How to Maximize Your Time

Summer has come to an end, your to-do list has multiplied, and you have just 24 hours in your day. So how can you fit everything in it? “If your mind is spinning like a hamster wheel at bedtime, your schedule is out of control,” says Marcia Ramsland, author of Simplify Your Time. Here are her suggestions to make the most of your time.

Take a break. Reward yourself for your hard work with a healthy, leisurely lunch or midday workout; it will actually make you more productive. “Exercise is one of the best ways to relieve tension and refocus,” says Ramsland. “Then you’ll be able to come back and do the hard task.”

Create a rhythm. Pay attention to when you’re most productive then tweak your schedule to take advantage of your natural ebb and flow. If you usually have a burst of energy on Wednesday mornings, leave your toughest tasks for then.

Cut down your to-do list. “When we write a to-do list, we tend to include everything we haven’t done in the last month, plus everything we want to do in the next three years,” Ramsland says. Create a manageable to-do list (try six items) and relegate everything else to an ongoing project list. You’ll still remember to clean the garage–but you won’t feel bad for not getting to it today.

Delicious Living is the go-to resource for the natural and organic lifestyle, helping readers eat well, live green, and stay healthy. Visit deliciouslivingmag.com for more articles and free recipes.