Start Your Day the Night Before

“I had to make my own living and my own opportunity. But I made it! Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.” ~ Madam C.J. Walker

If you’re like me, I’m sure you rarely give a thought to planning your day the night before. This is often overlooked but it can be helpful in increasing your productivity. It can help keep you motivated as well.

Below, I give you several tips you can do the night before to make tomorrow more productive and effective.

Plan for Tomorrow

Take a few minutes at the end of your day to write out a simple plan for what you need to accomplish the next day. It can be as simple as a list of five or six tasks you want to complete the next day. Or, as complex as reviewing your calendar for the next day and jotting down notes about a meeting or websites you want to look over as research for a project. I’m a fan of sticky notes, although I don’t use them much anymore, one can be seen lurking around my desk every now and them. There are digital sticky notes you can use to create a general outline of tasks you want to complete the next day. Like a mini to-do list.  Leave this where you can see it the minute you sit down at your desk the next morning and start your day off on a positive note.

Clean Your Desk (Workspace)

After you’ve written out your to-do list for the next day, take another few minutes to clean or straighten your desk. Get rid of old papers you don’t need, wash your mugs and water glasses, put pens in cupholders, file papers, and organize anything messy.

I never understood the power of a clean desk until I started taking time to straighten mine. I was feeling kind blah one day, not having the energy or motivation to do much of anything toward any of the projects I needed to work on. I took a minute to straighten and clean my desk. I could breathe once the clutter was removed from my work area. I straighten my desk every night before I end my day.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Sleep is an important part of life. It is considered a key component in increasing productivity. Your brain and body have a chance to reset and rejuvenate. All the information your brain received throughout the day is sorted, organized into memories, and stored. When you wake up feeling rested and ready to face your day, your mind is clear, and you achieve laser-like focus.

Night-time Routine

Before you run off to bed, create a nightly routine that helps you unwind. A night-time routine is a powerful tool. It helps our bodies and minds realize it’s time for sleep and renewal.

Here are a few things that you might want to incorporate into your nightly routine:

• Stretching or yoga,
• Having a cup of tea,
• Taking a bath,
• Picking out what you’re going to wear the next day,
• Reading a book. My favorite and go to. I read every night before I fall asleep.

What you include in your routine is up to you. Make sure it relaxes you so that you do it every day. It will take a little time – approximately 30 days – for your brain to associate this activity with sleep, although you’ll experience the benefits quickly. You will feel more relaxed at night, sleep better, wake up more refreshed, and have more productivity and focus during the day

Takeaway

Spending time the night before will help you remain productive the next day. Do this each evening before you leave work or your desk if you work from home and you will set yourself up to not only for productivity but for success.

Affirmations

I have control of my day.
Nothing happens today that I do not want.
Productivity brings me joy and peace