Care Challenge

    Making time for self-care is hard, I get it. Sometimes days go by when I’m so caught up with work and other things I have to get done that I completely forget about ME. That’s why I decided to create this self-care challenge.

    Hopefully, these 30 days will change your whole attitude towards yourself and self-care. Most of these self-care challenge days are really simple. It’s more about consciously making time for the things that really matter and creating a new habit of self-care in the process.

    If you take self-care seriously you will notice a huge change after these 30 days – promise! You can increase your focus, reduce stress, appreciate yourself – the benefits are endless. Don’t get discouraged if you have to skip a day, just get right back on with it the next day.  The goal is to focus on yourself!

    P.S. I linked helpful articles, tools and resources for you almost every day of the challenge to help you succeed.

    Be positive, be vibrant and take care of yourself. You got this.

    1. Take a Bubble Bath and read a good book

    Kick off your 30-day challenge with a nice hot bubble bath (I recommend these bath bombs for that extra spa feeling). Bathing with a book brings obvious challenges but I love to use this Bathtub Caddy Tray. It can hold your book or tablet, snacks, and a glass while you’re in the bathtub.

    Alternatively, you can also listen to an audiobook of your choice. 

    2. Start a bullet journal

    This will be a game changer if you’re trying to be more organized and productive. It’s the perfect place to keep track of all your ideas, appointments, doodles, notes etc. and can also be an amazing creative outlet. 

    Take some time today to sit down and read through Little Coffee Fox’s introduction to Bullet Journaling – How To Start a Bullet Journal To Begin Organizing Your Life. 

    I got started with Journal Me Organized – Practical and Creative Planning but I find so much inspiration on Pinterest, too.

    Related: 8 Best Productivity Planners and Journals To Get Your Life Together

    3. Discover a new podcast

    A lot of my progress over the last few years was only possible because of podcasts. I’ve been listening to podcasts for about 5 years now and I can’t tell you how many invaluable life lessons I got – for free! 

    Browse your podcast app of choice today and discover a new podcast. If you need some inspiration here are 4 awesome personal growth podcasts that will change your life.

    4. Day of Gratitude

    Did you know there is actually a World Gratitude Day celebrated annually on September 21? Today, try to show appreciation for all things, big and small. Choose to look at things with gratitude and positivity today. 

    Start a gratitude journal. Write down 10 things you’re grateful for for different categories such as your family, your job, your community, your lifestyle – there are so many things to be grateful for.

    I found the Instant Happy Journal – 365 Days of Inspiration, Gratitude, and Joy and the 52 Lists for Happiness: Weekly Journaling Inspiration for Positivity, Balance, and Joy books to be great tools for gratitude and happiness boosts.

    5. Journal for 10 Minutes

    Journaling is a great way to organize your thoughts. I definitely journal a lot less than I used to but getting everything out on paper and seeing my struggles right there in front of me has something therapeutic. 

    My journal also acts as my personal development guide. Looking back at my old journal entries, it blows my mind how much I have grown. 

    Take 10 minutes and write in your journal today. Write about your day, your struggles, your achievements, your problems, questions – anything really. Just get it out on paper and don’t stop before the 10 minutes are over. 

    Related: 8 Best Productivity Planners and Journals To Get Your Life Together

    6. Practice Yoga or Stretching

    If I do yoga regularly my back, shoulder and neck (courtesy of sitting in front of a computer all day) hurt way less. Investing time to do yoga makes all the difference for me and I make it a priority. 

    Make time to practice yoga today and make yourself a priority. My favorite Yoga YouTube channels are Yoga with Adrienne and PsycheTruth. They have fun, manageable classes for all levels. 

    Here are some of my favorite yoga accessories: 

    7. Schedule a massage

    Deciding to sign up for monthly massages has been the best decision of my life. Does anyone even know the meaning of “treating yourself” until they get a massage? 

    I cherish this hour every month. It makes me feel so good knowing that I’m spending my hard earned money on something that is only for me. Get a massage today and feel amazing!

    8. Write a letter to your younger self

    This powerful exercise will help you get to know yourself better. It will challenge you to self reflect on your past experiences. Look back with gratitude on all the moments that have made you into the person you are today. What did you learn? What was unexpected? Write it all down in a letter to your younger self. 

    9. Create a dream board

    Creating your vision and taking actions that are aligned with that vision is powerful. That’s why you need to write it all down. Spend some time thinking about your goals and dreams for the next year. Now find images or words that represent those goals and the actions you need to take to make them a reality.

    Put it all together in a dream board that you can hang up over your desk or in another corner of your room that you see every day. 

    How To Make a Vision Board by Lavendaire:

    10. Explore your passions

    What would your life look like if you were truly living and breathing your passion every day? Have you found your passion yet? If yes, are you actively pursuing them?

    Take some time to reflect on your passions, interests, hobbies, etc. today. My post How to find your true passion and live a life you love has 5 questions you need to ask yourself if you want to know more about your passion and explore your purpose. 

    11. Make a budget

    Having your finances in order can be a huge relief. Create a budget and get your finances in order today! Learn how to get serious about saving, budgeting and investing.

    Some resources you might find helpful:

    12. Watch the sunset

    I LOVE sunsets. It’s so peaceful and beautiful and they look so different every time so you never know what you’re gonna get. Take a few minutes to watch the sunset tonight. Pay attention to how it affects your mood and be inspired. Bonus: You will have a reason to go outside 🙂

    13. Wake up early

    Waking up early allows me to get the most out of my day. One thing that has made getting out of bed early a lot easier is my Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock with Sunrise Simulation. 

    When you wake up early today take note of all the things you got accomplished in the morning. You can also work on establishing a morning routine. Here are 7 of my favorite tips to help you become a morning person and create a morning routine that works.

    14. Work out

    Make exercise fun today! Try a new class at the gym or sign up for something you’ve been meaning to try.  I usually dread any type of exercise. I hate going to the gym, I hate running etc.

    BUT I decided to try out different classes and signed up for kickboxing on a whim because my friend needed a work out partner. Turns out I love kickboxing! If I could I would literally go every day. I’m so glad I decided to try something new that day and hopefully, you’ll be able to find something you love today as well!

    15. Curl up with a soft blanket, a cup of tea and cozy socks

    By far my favorite self-care exercise. Nothing says coziness like blankets, warm socks and a hot drink. Tea, hot chocolate or coffee – whatever makes you feel warm and fuzzy.

    16. Read a personal growth blog

    Personal Development is so important. Make some time today to read a personal growth blog. Challenge your thoughts and try to improve in at least one area of your life.

    A few of my favorite blogs you might want to check out:

    17. Cook a healthy meal

    Today is all about paying attention to what you put into your body. Cook a healthy meal carefully picking out the ingredients.

    Be mindful when you’re eating. Sit down, light a candle, put your phone away and turn off the TV. 

    Pick out a recipe you’ve been meaning to try for a while. Eating Well has the BEST healthy recipes out there. 

    18. Declutter your closet

    I do this at least every three months because I hate clutter so much. I go through every single item and think about the last time I wore it (if I can even remember).

    The Blissful Mind has a great guide to declutter your closet. Spend at least an hour going through EVERY single item in your closet today. 

    19. Do one thing that scares you

    I’m not talking bungee jumping or sky diving but think all the little things that you perceive as scary. Start on that ebook you’ve been meaning to write, prepare and launch that blog you’ve been talking about for so long, apply to that new job, attend that conference or networking event – even if it scares you. 

    20. Learn something new

    Learning new skills has been one of my top priorities for a while. A few years ago I realized that I had stagnated and not learned any new skills in forever. Investing in educational opportunities is the key to growing and developing yourself. 

    Websites such as Skillshare or Udemy make it easy to get started with pretty much anything you want to learn. Pick one of their free classes and learn something new!

    21. Reconnect with an old friend

    Think about that friend that you keep meaning to reach out to but life always gets in the way. Today make time and reconnect with him or her. Get together for coffee or dinner. You’ll be so glad you did. 

    22. Get creative

    Whether it’s scrapbooking, card making, painting or creative writing – get creative today. If you don’t think of yourself as a “naturally” creative person read this article about 11 ways to be more creative.

    23. Make no plans at all

    Enjoy the serenity of doing nothing. No appointments to keep, no schedule, no obligations – today you can do whatever you like (except for making plans)!

    24. Create a bucket list

    Make it a point to actively work on your bucket list today. What are your big plans and goals? If you already have one what can you cross off?

    25. List 3 things you're proud of or grateful for

    This could be accomplishments in your career, exercise or personal growth goals you achieved etc. I love this Gratitude Journal: Good Days Start With Gratitude: A 52 Week Guide To Cultivate An Attitude Of Gratitude

    26. Go for a walk

    Did you know that walking reduces stress and energizes you? Make time to go for a 30 minute walk today. Get up a little early or go on your lunch break but make an effort to get outside and get moving. 

    27. Social Media Detox

    Unplug. I always ask my boyfriend to change my passwords for my no social media days because I that I will probably tell myself that checking Instagram reaaaally quick won’t hurt anyone.

    Turn off your phone, delete your social media apps for a day, ask someone you trust to change your password for a day – just find a way to survive this day without social media somehow.

    28. Start tracking a new habit for a whole month

    Tracking habits can be super powerful. Jumpstart your good habits with this beautifully designed journal and planner that holds 3 months of detailed daily records: The 120-Day Habit Tracker

    29. Get a manicure or pedicure (or both)

    Enough said! Treat yourself.

    30. Brain Dump

    Your last day of the 30-day challenge! Time for a brain dump. If you’re not familiar with the term a brain dump means writing down all your thoughts, worries. questions, feelings etc. so you can see all those things written down in front of you.

    Reflect on and organize your thoughts about the last 30 days and evaluate possible new habits you want to incorporate into your life.

    You did it!

    30 days of self-care and self-improvement. I hope you’re mighty proud of yourself and will continue to grow and take care of yourself.

  • 8 Productivity Planners & Journals That Will Help You Get Your Life Together

    Let’s get planning! There is nothing quite as satisfactory as planning, am I right? Sometimes I spent hours creating my priority list or filling in my weekly to do’s. Planning just makes me happy 🙂

    I realize that the sheer overwhelm of planners out there can be very frustrating so I put together a list of the 8 BEST productivity planners (plus a bunch of bonuses for you at the end!!).

    The Passion Planner - Your Paper Life Coach

    The Passion Planner is many things all at once: calendar, goal setting guide, journal, sketchbook, appointment tracker, gratitude log, inspiration and motivation, weekly and daily focus, to do lists etc. all in one notebook!

    It was created by Angelia Trinidad who started to slip into depression after graduating from college feeling overwhelmed with uncertainty. She thought about what helped her during the most challenging and stressful times of her life and realized it was her planner. So she decided to create her own.

    That I love most about it is the combination of structure, creativity and journaling. It has pages for you to figure out your “passion road map” and to break down your short and long-term goals. Each month you reflect on the previous month – your favorite memories, lessons you’ve learned etc.

    There are also inserts you can add such as workout tracker, time extender, habit tracker and so much more! You can really make this planner your own and customize it to your needs.

    They even offer printable PDF’s so you can try the planner out for free before you purchase! If you’re looking to live more intentionally and want to identify your passions and pursue them I highly recommend this planner.

    Bonus: You get to feel even better about your purchase because as a Get One, Give One company, they give a planner to someone in need for every planner you buy!

    GET IT HERE

    Free Blog Planner by Elite Blog Academy

    This is a great freebie for bloggers. Ruth from Elite Blog Academy has been a successful blogger for years and really knows what bloggers need to get organized. This planner will help you to get a big picture plan for your blog especially if you’re just starting out. 

    The planner comes as part of her book How to Blog For Profit (Without Selling Your Soul) so you can find detailed instructions on how to assemble and use this planner to increase your productivity in chapter 11 of the book. But even if you haven’t purchased the book this planner is super useful either way! 

    Track your blogging goals, plan out your posts, collect ideas, track your blogging expenses etc.

    Oh and did I mention it’s free??

    GET IT HERE

    Productivity Planner - Accomplish your Goals

    This planner was created by the same people who published the Five Minute Journal (a great tool if you’re looking to improve your happiness through journaling). One feature that stands out immediately is that this planner comes with an in-depth explanation walking you through the process of how to get the most out of it.

    The Productivity Planner combines productivity principles like the Pomodoro style work system into a simple daily format that will help you tackle unfocused and unaccomplished “busy” days.

    With 6 months worth of daily productivity planning and Weekly Planning & Review sections you can reflect on and rate your productivity every day. That way you can become more productive every day and see your progress over time.

    You can’t go wrong with this planner. If you don’t end up loving it or feel like your productivity is not increasing as it should be you can just exchange it and they will issue you a full refund!

    GET IT HERE

    Me & My Big Ideas Planner

    I’ve been using this planner for a few years now and I absolutely love it. I get the extension and sticker packs (it also comes with 4 sheets of stickers) and found it to be an amazing creative outlet as well as a place to keep track of to dos, appointments and goals. Every month also comes with beautiful inspirational quotes.

    Due to its size you can also easily add pictures, ticket stubs, post cards etc. to your weekly spread. I love looking back through my old planners from previous years because it’s almost like a scrapbook filled with memories, keepsakes and hand written notes.

    The Happy Planner really does a great job combining creativity and productivity into one great colorful, inspirational package. 

    GET IT HERE

    Make It Happen - Daily Planner By Leaders in Heels

    Leaders in Heels have a simple yet amazing mission statement: “…to encourage and inspire women to follow their PASSION, to be more CREATIVE and INNOVATIVE in their lives, to feel more CONFIDENT and DETERMINED in their endeavors and to maintain a KIND heart while becoming SUCCESSFUL.”

    If this sounds like the women you want to be, you may have found your next perfect planner!

    The Leaders in Heels planners will help you on your way to success (whatever this may look like for you). These planners are designed for busy women on the go and big picture planning, regular life check-ins, personal growth pages, inspirational messages, quotes from successful leaders, and so much more! Find the confidence to kick-start your dream projects.

    Some other key features of this planner include:

    • Success routine planner to help you establish good habits
    • Structured meeting agenda pages for your yearly networking plan
    • Gratitude sections
    • Blank pages to dream, sketch, design, solve

    Bonus: Customize the planner with your initials! You can select up to three characters to be monogrammed on the cover.

    GET IT HERE

    Hardbound LifePlanner by Erin Condren

    “A life well planned is a life well lived.”

    This planner comes in two sizes (5″ x 8″ and 8″x10″) with Woven Wonder design accents. I really like the coordinating satin placeholder ribbon that comes with each Hardbound LifePlanner. You can just flip right to your current page. 

    With dot grid, quotes and coloring pages this planner will increase your productivity and your creativity at the same time. It comes with a Goal Setting Spread to help you stay on track and a Mini Calendar. 

    Whether you opt for specific monthly goals or segment based on type (fitness, budget, etc), you can achieve anything with this planner!”

    GET IT HERE

    My PA Business Planner

    If you’re an entrepreneur, business owner, or coach or side hustler but aren’t sure where to start check out MY PA Planner – an all-in-one planning solution to organize your business AND life.

    It includes a Business Plan Template to plan your venture from concept to launch as well as daily time-blocking and plenty of space for yearly, monthly, weekly & daily goal setting.

    I love the project planner where I can just brain dump all my projects for later and the social media and finance planner section each month are a nice touch.

    GET IT HERE

    Habit Nest Sidekick Journals - All of them!

    Habit Nest offers three different Sidekick Journals – Morning, Meditation and Nutrition Sidekick and I truly couldn’t decide which one to highlight. There is so much value in every one of them so I recommend you get all three (or the one that fits your lifestyle best).

    Morning Sidekick Journal

    The Morning Sidekick Journal is a science based morning routine planner that you can fill out in just 3 minutes. It’s very motivating and comes with a lot of instructions and guidance about kick starting your day.

    The journal is divided into three unique phases. Each phase provides a journal page that is accompanied by daily content such as pro-tips, daily challenges and encouragements to guide you through each phase.

    Meditation Sidekick Journal

    The Meditation Sidekick Journal starts out with an introduction to meditation and how it changes your brain and can improve your life. There is an audio version that will help you explore 6 guided meditation styles while reflecting and improving the ways your inner mental talk and mindfulness are impacting your life. 

    Just like the morning sidekick journal this one is divided into three unique phases. The daily content will help keep you engaged and inspired throughout the process. The tracking page is designed to help with your goal of meditating daily and expanding your idea of yourself.

    The Nutrition & Weight Management Sidekick Journal can help you lose weight, understand how to manage your weight, and boost your health and energy. The journal walks you through the process of developing new habits. You will learn how to lose weight and adopt the lifestyle habit of healthy eating.

    If you’ve been dieting before you know that there are a lot of intense diets out there that are not sustainable in the long run (tried plenty of those) but this book has actual science based information that will assist you in planning your diet. The daily content pages are filled with pro-tips, challenges and success stories so you can get to your ideal weight one day at a time.
    Bonus: Each Sidekick journal comes with a sneak peek of the first pages so you can skim through before you buy. And they have a 50 years (!!) full refund, any condition return policy which I think is pretty awesome. Another cool feature is their discounted partner packs. You can save 10-25% off if you decide to challenge friends to live a better life.
    GET IT HERE

    Bonus: Stay Organized with Meeting Minutes

    One often-overlooked productivity tool is a well-structured meeting minutes document. Whether you’re managing a team or keeping personal notes, Canva makes it easy to create, edit, and organize meeting minutes. They offer ready-made templates so you can skip the formatting hassle and focus on jotting down key insights and action items.

    Learn how to create and manage meeting minutes in Canva here.

    That’s it! The best 8 productivity planners and journal to help you crush your goals and get your life together. Let me know in the comments which one is your favorite! 🙂

  • 9 Tips For An Insanely Productive Day

    Hey there, fellow procrastinators! If you’re anything like me you can probably identify with feeling completely overwhelmed. There is so much to do and there just aren’t enough hours in the day to do ALL.THE. THINGS.

    I get it. I struggled a lot last year with setting meaningful goals and sticking with a productive schedule. I used to get so overwhelmed that I just gave up and turned on the TV so I wouldn’t have to face the struggle.  Being focused and productive is hard. Especially, if you have a million things going on at the same time and just can’t figure out where to start.

    It’s not too late to change your ways though! Starting today (after implementing my tips) you will be a procrastinator no more!
     

    Time Blocking and Scheduling Results

    One of my goals for my 30 Before 30 Personal Growth Challenge was to get more done. I wanted to give time blocking a shot. I also read about scheduling results and outcomes instead of to-dos. Successful six figure blogger Natalie Bacon (yeah, I know, I talk about her a lot) schedules results instead of to-dos and her success speaks for itself.  

    “Don’t schedule ‘work on blog’ from 12pm-3pm. Instead, schedule ‘write 1 blog post’ from 12pm-3pm. You’ll force yourself to actually produce more if you schedule this way because you’ll be accountable to what’s getting done and not what you’re working on.” 

    Designate blocks of time to a specific task. This method is perfect if you have a pretty consistent schedule every week (for example, if you work full time). Here is a picture of my Google Calendar so you can see what I’m talking about. I schedule out my whole day and color code every activity to get a better overview.  

    These time blocks stay the same every week. I take some time on Sunday (see Weekly Planning – Schedule Results) to break down all the blocks and schedule results and outcomes. For example, in my Monday morning Blog time block I would put “Schedule 100 pins on Pinterest for the week.”  

    Productivity Tools

    You can’t do it all on your own. Sometimes you need a helping hand. That’s where amazing tools such as Trello and Hootsuite come in.  I love this Daily Habits + Goal Tracker Trello Board from Britt Joiner. Read more about how it works and how she uses it to create more effective habits and goals here. 

    I created my own Trello Board modeled after hers and it’s a great free tool to keep track of all my goals this year.  

    Hootsuite is great for batching your work. You can schedule out your social media posts for a whole week in advance (or even a whole month) all at once. You can also create different channels to monitor your mentions, different hashtags etc. 

    Focus Tools

    There are also some great tools  and apps that help you focus.  Here are my 4 favorites:

    • Brain.fm – soundtracks that boost your focus and brain activity
    • LeechBlock –  extension for web browsers designed to block time-wasting sites (hint hint – social media!)
    • Mindful Browsing – sends you reminders of how you should rather spend your time. 
    • One Big Thing– Focus on your biggest task every day


    Set your Top 3 Priorities

    Part of my daily morning routine is choosing my top 3 priorities for the day and it makes all the difference. It gives my day focus and clarity. I also set “other” goals but I make it a point not to work on them until I finish my Top 3 priorities for the day.   

    Example:

    Top 3 Priorities:

    1. Write one blog post 
    2. Update homepage with new graphics and widgets
    3. Finish Meal planning for next week

    Other (I’ll work on these AFTER I finish my top 3 priorities): 

    • Update Pinterest boards with new keywords
    • Create a new freebie from my freebie idea sheet
    • Start outline for Brand Guide post
    • Review my blogging and personal goals for 2019  

    Organize your home and workspace in 5 minutes   

    We are most productive without clutter. It may sound silly but the easiest way to start out your day right is with making your bed.

    Did you know there is a whole book about this subject? “Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life… And Maybe the World”  

    Next, you can set a 5-minute timer and just start straightening up a few things around the house (most importantly your workspace). You’ll be surprised how much you can get organized and decluttered in just 5 minutes!  

    Use the Scrum Method

    I learned about this method listening to the podcast Blog It Boss It Radio by A Branch Of Holly and it changed my life. It will give you incredible focus and is a good visual tool that will show you exactly how much you’ve achieved that day.

    How it works:  

    Holly uses the goal “Setting up my website” as an example in her podcast. First, you map out all the mini goals that need to be completed for this bigger goal – register your domain, pick a theme etc. 

    Now grab a whiteboard (or a blank piece of paper) and draw three columns.  The first column will be your “Backlog” column. Write down all the different tasks you just mapped out (one per sticky note) and stick them into that column.  

    The middle column is “Doing” and the third column is “Done.” Grab the first sticky, put it in the “Doing” column and get to work. Once you completed this task, grab the sticky note and move it to the done column. Rinse and repeat with all the mini tasks until you finished your big goal.  This method makes sure you only work on one thing at a time and don’t get overwhelmed.

    Pro Tip: You can also do this with Trello  

    You can listen to the full episode here: Episode 3: 4-step time management system to help you save 10 hours a week. Check out her other episodes while you’re there! Holly has so many actionable tips for bloggers and entrepreneurs.

    Plan your day around your most productive times  

    Mornings are a great time to be creative and productive so I schedule all my most focused work (blogging) in the morning. For others, it might be midday or evenings. Whichever time of the day works best for you – don’t let that energy and focus go to waste! For your less productive times, focus on other tasks that require less brain power (such as meal prepping).
      

    Learn new things while being productive (my favorite)  

    Are you struggling to find time to take that course you’ve been wanting to take? Or to read that book you’ve had on your list for months? Just grab your headphones and listen and learn at the same time! 

    Whether it’s podcasts (check out my Top 4 Personal Development Podcasts that will change your life here) or audiobooks (Audible will give you two free audiobooks) or courses (platforms like Skillshare have online apps, just play the videos and listen away) – there is something for everyone.  

    I’ve been listening to podcasts and audiobooks for about 5 years now and I can’t tell you how many invaluable life lessons I got. And all while doing other things like driving, working out, walking my dog etc.! It makes me feel so motivated listening to others sharing their advice, perspective and stories.  

    Use the Pomodoro Technique  

    This is a pattern of 25 minutes of productivity with a 5-minute break. Set your timer for 25 minutes and during that time you have to WORK! No breaks, no distractions, just pure focus! Being disciplined and focused is much easier if you know that you only have to keep it up for 25 minutes at a time.  

    Final Thoughts

    Finally, don’t waste all your precious time trying to be perfect. I just downloaded a new quote wallpaper from my friends over at Bluchic and the message is so important: Done well is better than perfect.

    My favorite blogger Sam Laura Brown has a whole podcast series dedicated to this topic – The Perfectionist Project. Check it out to learn more about tackling perfectionism.  

    What have you done to increase your productivity? What are your biggest struggles that keep you from staying focused and productive? 

  • How to Create The Perfect Morning Routine

    I consider waking up early a personal time investment in myself. Most of the time you’re really not getting up early for anyone but yourself. To enjoy some peace and serenity. To start your day off right. 

    While waking up early is still hard (it gets easier though, I promise) I know that it increased my productivity and my mood by 100%. I wanted to share 7 of my favorite tips to help you become a morning person and create a morning routine that works.

    Start Small

    Let’s face it – it’s unrealistic to expect yourself to get up at 5 am every day when you’re used to sleeping in until 8 am. Instead, start with small 5 minute increments. Wake up 5 minutes earlier every day for two weeks before kicking off your morning routine. 

    Let’s say you usually get up at 8 am to get dressed and rush to work. If you get up 5 minutes early (Day 1 – 7:55 am, Day 2 – 7:50 am, Day 3 – 7:45 am etc.)  you will have gained 70 minutes after just two weeks.

    It’s much easier to trick your body into waking up earlier if you start small. Your new wake up time after two weeks – 6:50 am.

    Create an evening routine 

    In order to have a successful morning routine you need to create an evening routine. For me that consists of the following:

    • Set up my next day in my bullet journal
    • Meal Plan and pack my lunch
    • Program my coffee machine 
    • Read a book or listen to an audio book on Audible to unwind so I can go to bed at a decent time

    Use a Wake Up Light Alarm

    There is nothing worse than waking up in darkness to the blaring sound of your alarm. The Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock with Sunrise Simulation wakes up your body naturally by simulating a gradual sunrise. It slowly brightens over a 30 min period BEFORE your alarm goes off.

    It truly makes the biggest difference waking up to a brightly lit room. 

    Exercise 

    Ok, before you skip this paragraph – hear me out. I’ve been there. I tried to get up early and go to the gym in the morning a few times but it just doesn’t work for me. Gym time is for the weekends and evenings when I have time and actually WANT to go. 

    We now have a “home gym” meaning that my boyfriend has some gym equipment in the garage and I have a small TV, a yoga mat and some weights in our spare bedroom. 

    For me, the key was to eliminate any unnecessary steps or obstacles that I needed to overcome before working out. Get up, get ready, get dressed, walk to the car, drive to the gym, park etc.

    Now I roll out of bed, turn on a workout or Yoga video on You Tube and go. 
    I realize that not everyone has the luxury of a spare bedroom or a garage but even just a video on your phone and enough space to stretch out on the floor is all you need.

    Have something to look forward to

    As lame as this may sound you need something to look forward to so you can get out of bed. For me that’s as simple as coffee. I love my coffee and frequently try different flavored coffee, type of creamers, flavor shots etc.

    I also have a few favorite mugs that I get excited about using. 
    Programming my coffee machine (get yourself a programmable coffee machine if you don’t have one already! It will change your life) and getting up to the smell of fresh coffee really motivates me (on most days anyway). 

    Other ideas that might motivate you to get out of bed:

    • listen to your favorite song or podcast
    • light your favorite scented candle
    • drink tea
    • watch the sunrise
    • wear a new outfit
    • read a few pages of a new book
    • meditate
    • gratitude journal
    • make a healthy breakfast

    Whatever it may be, take some time to sit down and reflect on what would get you out of bed. Try to come up with a few different things to look forward to so you can switch it up throughout the week.

    Get Organized

    I don’t know about you but being organized makes me feel happy and motivated.

    I go over my planner, my top 3 priorities for the day, make my bed and straighten up a few things around the house. 

    Pro Tip: Track your morning routine in your bullet journal or just track which days you managed to get up early. It will motivate you to continue. 

    Work on something you’re truly passionate about

    Since I started this blog it got a lot easier for me to get up early. Instead of dreading going to work first thing after I get up, I now have some time to work on something I’m truly passionate about and that I’m just doing for me.

    Believe it or not but as I’m writing this post it is currently  7:45 am 🙂
    My goal is to ultimately have a profitable online business. I firmly believe that very morning and every hour I spent working on this blog brings me closer to this goal. 

    Morning time is such a great time to be creative, productive and passionate for something you truly care about. Don’t let that morning energy go to waste!

    My Morning Routine 

    To give you an idea of how to implement these tips I put together my typical morning routine:

    • 5:30 AM – Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock turns on 
    • 6:00 AM – Get up and walk my pup
    • 6:15 AM – Exercise for 30 min
    • 6:45 AM – Shower and get dressed while my programmable coffee machine starts brewing my coffee
    • 7:15 AM – Organize my workspace and set my top 3 priorities for the day 
    • 7:30 AM – Drink coffee and work on my business for an hour
    • 8:30 AM – Leave for work

    Again, this routine will look different for everyone. This is what works for me. I still have days where I just can’t get up or when my schedule looks different.

    When you’re having a hard time getting up remember that creating a thoughtful and effective morning routine can truly change your habits and your life.

    Do you have a morning routine? Is there anything you would add? I would love to know more about your routine so please share your thoughts in the comments 🙂