More. That word drives some of us to extremes. We want more money, more fun activities, and more time to accomplish it all. We want to accomplish more without upping coffee intake.
Whether we like it or not, each of us is limited to the same amount of time in the day. It would be amazing if we could magically add time to our days, but unfortunately, that is not the case.
How can we accomplish more without upping our coffee intake?
So how can each of us get more done? Although some of us wish the answer was at the bottom of a coffee mug, overindulging in caffeine is not an effective long-term solution to getting more done. Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to accomplish more every single day.
Set goals to accomplish more.
Everyone has goals. If those goals are floating around in your head, then you should write them down. Remember to keep your goals realistic. Aiming high is great, but aiming for something that is not feasible is not a good goal to have.
Once you have written down your long-term goals — divide these goals into smaller steps. Each step should be measurable and attainable.
Next, make a list of smaller tasks that are needed to accomplish your goals. Nothing is too small to write down. It is likely that you will be unable to predict all of the smaller tasks — but give it your best shot. It is impossible to plan for everything, but you need to start somewhere.
Now, put these smaller tasks onto your calendar. Set a realistic end date for your long-term goals and work backward. As you are scheduling tasks onto your calendar, do not overdo it. Over-scheduling yourself is not helpful.
If you are more realistic — you’ll require less coffee intake.
Put a realistic amount of tasks on your calendar and then complete those first. If you finish them all, then you can get ahead on the next day. It is also okay to push things back on your calendar, just do your best.
As you start to accomplish these smaller tasks, use that momentum to propel you to your goals.
Take Care of Your Body — don’t up the caffeine.
You will not be able to accomplish more if you are fighting your body every step of the way. Think of a time when you tried to work through an illness. The quality of the work you produced was likely not at its best. That is totally normal.
You cannot expect to get a large number of things done if your body is not taken care of. Just upping your coffee intake will not guarantee that you will finish everything. You won’t finish — anything well if your body is falling apart.
Luckily, there are some easy things to do that can really make an impact on your body’s health. Even the smallest changes can make a huge difference in your energy levels — and consequently your productivity.
What are the best ways to get started to accomplish more?
- Eat right.
You do not have to become the healthiest eater on the planet — but adding some extra vegetable to your life wouldn’t hurt. Focus on adding healthy meals to your life that give you energy. Even if you just replace your snack food with some healthier options, then you will be adding the right fuel to your body. - Sleep more.
Sleep is an obvious way to increase your energy levels, but many people attempt to forgo sleep as long as possible in order to achieve more. In the end, it is better for you and your goals if you maintain a regular sleep schedule with the appropriate amount of hours. Everyone has a different number of hours that work for them, find the right amount for you. Once you determine the ideal number of hours for you, attempt to sleep that many hours each night. - Exercise.
This can be as simple as a walk around the block. The short break and the fresh air will help clear your mind. Keeping your body physically strong can help to improve your mental health. It takes a strong mind to accomplish more, so these two things go together. - Do not overindulge on caffeine.
Yes, caffeine can give you a high that pushes you through a short amount of time. However, following that high, there is an inevitable crash. It can be extremely difficult to be productive during the crash, so it is better to avoid it altogether. Some caffeine is okay — but drinking coffee all day every day is not a sustainable way to accomplish more.
Remember that you only have one body and one life. If you take care of your body, then you will be more able to accomplish your goals.
Create an Effective Schedule
Everyone has a different rhythm that works for their life. Find the times that you work best, and then capitalize on that!
If you are a morning person, then schedule a time to get things done in the morning. If you are a night owl, then set aside some time to work in the evenings. Either way, schedule your work time to coincide with your natural energy swings.
You won’t need to up your coffee intake if you work within your naturally-productive hours.
It may not be possible to schedule every task into your naturally productive hours, but try to schedule the most important tasks for that time frame. Less important tasks can be scheduled for the times when you are not as productive.
Just find your rhythm and schedule your day around that without upping your coffee.
It is possible to accomplish more when you are at your best. Do not underestimate this. You may have to tinker with your schedule before you find the best fit — but it’s worth the effort.
Advice about how to accomplish more.
Remember that you can accomplish anything — but you cannot accomplish everything.
The reality is that there is only a certain number of hours in a day. You will need to decide which goals are most important to you. Do not try to do it all.
You may implement strategies to accomplish more — but feel that you are at your breaking point. It may be time to outsource time-consuming tasks. You might have a hard time letting go of tasks — but if you build the right systems then your employees will be able to help you accomplish more.
Sarah Sharkey