How many times have you had days where it feels like nothing really got accomplished but you know there's things that need to be done?

For me, one of the hardest parts of transitioning from a 9-5 to my own schedule was knowing how to spend my time and what needs to get done day in and day out. I don't know how many times I've had ideas in my head of what I need to get done but then when the time comes, I can't remember any of them.

These are three ways I've been able to get more done and stay productive:

1. Keep a master list of important tasks

This has been one of the most impactful for me because it's so easy to get distracted by small little things that pop up throughout the day, get those taken care of, and then feel like I've accomplished something.

By keeping a list of important tasks that "move the needle" for lack of better terms, you can easily see what needs to get done and make sure those tasks are included in your schedule.

2. Plan out your day the night before

Lay out the 2 or 3 of the most important tasks that need to be completed the next day and schedule those to be the first 3 things you do. This lets you enter the next day with a clear understanding of what needs to be done and has helped me get a jumpstart on the day.

3. Give yourself deadlines

I didn't realize how much I needed deadlines until there were none.

For example I'd been working on redoing my newsletter and rewriting copy on both my websites for almost a month. Both tasks are very important to what I'm doing, but I just couldn't get them completed because I didn't have a deadline.

Parkinson's Law ate me up.

By doing these 3 things, I've found myself getting more done in less time (and having more time to get more accomplished)