How to Have a Productive Day- Productive Things to do Daily

Productivity is not about having forty-nine items on your to-do list. 

It’s about having three items that you can do well, within a specific amount of time and have something to show for it. 

Before knowing any of these things, I was the kind of person who drew joy from seeing my to-do list filled with tasks. 

It was always disappointing to carry things forward to the next day because I overpaced myself. 

That results in discouragement. 

 

Having a work-life balance should be a top priority for a productive day. 

What is that saying: work without play makes Jack a dull boy? It is true!

I believe for a day to be fulfilling it would be unfair to only focus on work stuff.

It’s important to figure out how to incorporate other facets of your life into your daily programs. 

 

Let’s break it down and see some of the things that can guide a productive day. 

 

Start by dividing your day into segments: Morning, midday, afternoon, late afternoon, and evening. 

Now we look at each segment (with the assumption that your day starts at 5 am and ends at 8 pm.

 

 

Morning: 

 

These are hours between 5 am and 11 am.

Some of the things that bring out productivity here are:

 

1. Waking up early: Starting the daily early allows you to plan mentally for the tasks ahead. 

2. Morning routine: set time aside for self-care activities, like meditation, devotion,  journaling, or exercise, to boost energy and mental clarity.

You can freshen up to create some sense of control and boost your confidence. 

3. Set goals: create a list of key tasks after breakfast, identifying 3-5 top priorities.

4. Focused work: Set a 1.5-hour block of the segment to tackle the most important task while energy and focus are high.

 

 

Midday:

 

Typically between 11 am and 12pm (noon).

You need some break at this point to help you stay focused.

 

Consider these activities. 

 

1. Take a short break after 90-120 minutes of work to recharge.

2. Continue key tasks: return to the second most important task, staying focused and minimizing distractions.

You will be surprised how a well-structured 30 minutes of focused work can do wonders. 

3. Lunch: Have a nutritious, light meal to fuel the rest of the day. You can take a 10-15 min walk after lunch to reenergize. 

 

 

 

 

 

Afternoon:

 

It can be between 12:30 pm and 3 pm.

You come back to work feeling energetic. 

Here are some ideas to reinforce productivity. 

 

1. Productive work block: get back to work, complete the remaining priority tasks, and check off any quick, smaller tasks.

2. Emails/meetings: any necessary communication, email responses, or meetings are scheduled towards the end of the afternoon, ensuring they don’t interrupt deep work earlier in the day.

 

 

Late Afternoon:

 

These are hours between 3 pm and 5 pm. 

At this point, you focus on wrapping up.

Take time and review what was accomplished during the day and make adjustments if needed. Prepare a to-do list for tomorrow, setting clear priorities.

Please note that some tasks from your afternoon might spill into the late afternoon. 

That’s okay as long as they don’t eat much into your time. 

An allowance of 30 mins is fine. 

 

 

Evening:

 

This is normally between 5 pm and 8 pm.

Some things to consider here are:

Winding down: unwinding activities like reading, spending time with loved ones, or hobbies provide balance.

Reflection and planning: reflect on the day’s achievements to help with personal growth, followed by light planning for the next day.

 

This is just a guideline that I believe can set you up for a productive day. 

 

However, here are some non-negotiables to keep in mind:

 

• Determine what time your day starts and ends
• Identify the distractions you need to get rid of. 
• Plan your meals to save time during your lunch hour. You can make a lot of food in the evening and have the leftovers for lunch. 
• If possible, have a rough idea of the most important tasks for the next day. 
• Set timers for your work blocks. 
• Have a standard morning and evening routine.
• Have an overview of your month to avoid surprises during the weeks. 
• Plan on how to recover time in case of an emergency. 

I hope you had fun reading this and have productive days ahead!