Optimizing Your Time in a Crunch

As Americans, we spend on average, 43 hours a week working. With the rest of our time, we must juggle family, friends, fitness, food, and everything else that comes along with living life. More often than not, we feel as if there is not enough time in the day to get everything done. Have you ever woken up we the overwhelming feeling that you did not want to get out of bed because you knew that as soon as you got out of that comfortable, soft plush, tempurpedic bed, a LOONGGGGG day was ahead of you? We know. We all have been there. Therefore, to help you make the most out of your day, we have come up with five tips on how to better optimize your time.

1. Become an early bird:

Maybe there is some truth to that old adage, "The early bird gets the worm."

 Not only is watching the sun rise a beautiful view in the morning but that time of the day also seems to be the most peaceful and for many the most productive. The neighborhood is still quiet, the birds are chirping, and it is a great time to take some time for yourself and really enjoy that cup of morning joe.

2. GYM IT UP!

Physical exercise is key to having a more productive day.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seven hours of weekly physical activity increases your chances of living a longer and healthier life. Furthermore, daily physical exercise also improves mental health and mood. According to the CDC, regular physical activity can help keep your thinking, learning, and judgment  skills sharp as you age. It can also reduce your risk of depression and may help you sleep better. Research has shown that doing aerobic or a mix of aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities 3 to 5 times a week for 30 to 60 minutes can give you these mental health benefits. Some scientific evidence has also shown that even lower levels of physical activity can be beneficial. http://www.cdc.gov/physical 

The better you feel, the more positive, productive, and efficient you can be taking on the tasks and people that demand your time.

3. Eat a healthy breakfast

Since you will be waking up earlier after reading this article, maybe eating breakfast in the morning would not seem like an impossible task. In order for the body to function at its optimal capacity, it needs fuel. Your body is like a car, it can not run on empty! Consider healthy foods like eggs, oat meal, and fresh fruit to get you through the day.

4. Write down your schedule

When time is of the essence, organization is key to keep everything in order. Consider keeping a daily planner and be practical with your schedule. Do not allow your self to take on more tasks then you can handle. Remember, there might only be twenty four hours in a day but there are seven days a week and only one of you. If something can not get done today, leave it for tomorrow. Writing/typing down your  schedule in a daily planner gives you a visual of what the day will look like. From there, you can plan accordingly.

5. Meditate twice a day

Take a minimum of twenty minutes everyday to meditate. First, you want to keep at the forefront your big WHY?!  Why am I doing what I'm doing? This is known as your goals. Revisit your goals everyday; especially when the day seems hectic. This will put your life in to perspective. Next, visualize how you want your day to go. If you have to meet with a client, anticipate some of the questions they might ask you. If you are going on a job interview, thoroughly research the company. Finally, when your day comes to an end, think about how your day went. Did everything go as planned? If so, what did you do to prepare for a productive day. If not, what went wrong? How did you handle the situation? Is there anything you could have done better? Spend some time in your office thinking about how the day went so that when you get home, you can have a peaceful evening. Separate your work life from your home life.

Finally, always keep in mind that you are what you think you are. William Lyon Phelps, an American scholar from American University once said, "The happiest people in this world are those who have the most interesting thoughts."

Therefore, on this Independence day, the team at Omaginarium encourages you to dream big, do big, and always put your best foot forward! Happy Fourth of July and have a joyful and safe holiday!