Hello everyone!

Oh my, I’ve been super swamped this past couple of weeks prepping for the GRE, so this post couldn’t have come at a better time. I would love to introduce to you my very FIRST guest post written by Lindsey Mozgai. Check out her blog here where she blogs about frugal living – perfect for us millennials!

This list of things I want to do is usually much longer than the list of things I actually accomplish. Learning to balance work, my blog, side hustles, plus a home and a social life can seem near impossible some days. My time is stretched pretty thin as it is, so it’s really important that I’m using that time wisely.

My friends and loved ones used to jokingly call me an overachiever, because I never give less than 110% at anything I do. I run 5 side hustles in addition to my full-time job, and still have time to pick up a book and bother my cat. I must confess that I am not always perfect, and sometimes my best lists will fall apart. My home will be a mess, my sink will be so full of dishes that we can’t even refill our Brita pitcher, and my inbox will hardly ever see the no new messages screen.

My philosophy has always been free time is time better spent doing something this has been one of the main reasons why I’ve been able to accomplish so much in so little time. I’ve stretched myself as thin as dental floss at times trying to get everything done, and there have been many late nights dedicated to getting it all finished.

If you’re looking for the “magic fix” to get everything on your to-do list done, I’m going to suggest that you stop reading right now, because this post isn’t for you. You will never be able to get everything done every single day, it just can’t happen.

However, there are a number of practical ways to use your time effectively to get more done each day. Today, I’m going to share with you five ways to get more done each day.

Establish your priorities

As I said earlier, you will not be able to get everything done every single day. If you go in with that attitude, you will be setting yourself up for failure right from the start. Take 5 to 10 minutes to evaluate your priorities and who or what is important to you. Make sure the big stuff gets done first, then if you have time go back and do the little things. The amount of time you spend on each thing should be relative to how important it is to you. Don’t waste time on the things that don’t matter. When you look back, you aren’t going to remember the times you folded laundry, you’ll remember the blanket forts and the times spent playing in the rain.

Set a timer

Dedicate a set amount of time to each task and set a timer. You are more likely to get more done in less time when you are racing against the clock. This also works great for tasks such as email. If you only have a set amount of time to sit at the computer or clean up your home, you have no choice but to prioritize what tasks are important to you.

Schedule breaks

We all want to be Wonder Woman, but you need to give yourself breaks. Give yourself downtime, even if it’s just 10 minutes each morning to pull yourself together and enjoy a cup of coffee. Make sure to take time at the end of each day to recoup and figure out what the plan is for the next day.

Get enough sleep

My secondary motto is “I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” and let me tell you from experience that I wish someone had slapped me when this motto was created. Not getting enough sleep actually hinders productivity, and will leave you feeling miserable! Make sure you are getting the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night, and please make sleep a priority. Don’t make the same stupid mistake as me.

Turn off electronics

This includes the TV, smart phones (unless you need it to do your work), computers (same rule as phone), tablets, and any other devices. When these devices are on and in reach, we have a tendency to get sidetracked and easily distracted.

Visit Lindsey over at her blog – And The Kitchen Sink! Thank you Lindsey for this much-needed post! xo