Sometimes, small shifts in how you use your time can make the difference between feeling focused and productive at work and feeling exhausted. Give yourself permission to prioritize what’s most important to you, then align your schedule accordingly. For example, put “must do” activities on your calendar and relegate “would like to do” items to a separate list. Block out chunks of time to move ahead on important projects and activities. Try to group meetings together on certain days so that you can have one or more meeting-free days to get work done, and close your email and silence your phone (or at least the random alerts) so you can focus. Outside of work, try to have at least half of a weekend day that’s unscheduled. Reclaiming some time for yourself can bring more calm and focus to your work routine, and your life.
Adapted from "Commit to Under-Scheduling in 2016," by Elizabeth Grace Saunders
