Last year was a true struggle for me. Personal, professional, and just the general challenges of everyday life got on top of me. I was struggling to just maintain, to get a sense of where I was and what I was doing daily. I didn’t understand how to fight this and took a few weeks to ‘pause’. Stop talking, stop writing, just stop and listen to what the universe was saying to me. Out of that little hiatus was a great message: to be efficient. When I stopped rushing through tasks and really took the time to do it right, it pretty much changed the way I conducted everything in life. Efficiency is so much more than a word, it’s a mindset and a state of being. When I’m efficient in my daily life, I find I can sit back and enjoy more; I can be present when I’m spending time with my friends and family; and, I can truly enjoy writing and working because I’m utilizing it to it’s full capability.
We all have dreams we aspire to achieve, and are pushing ourselves to succeed. In that hustle, you get caught up on if you’re doing something to your full capability, if you’re making an impact or if you’re even on the right path. I’ve found that using efficient tactics in your life can really relieve those hassles (or, at least the anxiety of it). When you’re stressed, overworked, and underpaid, everything can be a struggle to get done. The dishes in the sink need to be put away; the house needs to be cleaned for your friends coming in town; your mom will be here tomorrow – all of these things are only more stressful when you haven’t done them and still have a laundry list of to-do items. I find that when I don’t do something and I end up being packed with other things, it only creates resentment and anger for not doing what I needed to do in the first place.
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Here and there, do little things on your checklist so it doesn’t pile up.
- Tidy up when you need to, not when you want to. Pick up to your clothes that are strewn across the floor and your boyfriend’s socks that he’s not going to pick up – just fold them and put them up yourself. You may be annoyed, but you’ll be less annoyed than if you nagged him to do it.
- Make a larger batch of food and save it for the week. If you’re too busy to make dinner every night, make a huge batch on Sunday to meal prep.If you’re cooking for two or more, try to make a schedule of what you’re eating for the week; leaves the guesswork out of it.
- Take a timed break. When you’re working but seeming to get nothing done, take a 5 or 10 minute break to regain yourself. Staying busy isn’t the same as being productive, and it’s key to notice when you’re just being ‘busy’.
- Make a weekly to-do list, rather than a daily one. Doing that can calm your nerves for getting everything done at once. This sort of tactic can ensure you’re doing something right the first time, not just checking it off your list.
- In specific regards to building your brand, being efficient is the ultimate key. When you’re efficient and get things done right the first time, you leave room for networking, scheduling your social media, or just catching up on your favorite show.
Working efficiency into your daily life is easier said than done, but the results are life changing. By doing this, you’re allowing yourself to enjoy your life and those around you more. You can be present when you need to be, and can binge watch Netflix if you don’t. You’re opening up your life by doing things that need to be done first and foremost. Even the little things (making your bed, taking the trash out when it’s full) can make a huge impact on your mentality over time. I’ve come to find myself less annoyed and more fulfilled when I capitalize on efficiency. I hope you do, too!
What are your tactics for living your best life?
How are you maintaining your resolutions into the new year?
Share below or chat with me on social media – I’d love to hear your tips + tricks.
TIFF + COCO 