Nowadays, time is of utmost importance. Time management is crucial for success in this day and age of intense competition in every sphere of life. There are so many things to divert your attention from that it’s really simple to spend your valuable time on things that aren’t beneficial. You must alter yourself in order to stop doing it and instead lead a fruitful day. Here are some helpful hints for getting a head start on the day and being as productive as you can.

1. START A BEDTIME ROUTINE

It is common knowledge that getting a head start is essential for productivity. For many people, the idea of getting up early is rather uncomfortable. Many people like to stay up late, which prevents them from waking up early and feeling fully awake. Their entire day is significantly affected by this, which reduces their productivity. It’s crucial to establish a sleep routine if you want to guarantee that you wake up early and eager to begin going. You can wake up early, feeling entirely refreshed and untired, if you start going to bed early.

Prior to going to bed, make sure you put away all electronic devices at least an hour before you plan to do so. Our phones, tablets, and laptops all emit light that interferes with sleep. Instead, read a book or listen to some soothing music. Placing your alarm clock out of reach is another way to make sure you get up early. So that you must get out of bed to turn it off, place it far from your bed.

2. SET YOUR GOALS FOR THE NEXT DAY

Review your to-do list for the following day before you go to bed. To ensure that you remember them, write them down. This will enable you to wake up prepared to achieve these goals rather than putting them off. Choose your strategy for completing each task the night before, and then examine it again when you wake up early. Spend a moment thinking about how you want your day to go. To get yourself motivated, read a motivational tale, article, or quote.

3. CHUNK YOUR ACTIVITIES

We waste precious hours each day on mindless tasks and distractions such as playing games online, using Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, etc. The best thing to do is to designate all such activities and tasks with pre-determined slots every day. For example, I will use social networking sites from 11am to 11:30am, I will start working on my projects from 11:30am to 1pm and then I will take an hour for lunch etc. Create a schedule for everything. Tell yourself, you won’t miss any major event if you don’t check Facebook or your Instagram for a few hours. Your schedule should be such that you handle the most important tasks first and then move on to less important tasks and then finish off your day by tackling the least important ones. If you still find yourself checking your social accounts every other minute, log out of all the accounts to reduce the urge to keep checking them. Change your password to a random code and don’t save your password on the device, so that you will have to type in a code every time you want to log in. This will reduce your urge to keep checking your social networking account. It will be difficult at first, but eventually you will start following your pre-determined schedule.

4. REWARD YOURSELF ON ACHIEVEMENTS

Be aware of your life’s purpose and continuously reminding yourself of your goals. Remind yourself of the reasons you have to get up early if the impulse to stay in bed late arises. Remind yourself of the benefits of getting to bed early if you feel the want to remain up late. Every time you catch yourself squandering time, imagine yourself as a successful person and experience that image in your head. This will inspire you to keep moving in the correct direction.

5. EAT HEALTHY FOOD

Eating healthy is crucial to get the energy you need throughout the day. Healthy food keeps you energised while junk food makes you drowsy. Have a hearty breakfast so that you have enough energy to last you till lunch. Have a lunch full of nutrition that will boost your energy. Eat dinner early so that your body has enough time to digest the food before you sleep. Eating healthy food will make you fit and strong to face all problems in an effective manner.

6. MEDITATE AND EXERCISE

Meditation and exercise are crucial to boost productivity. You must take time out to exercise at least five times every week. You don’t have to go to a gym and go through a full work out; just a 30 minute walk/jog can keep you fit. You can also make little changes in your routine to ensure you are physically active like taking the stairs instead of the life or elevator, walking to the nearest store instead of driving etc. A healthy body means you have the energy, confidence and vigour to tackle all your tasks. Furthermore, meditation takes care of your mind. It is essential to clear your head of distraction and stress to achieve maximum productivity. When your mind is clear, you are able to make better decisions and work more efficiently. Take 5-7 minutes, two times a day, to close your eyes, relax and clear your mind. This will help you relax and you will be able to handle daily stresses in a better way.

7. REWARD YOURSELF

Begin rewarding yourself for your minor successes. You deserve a little chocolate bar or any of your favourite desserts for lunch or dinner if you were able to go to bed early and wake up early. Give yourself another indulgence, such as a trip to the spa or a long, hot bath, if you followed your programme exactly throughout the day. Since you will reap the benefits, this will keep you inspired and encourage you to work harder all day to be more successful and lead a prosperous life.

Josh Felber is an award-winning author, entrepreneur and was recently named the “best personal finance expert of 2014” by GOBanking Rates. You can follow him on Twitter. This article originally appeared on JoshFelber.com