How do high-performing people plan their day?
Restricted by time.
Do you think high-performing people have more time than those who lack performance
excellence? Do you believe that millionaires have more time for their activities? Do you feel
like your day ends way too early? Do you feel frustrated with chronic lack of time?
If any of the above applies to you, keep on reading. I would like to offer you a few simple
tricks, which will help you navigate the schedules and plans of your daily activities.
But first, let me make it clear… No one has more time than anyone else. As acknowledged
and commonly agreed among the human race, there are twenty-four hours in the day and
sixty minutes in an hour. And that’s about it.
You can try to look away from the clock’s face or cover your ears when the midnight bell
rings, but it will be quite futile, as the day would come a full circle anyhow.
Instead, let us find a way of making the most of the time given, raising the quality of your
time, and creating lasting changes that would free up more space for the activities that
matter most.
Kickstarting is a must.
Whether you like it or not, the morning is the most productive time of the day. With a
refreshed mind and well-rested body, there is no better moment to make the right
decisions, attempt the most important tasks, and address the most burning issues than in
the very morning of your day.
In the same way, each of us is given a certain amount of energy to use up throughout the
day, there is a limited resource of decision-making, and creative energy, which both
contribute to the quality of your performance.
No wonder Einstein or Jobs refrained from choosing a combination of clothes each day, as
their demanding daily activities would be hindered by the decision fatigue caused by such a
trivial (one could say) choice of the day.
This is not to say you have to stop wearing anything else but a black blazer and a pair of
jeans, but you should reconsider the way your day is started, and which things do you put
forth as the priorities.
So, take your mornings seriously and kickstart your day!
No second-guessing.
Indecision is a killer for the majority of endeavours. Whether you’re creating a new project,
attempting to change jobs, or wanting to pick up a new, better habit, there is only one thing
that can trample your success before you even start. Indecision.
Second-guessing might sound harmless, but in extreme cases, it can even cost one’s life.
There is no better way to learn and grow than through experiences, mistakes, failures,
attempts, and successes. We learn the most by doing, not by thinking about it.
That is why high-performers take action right after the initial situational analysis is made.
They follow through with the action and treat results as feedback used to readily improve
their work. You will learn more by trying and failing than by hypothesising without taking
action.
So, do not waste time wondering and get to it!
Knowing what to do comes from knowing what not to do.
How much time do you waste during your day…? Is it two hours? Three hours? Four hours?
A study made by Maui Mastermind in 2018 showed that an average office worker wastes
almost twenty-two hours a week – mostly on social media. And this is only in regard to their
‘working time’.
So, think about it – how much time do you waste a day…?
Whether you’re a student, young worker, an entrepreneur, or a business owner there is only
so much time you have on your hands to use throughout the day. What you do with your
time is critical. And the best way to save yourself some time is to know which activities are
no longer serving you.
If you want to write a book, binge-watching TV won’t help you reach that goal. If you want to
run a marathon, meeting up with friends every afternoon might not be the best idea.
As a high-performer, you need to consciously design your day. Cut out what’s unnecessary
and make more space for those activities that you need to take care of.
So, respect your time and make sure you use it wisely!
Schedule and stick to it.
Do you often find that the moment you’re about to pick up ‘that important, challenging task’
something else catches your attention…? Maybe it is an unwashed pile of dishes, maybe it’s
the pinging email on your phone screen, or maybe it’s the voice inside your head reminding
you of that phone call with a friend tomorrow. Whatever it is, it becomes a distraction and if
not acted rightly upon, it soon enough has you hooked doing a less important task. Some call
this phenomenon ‘being busy’, some call it ‘procrastinating’, I would like to call it ‘losing
focus’.
If you want to perform better, do more with less time, and create lasting change in your
daily routine, designing a schedule is a necessity. Each day you have a few major goals to
fulfil and if you successfully prioritise and plan their completion, your performance will
skyrocket. Think of the time in the day when you’re likely to be the least distracted, adapt
your environment to minimise unexpected triggers, and put a hundred percent of your
effort into the task at hand.
So, choose the daily goal, make a schedule, and follow through!
Outperform yourself.
In the end, there is no use in comparing your work to others. Each and every one of us is
different, aiming at different goals, and approaching activities differently. Do not forget to
embrace your individualism.
When it comes to making the most of your day-to-day time, ensure you know what it is
you’re most committed to. Understanding your priorities will make it easier to stick to the
plan and cutting losses where they need to be cut. Saying ‘no’ to situations, people, and
things that stand in the way of your priorities is an inconvenience that you will have to take if
you want to finish what you’ve started. And starting the day right will enable you to gain the
competitive edge, which your better self so desperately needs.
In the end, it is all about managing yourself. You are your own employer, employee, and
mediator, so make sure to pay attention to all their needs and make your time worthwhile.
Now, if you liked the content…
Found this article interesting? Read other articles by Wojtek Salski at Revolancer Magazine.
Support Revolancer by following us on our social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Freelance marketplace: Revolancer