How To Start Off a Productive Month

Starting a new month can be one of two things, an “oh just another month” or it can be a “what will I accomplish this month?” These are two different mindsets and most of the time I am in the first mindset. I think of another month just like any other month, but this year I have true goals I want to accomplish. I want to start every month on a good note and know what I hope to accomplish and stay organized.

I want to share with you some of my tips on how I start a new month and how I stay organized. Balancing school, work, gym, and our everyday life can be exhausting, and it is so common for us to give up something because we are “too tired” or “too busy.” I believe that if you plan out your schedule you can avoid these excuses. However, I always keep in mind that as much as I plan something, things always end up changing.

One of the biggest things that helps me stay organized and ready for a new month is my motivation. There are many times when I don’t want to do something or feel like giving up but I always dig deep to what keeps me going. The number one thing that I value and find so much inspiration from is my family. I could not be the person I am today, or have the values I have today, if it weren’t for them. So as I go through my day, my week, and my month, I always reflect on what motivates me to keep pushing through and accomplishing my goals. As you read the below tips, think about what motivates you because if there is some kind of motive you are more likely to get through anything that comes your way.

Tip #1:

Write in your calendar
If you don’t have a calendar, I strongly suggest you purchase one and actually USE it. If you want to use a bigger calendar to better plan out your month check out this one under $10, here. If you are more likely to use your phone rather than an old school calendar then that can work just as fine. Owning a calendar is different than using a calendar. At the start of a new month I always write what my goals are and what major events I have going on. This way, if anything comes up during the week I already know what was planned ahead. It is also a good overview of what your month will look like. I always write down birthdays because you don’t want to forget those! Use your calendar on daily basis to write down your tasks for the day. If you don’t use your calendar use a notepad like I do. I write what I need to accomplish before the day is over, and this helps me get closer to my monthly goal.

Tip #2:

Set your goals
I kind of mentioned this in Tip #1, but really make an effort to write down your monthly goals. I would use a creative notepad to keep you motivated like this one. A lot of people set yearly goals but never break them down into steps. They decide a huge goal like buying a home, but don’t set small milestones to accomplish them each month. Write down your goals for the month that relate to your overall goal for the year. This motivates me at the start of a new month because I have something to look forward to. However, once I accomplish it that doesn’t mean I stop there. You want to continue growing and have a growth mindset. The reason I also set my goals is because that helps me focus on now rather than later. I want to accomplish things now not next month or next year. I strive to live in the present and accomplish things today, even if it as little as making someone smile.

Tip #3:

If you want free time, work hard now & relax later
Many times we always stress on having to work so hard and never taking a break. The truth is a lot of us have a full time job that consists of working 5 days out of the 7. This means most of your time is spent working, and not enough free time. However, one tip that I have to help you have a productive month is work hard one week so you can relax the next. Of course, don’t burn yourself out either! For example, I wake up every day at 4:30 am to get to the gym, then work, then back home to blog or take pictures, post, make dinner, etc. If I want to make some time for free time during this busy day I will draft my blog posts on a Sunday so that avoids having to work on them during the week. Sometimes you just have to work hard now to relax later. Your future self will thank you!

Tip #4:

Reward yourself
Staying organized and being productive is not easy and sometimes takes awhile to get used to balancing your schedule. We want to focus on the end goals at the start of the month, but we also must reward our progress and not focus so much on the outcome. If the first week of the month you accomplished all your goals and had some free time…take advantage of it! Don’t let the free time go to waste and enjoy it by rewarding yourself for your own hard work. I tend to be hard on myself, but I also believe that you are your number one cheerleader. You are the only one that can talk to your brain and keep it more motivated than someone else trying to do the same. Of course, rewarding yourself does not mean going crazy and buying yourself something expensive every month. It does mean that you see the improvements you are making during the week that ultimately help accomplish your end goal, and you reward yourself for the steps you’ve taken this far. However, not all weeks will consist of pure accomplishments. If you don’t get something done, plan out how you will get it done the next week. Do not get discouraged!

 I hope you found some inspiration to start your month off on a good note. Please comment down below some of your tips on staying organized. I would love to hear some!