Not everyone works 9-5.
Here are some tactics you could use to keep your energy up and maintain a bit of control.
But when it comes to getting work done, what we’re actually doing is rapidly switching between tasks.
Other times, it’s detrimental.
You may not like having unread email, buteven a three second email distractioncan mess you up.
The key to effective task-switching is knowing when it’s necessary and when to focus instead.
However, not everything is critical.
Otherwise, focus on one part until it’s done, then move on to the next.
you’re free to check your email while you wait for video to render or code to compile.
Of course, there’s no perfect rule that governs which order to get tasks done in.
The key is to be adaptable and know how to prioritize tasks for your given situation.
The above guidelines should help, but remember to be flexible.
The best plan isn’t necessarily the one you’re used to.
It’s the one that gets the most work done in the least amount of time.
Even if it’s not neatly organized, it’s frequently possible to find your “schedule center.”
It may be your college classes or your primary job.
Make these the core of your schedule and build out around them.
Laundry day doesn’t necessarily need to be the same day every week.
As we mentioned earlier, you should already be prioritizing and compartmentalizing your tasks.
Having a schedule center shows you where else these flexible tasks can fit.
It also provides a much-needed sense of stability.
Your schedule center is the foundation on which you build the rest of your tasks.
If you work Tuesday through Saturday, you know that either Sunday or Monday should be your laundry day.
This leaves makes Sunday a great day for grocery shopping and preparing the week’s meals.
Napping becomes critical on a chaotic schedule.
That means there are better times of the day than others to take a nap.
This isn’t something you should replace proper sleep with, but in a pinch it works.
Naps and proper sleep should be to-dos on your list like anything else.
It’s easy to let it slip in favor of other things you better get done.
Don’t let it.
There’s no shortage of places to find fast food, but theyaren’t always the healthiest choices.
The more meals you’ve got the option to plan in advance, the better.
Slow cookers are another excellent way to make filling,delicious mealswithout taking up too much time.
you could evenmodify most recipesto work in one.
Dealing with a chaotic schedule isn’t just about time, though.
Managing your energy levels is just as important.
Early in the morning,protein is your best friend.
This makes it easy to overbook yourself.
No allows you to keep distractions to a minimum.
No is how you keep the pile of to-dos from over-flowing.
No is how you decide what really matters to you.
Leisure time is also important.
Not just for your sanity, butfor your productivity.Burnout is realand it can ruin your flow.
Your brain will thank you for it with more productive days later.
Photos byDavid Goehring,Yandle,Bryon Lippincott,David Woo, andTerry Madeley.
