Your Most Productive Day Yet

@socialcut

Being the planning love that I am, I couldn’t help but put a post together about the steps I have in place to ensure that I’m maximising productivity every week. 

Put In The Prep

There’s nothing more satisfying than sitting down to start work on a Monday morning and already having your to-do list laid out and ready to be ticked off. I’ll usually set aside 30-40 minutes on a Sunday to look through next week’s plans in order to put a to-do list together to tackle, if not then I’ll dedicate some time on a Monday morning. Here’s how I put it together. 

HIGH PRIORITY TASKS: Allocate set days for you to complete your high priority tasks. Make sure you’re being realistic with times and you’re giving yourself long enough to get the most important jobs done to the best of your ability. I tend to set myself between 3 to 5 medium to larger size tasks a day. 

LOWER PRIORITY TASKS: Then I set about buffering those already full days with items that need got get done but perhaps aren’t so pressing. I tend to sandwich those tasks in-between meetings or events when I know I might not have much time on my hands. 

ERRANDS: Instead of adding in errands and more life admin tasks to my daily to-do list, I have them in a seperate list in my planner. I tend to eat away at them throughout the week. I find it really handy to have them sitting there for times where I might have finished up work for the day but would like some more productive to do. 

SOICAL MEDIA: This is where I find pockets of time to work on my website. Hopefully with my high priority tasks given the attention they deserve, low priority tasks in there too so that I’m up to date with everything across the board. There are always little bits and pieces I can be working on with my website so a small pocket of time is sometimes all I need to get something completed. 

Work With Your Productivity Levels

If you can, I highly recommend factoring in your natural productivity levels into your planning. For me, I’m an early bird so I always weigh my days to that I have my meatier tasks in the mornings, leaving my afternoons to do tasks that don’t require so much brain power. 

Keep Up With Other Stuff

I will always feel like I’ve had a more productive week if household side of things have run smoothly as well. So tasks like meal planning are important and meal prepping where I can. I have a weekly cleaning schedule I complete, along with keeping on top of laundry and dishes. Then there are the self care practices like skin care, reading, mediation and getting an early night - you know the gist. They are all little building blocks that once you start to work them into your life so you do them without thinking, can help free up time and decrease your stress levels so you’re able to run at 100% 

Know How To Motivate Yourself 

For me, the hardest part of productivity is procrastination and how to find motivation to slap yourself out of it. If I’m having a tough timer getting in the mood to complete a task then I switch it up, tackling something that is completely different in order to try and jump start my productivity levels again. Sometimes I’ll get outside and get some fresh air, I’ve found that can really help too. Basically it’s trial and error, but have a few methods up your sleeves to see what sticks that day. 

Give Yourself Some breathing Space 

I’m always very optimistic about what I can get done in a day, so will always over plan and ultimately leave myself not enough time on the clock to get the task in hand completed. It’s okay to not get everything done on your list in one day but it’s also a really great feeling if you’re able to. 

B x 

Book Review: The Chestnut Man - Søren Sveistrup

“If you find one, he’s already fund you. A psychopath is terrorising Copenhagen. His calling care is ‘Chestnut Man’, a handmade doll made of matchsticks and 2 chestnuts, which he leaves at each bloody crib scene. Examining the dolls, forensics making a shocking discovery, a fingerprint belonging to a young girl, a government ministers daughter who have been kidnapped and murdered a year ago. A tragic coincidence or something more twisted? To save innocent lives, a pair of detectives must put aside their differences to piece together the Chestnut Man’s gruesome clues. Because it’s clear that the madman is on a mission that is far from over. And no one is safe.” 

If you like books that keep you on the edge of your seat then I think you’ll really like 'The Chestnut Man' written by Søren Sveistrup. It’s a really fantastic read, that I think is really well written and always leaves you wanting to know more. Although the book is over 450 pages, it has reasonably short chapters which I think helps make for an easy read. The ending was definitely not what I was expecting but a great ending the had come full circle. I'll definitely be looking into more of Sveistrup's books. 

B x 

Easy At Home Self Care Practices

@socialcut

Self care is a personally journey that’s unique to everyone. The things I do at home to practice self care may not be what works for you, and that’s okay. Now more than ever, we have to figure out ways to practice self care at home that will keep as safe and sane. If you feel like you’re struggling a little bit with stress and you want to take care of yourself but can’t get out and about, I came up with a few things you can try at home to recenter your mind and make it through the day. 

Watch Your Favourite Childhood Movie 

Times might have been a little simpler when you were younger, so consider streaming one of your favourite movies from your children to have a chill moment. 

Turn Up The Music & Dance 

Studies have shown that music makes you feel better, so if you’re stressed and need some time to centre yourself, crank up some music and dance around. Not only will the music itself ease any stress you might have but dancing will also keep your bloody pumping and the oxygen flowing. 

Take A Bath 

Whether it’s a bath or a shower, this form of relaxation can give your respite from an otherwise busy day, Even if it’s just a quick shower to rise off whatever’s weighing you down, it can help some people. 

Put Your Phone Away 

Social media can be a totally mixed bag of good and bad. Sometimes putting away your phone can help alleviate stress and reset your mind on positive things. Especially right now with everything going on in the world, constantly reading about it can get heavy. Give yourself time to break away from technology and just be alone with yourself. 

Sleep 

If a nap is your form of self care, then do it. If your brain is going a mile a minute and you just want to give it a break, let yourself rest and sleep, then get back to everything else when you wake up. 

Clean Everything 

I don’t know about you, but I find cleaning a great stress reliever and know I have a clean and cosy space makes me feel great. Put on some music and scrub and vacuum everything so you have a fresh space to relax in. 

Write Something 

Sometimes putting pen to paper just feels really good. Don’t let yourself think you have to write something coherent, maybe you just want to doodle a picture. But getting out some paper and a pen with give you something positive to focus on. 

Cook Yourself Something

Cooking is another thing that can keep you busy if you need something to do. If your form of self care involves creativity, try coming up with a new recipe or experiment with baking. 

Mediate

Mediation isn’t for everyone but it could help you if you need silence and calm. Mediation can make you less stressed, which might be the kind of self care you need. 

Snuggle A Pet

If you have a pet, let them be your form of self care. They just want to love you, so give them some snuggles and play with them.

B x 

How To Reset Your Life

@socialcut

A super quick post from me today but I hope it helps at least one of you who many find yourself stuck in a bit of a rut. Sometimes life can get a bit stagnate & we need to make changes or hit the reset button. I’ve experienced this too many times to count but what I’ve taken from the whole experience is that you shouldn’t try & change something that is currently working. Instead reflect on all areas of life & from there figure out what’s not working & make small changes until you find what works for you. 

I’ve actually got a bunch of resources below that I wanted to share with you on how to reset your life. These are resources I often go back to & I think they’ll help you more than any individual post I could put together. Let me know what you think! Have you tired giving your life a little reset & how did you get on? 

How To Reset Your Life; Becoming A Minimalist (Blogpost) 

How To Reset Your Life: MuchelleB (YouTube Playlist) 

B x 

Why A Healthy Morning Routine Became Crucial While Working From Home

@socialcut

Naturally I’m not a morning person, yet it’s something I’ve always wanted to be but if I had to choose between snoozing my alarm for an extra 15 minutes & basically anything else, you’d definitely find me in bed, with the curtains drawn fighting for a extra few minutes sleep. 

While it’s tempting to roll out of bed just minutes before my first meeting, I quickly realised that waking up earlier allows me the chance to have some time for myself & tackle some small tasks that are going to get my brain going. The result? Well, I feel more energised, focused & better equipped to tackle the day. These are some of the habits I’ve put into practice during my mornings & why you should do the same. 

Drink Water 

Dehydration has more side effects that you think & one of them including fatigue. I’ve found that this habit can actually be beneficial as a night time one too. I try to remember to drink a glass of water right before I go to bed & then again first thing in the morning. It immediately helps me feel more awake & less likely to hit snooze. 

Exercise 

I try & start my day with at least some basic stretching, even if I’m literally still sitting in bed. I know when I’m working from home that I’m less likely to get up from my workspace as often as I normally would & I’ve found that some simple stretching in the morning but also throughout the day helps keep my energy up & keeps me from feeling sluggish. 

Breakfast

I’ve never be a breakfast gal & breakfast often consisted of a cup of coffee. Now I’m trying to make time to actually sit down & eat something. Typically it’s just a piece of fruit but I want to start experimenting with some different recipes. Having something in my tummy definitely helps with my productivity first thing in the morning. 

Time To Unwind 

When you’re working from home it can be difficult to set boundaries. I try yo do something in the morning that isn’t work or school related, whether it’s reading a few pages of my book, completing a word find or mediating for a few minutes. This helps give me a sense of work-life balances which I believe is crucial. 

What are some of your crucial morning routine rituals? 

B x 

How Time Blocking My Schedule Increased My Productivity Levels

@socialcut 

In today’s society it seems like everyone is juggling 1,000 tasks at once. While we all have a lot on our plates, it can be hard to stay productive when working non-stop in order to complete tasks, chores achieve our goals & on top of all the, practice self-care. If you’re anything like me & you’re sick of add more bullet points to your never ending to-do list, I really encourage you to consider time block scheduling. 

So, what exactly is it? Time block schedule is when you set aside specific blocks of time to work on certain tasks. The result? It was a total game changer for my time management skills, stress relief & I was able to make sure I was getting everything completed while also having times to take substantial breaks. 

Figure Out What Organisational Tool Works Best For You 

How do you work best? Personally, I rely heavily on my iCal paired with my planner but I know friends that simply just use one or the other. Point being, find the system that works best for you. However you choose to map out your blocks of time, make sure you have a visual to see what you’ll be working on & when. 

Prioritising Tasks 

Know what the most important, pressing tasks are & knock those out before moving on to anything else. That was, you have time to readjust your schedule accordingly if anything unexpected issue arise. If something does pop up out of the blue you’ll be grateful that you accomplished your toughest tasks earlier on in the day. Plus, it also helps procrastinating because let’s face it, we’ve all been there before. 

SMART Goals 

Don’t know what SMART goals are? SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant & Time-Bound. When setting tasks & time blocking my schedule for the day I always refer back to the concept of SMART goals. Time blocking your day can be over-whelming to begin with but I can assure you it is so worth it & has been such a game changer when it comes to my daily productivity. 

B x 

4 Questions You Should Ask Yourself When You're Feeling Burnt Out

@socialcut

Wondering how to recover from burnout? We all have ambitious goals & lofty to-do lists but between it all it’s important to find time for yourself. If you work yourself too much, burnout will come sneaking around uninvited & we have all learned that hard way at least once that you can’t perform & deliver your best work when you’re tired & stressed. So if you feel burnout approaching, ask yourself these four questions & see how you get on. 

When Was The Last Time I Said No To Something? 

Learning to set boundaries up for yourself & sating no is crucial. You need to protect yourself from burnout by taking on a realistic workload & learning how to say no when you’re overwhelmed & overworked. If you find yourself asking how to recover from burnout, this is the first step. This applies to social commitments & personal goals too, if you’re saying yes to everything you might find you’re getting overwhelmed. It’s important to learn to protect your energy. 

Am I Getting Enough Sleep?

It’s not get about the hours of sleep you’re getting, it’s about the quality of sleep you’re getting. Make your bedroom a stress-free place. If you’re like me & have an office & bedroom in one, create a routine that signifies for you the end of a work day. 

When Was The Last Time I Moved My Body?

Here I’m talking about all kinds of movement of your body whether that is some light stretching, yoga, a gentle work or a session at the gym. Ask yourself this & find something that requires you to move your body, that you enjoy doing & that you can implement into your routine now. It’s going to give your mind a break & allow you to process the day properly. 

Who Can I Talk To About This? 

Burnout never feels great but keeping it to yourself feels even worse. Think about who you can offload your feelings & emotions too, whether that’s a friend, family member or a therapist. It feels great to offload your feelings & work through your thought processes, something we just need to be able to see things from another perspective. 

B x 

Creating A Zen Workplace At Home

@stilclassics

Before we all experienced lockdown, a lot of us didn’t need a space at home but now more than ever, we need to be creating spaces at home that are both calm & productive. Working from home isn’t something that’s new to me but I know it was & still is a very new reality for many people. I know that from working from home before that I need a very calm space but also a space where I know I’m going to be productive & really focus on my work. These are just a few of the tips & tricks I have to creating the perfect calm yet productive work space at home. 

Select A Scent

Smell, being one of the five sense, can control your moods & emotions. They also add a personal touch to your space. Create a calming environment by selecting a signature scent for you office. You could use candles, diffusers & essential oils but I also really enjoy using room sprays to freshen up my office. 

It Takes Two

As handy & portable laptops are, having a second screen makes working from home just that little bit easier. There’s no need to be flicking through tabs, you’re able to watch a video or look over data while talking to a colleague or taking notes on the other screen. Obviously not a necessity, but super useful. 

Green Thumb

Going green is a movement that is trending for a reason. Adding a low maintenance plant to your space will not only add a pop of colour, some plants even help to improve air quality. Beside, having a living thing in your workspaces requires you to water & look after it which means you have a good reason to be in your office in the first place. 

Smart Storage

I’ve recently re-done my office organisation & storage but it’s really the key when it comes to at home work spaces. There’s nothing worse than a cluttered desk especially if it has nothing to do with work. Storage on wheels is always a great options as it can be moved to a less visible place easily & as needed. 

Comfort Is Key

The most important piece of furniture in an at desk home work space is the desk chair & I learnt that the hard way. You’re most likely going to be spending a lot of time sitting down in it, so it makes sense for it to be comfortable. But it doesn’t have to be the only crucial chair in your life. Adding a beanbag or sofa couch to your office space can give you a place to unwind but also prevents you from wandering off into the lounge & procrastinating. 

B x 

Winter Night Skincare Routine

@socialcut

When it’s cold & dark  outside all I want to do is cosy up in the warmth & what beer way to do so than to treat yourself to a bit of an at home facial. I believe I’ve already talked briefly about my skincare lineup for winter, linked here, but I’ve switched up a few products & had somethings change so I wanted to take this opportunity to share some of my new favourite products. 

For the first time in what feels like forever I’ve switched up my cleanser from The Body Shop Tea Tree Facial Cleanser to Lush Ultrabland Facial Cleanser & Antipodes Gentle Cream Cleanser & Makeup Remover. I think the biggest difference I’ve noticed in my skin is that added moisture. While The Body Shop Tea Tree Facial Cleanser was great & still is great for really digging deep & clearly out impurities, it was just to much for my skin now to be using daily. The winter months tend to leave me with really dry skin so the added moisture has been a delightful treat to my skin. 

Moisturiser is something else that I don’t typically change up too often but I have fallen in love with Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream. It carries a whole lot of gorgeous properties with it such as Vinanza Grape Seed oil which keeps skin healthy & energised, Manuka Honey which has potent anti-blemish properties & Rosehip oil which holds high levels of vitamin A & C & essential fatty acids to help reduce the appearance of scars & wrinkles. It’s a really gorgeous moisturiser. 

In terms of face masks I’ve fallen back in love with the L’Oreal Pure Clay Masks. There are three in the range that are all targeted for different results. All three masks hold 3 pure clays & are then combined with either Eucalyptus, Charcoal or Red Algae to help target specific areas. The Purity & Mattify Mask holds the Eucalyptus which is known for it’s purifying properties, the Detox & Brightening Mask holds the Charcoal which is known to act like a magnet to draw out impurities & the Glow & Refining Mask holds the Red Algae which is known for it’s brightening properties. I love that you’re able to create a tailored detox regime with your own multi-masking solution & that you can apply either 1, 2 or 3 masks at a time to address your skins needs depending on the day. 

B x 

2020: Favourites #03

@johntuesday 

The fact that it's the first day of July is a little scary because where the heck has this year gone? I feel like we celebrated Christmas & New Year, then we went into lockdown, came out of lockdown & now it's July. It just feels odd, but nonetheless, I've still got a few new products to share with you that I've been loving over the past couple of months. 

Lush 

While we were in lockdown I ordered a bunch of products from Lush. I ordered some all time favourites & some new bits & pieces to give a go. As many of you know, Lush is one of my favourite shops, not only for all their gorgeous products & scents, but also that they're cruelty free. They have something for everyone so I highly recommend you jump into your local Lush store & give them a go. All the products I've loved using this past month will be linked below if you'd like to look more into some of my all time faves. 

Lush Ultra Balm All Purpose Balm

Lush Ultra Bland Face Cleanser

Lush Sleepy Bubble Bar, Soap & Lotion 

Lush Nana Bubble Bar 

Lush Peachy Bath Bomb 

Lush Rose Butterfly Bath Bomb 

Lush Blackberry Bath Bomb 

Lush Honey I’ve Wash The Kids Soap

Antipodes 

I'm extremely new to the brand Antipodes but the products I've used so far I've throughly enjoyed & my skin is looking amazing! Antipodes is definitely more of a high end brand but I don't mind spending a little extra when it comes to really good skincare products. 

Antipodes Gentle Cream Cleanser & Makeup Remover

Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Cream 

Garnier Hair Masks

I love a good hair mask, especially one that is affordable & easily accessible. Garnier have some of the most beautiful hair masks & I throughly enjoy using them in my hair care routine. 

Fructis Hair Food Smoothing Macadamia Mask For Dry & Unruly Hair

Fructis Hair Food Aloe Vera Mask For Dry To Normal Hair

Gro-Sure House Plant Products 

It was actually well before lockdown that I became obsessed with house plants. I feel like now I'm not only the crazy cat lady but I'm also the crazy plant lady. After we came out of lockdown I picked up a few products that would assist my beautiful plants to grow to their full potential & I must say, they're looking fabulous. I highly recommend this brand if you're looking for a plant feed for your indoor plants. 

Gro-Sure Houseplant Mist & Feed 

Gro-Sure Houseplant Pump & Feed

Gro-Sure Cacti & Succulent Pump & Feed

Hand Creams & Nail/Cuticle Oil 

With the increase amount of hand washing & use of hand sanitiser along with the colder months upon us, I've been using a bunch of different products to ensure that my hands, nails & cuticles are in a healthy state. 

Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula Fast Absorbing Hand Cream 

Dove Nourishing Secrets Hand Cream 

Essie Apricot Nail & Cuticle Oil

NZ Happy Hands Hand Sanitiser 

Converse Sneakers 

I've just recently just brought myself some new converse & they have been my go to sneaker for a long time now. They are super comfortable & versatile, looking great with any almost any outfit. 

What have been some of your recent favourites? Let me know if you think there's something out there I need to try! 

B x