Step 1: WRITE THINGS DOWN

Our brains aren’t hard drives meant for storing every task, appointment, or idea. Writing things down gives you clarity and reduces stress.

Step 2: PRIORITIZE—The Rock, Pebble, Sand, Water Approach

 Imagine you have an empty jar, a few big rocks, some pebbles, a pile of sand, and a glass of water. If you start by filling the jar with sand and water, you won’t have room for the big rocks. But if you put the big rocks in first, then add pebbles, then sand, and finally water, it all fits.

Your time works the same way. Your "big rocks" are the most important, non-negotiable things—work, school, family, health. Pebbles are important but more flexible. Sand is the small, everyday stuff, and water? Well, that’s all the distractions that creep in when you’re not paying attention.

 

If you don’t put your big rocks in first, you’ll fill your time with sand and water, and suddenly—boom—your week is gone, and you didn’t get the important things done.

Step 3: HAVE A SYSTEM

You don’t have to be a productivity guru, but you do need a system. Some people swear by old-school paper planners (I’ve tried this—it works). Others, like me, prefer Google Calendar. It’s free, easy to use, and lets you move things around when plans change. There are tons of apps out there, but the best system is the one that actually works for you.

 

Step 4: PLAN YOUR IDEAL WEEK

If you don’t know what your perfect week looks like, you’ll never have one. Taking an hour every Sunday to map out your week makes a huge difference. It helps you stay focused when unexpected things pop up (and they always do). If you’re new to planning, start small—don’t try to schedule every second of your day. Think of it like going to the gym for the first time—you don’t grab the heaviest weight in the room. Start light, build up.

 

Step 5: PROTECT YOUR "GOLDEN HOURS"

Have you ever had a day where you worked super hard but still felt like you got nothing done? That’s because working harder isn’t always the answer—working smarter is.

Golden hours are the times in your day when you’re at peak energy and focus. That’s when you should tackle your most important tasks. No distractions, no checking your phone every five minutes. Just deep, focused work.

Some quick ways to protect your golden hours:

‌Block them in your calendar like an important meeting.

‌Turn off notifications. Seriously.

‌Keep your study/work materials ready to go.

 

Step 6: LEARN TO SAY NO

Ever seen that Jim Carrey movie where he says "yes" to everything? Fun movie, but in real life, saying yes to everything spreads you way too thin.

In the book Crucial Conversations, the authors talk about the power of saying "no." If you try to make everyone happy, you usually end up making no one happy—including yourself. Instead of saying "yes" automatically, try this: "Let me check my calendar and get back to you." It gives you time to think before committing.

These steps are found at Substack 

 

Credits to Karolis Budrys 

Step 7. CELEBRATE Important final step celebrate your wins also meaby especially the tiny ones

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