Top 5 ways to Maximize Your Day by Focusing on 1 1/2 Hours

"You must get a lot accomplished in the day?" Mom asked as she laid her napkin on her lap. Knowing he'd just flown into town on a Board members' private jet, she figured it was a humble starting point for conversation. She turned her head to the man seated next to her. He was Lou Holtz. At the time he was head coach of the Notre Dame football team.

"We all put our pants on one leg at a time, don't we?" Mr. Holtz responded. Mom fell silent.

We all find ourselves in situations like these. The moment someone tries to put us on a pedestal and we step down. But here I am putting my foot in the shoe of Mr. Holtz. Nonetheless, if we truly reflect, we all experience situations of esteem and respect. Many of us strive for them. I have often experienced the admiration from others as a result of my productivity. I do happen to be a homemaker, writer, student, volunteer and president of an association amongst other things. But my ability to juggle stems from the fact that I have planned my day. It isn't fun to compare or be compared to others. In the moment, maybe; but upon reflection, being compared is not fun. It often requires growth to not be annoyed. Nonetheless, maybe it is worthwhile to share with one another how we get a lot accomplished in a day. So, following are the ways I find extra time in the day I call, "mine."

EMILYBROWNWRITER'S TOP 5 LIST FOR PRODUCTIVITY IN A BALANCED WORLD

5. 5 minutes Dress for the day. Not each activity, the entire day. Friends look at me and always think I'm put together. I think I am put together because my hair is done, a bit of makeup is on and I coordinate. If something later on in the day requires a nicer outfit, I either dress up or bring layers to fancy up my base outfit. Only getting dressed once during the day can create extra time. And I prefer this philosophy than dressing in black all the time.

4. 10 minutes Follow yourself. I've been told that there is time in each day to accomplish what needs to get done. I've also read articles and listened to podcasts ("Happier in Hollywood"), on the importance of putsing around. You know, following the why of those physically induced states your body is telling you to accomplish. For me, these situations, like ending up on a specific word or the kitchen or an email reminds me of the organizational/production based activities I need to complete to move forward. I also really enjoyed the book Focus. But, I'll take that books philosophy one step further (I found it to have a bit too much tunnel vision for a free spirit like me). I like to identify my passions and then have as many of my activities focus around them. For example, listening to a book while I do laundry or going on vacation and staying at a luxury hotel. The cost of the hotel, I consider book research--my genre is hospitality. That way, I can follow my heart all day long and get a little bit of what I care about accomplished each day.

3. 30 minutes Exercise and/or meditate. It gives me white space around what I am thinking. It keeps me from wasting my time and it makes my actions and reactions clear.

2. 30 minutes Eat well. I realize everyone is different, at least in America. We all are an amalgamation of a variety of ethnicities. So what feeds me nutritionally is not what feeds you. Our body's needs are different. But to maintain our level of fuel all day long can be a game changer. No timeouts for feeling sick. So, these are my secrets: drink plenty of water all day long,make sure my meals are a variety of natural colors and a diversity of food groups, respond to the fact that my body needs energy at different times and that hunger can be a great motivating force for getting projects done,

1. 15 minutes Have a plan. I think far in advance about all that I do. For me it is a form of autopilot. This forward motion allows me time for corrections and it provides a framework or hierarchy for how my life is lived.