Stop Winging It: How to Control Your Day Before It Starts

A successful day doesn’t start when you wake up.

It starts the night before.

The feeling of getting to work, staring at your to-do list and having no idea where to start sucks.

You just sat down and you’re already overwhelmed.

You might even procrastinate to avoid feeling overwhelmed and paralysed from over-analysing.

This is a silent, destructive habit that destroys the focus and productivity of so many entrepreneurs and creators.

A lack of mental clarity and just ‘winging it.’

“Winging It” Is Why You’re Stuck

Productivity isn’t something that just happens.

Like any result you want in life — a successful business, loving relationships, more money or a fit body — you need a process.

Depending on the level of complexity of the goal, the process needed will vary in complexity as well.

Then there are other aspects of our lives that we don’t always consider to be a process. Like productivity.

We put very little thought and energy into creating the process that delivers the same, quantifiable results.

So many entrepreneurs and creators run their businesses on an “I’ll figure it out as the day goes” kind of attitude, but are left overwhelmed, frustrated and dissatisfied when things don’t go according to plan.

This is the biggest problem: without a plan, you aren’t in control of your day. Your day is now controlling you.

Going through the day without a plan puts you at the mercy of distractions and decision fatigue. 

You end up spending your most valuable hours in reactive mode, responding to emails, putting out fires, or getting stuck in the weeds of low-priority tasks.

Even with a great morning routine, a day not planned is a day that will run away from you.

But there’s a simple fix for this and it goes back a few hours earlier.

The night before.

Mental Clarity and FoolProof Productivity Starts the Night Before

Do you remember being a kid and having an excursion the next day?

You were probably so excited that you laid your clothes out the night before and couldn’t sleep.

You wake up the next morning and fly to get ready, eat breakfast, get to school and on the bus with your friends.

Imagine waking up like that EVERY MORNING.

Now you might not be bursting with energy like you did as a kid, but imagine waking up with a clear roadmap and clear expectations for the day.

You aren’t lost or confused about the day.

You are laser-focused on what you’re doing that day and you feel in control.

You hit the ground running and the day doesn’t stand a chance.

All because you planned your day the night before.

Now this might be a habit that you simply overlook, but it’s often these simple, small habits that determine a lot of the big results in your life.

This habit determines how your days, weeks, months and years will turn into.

That’s a lot of power in a single habit.

And the benefits can be felt from the moment you start making this a habit:

• You start the day laser-focused. There’s no guessing about what needs to be done. You already know because you planned it last night, so you start the day with intention and purpose.

• You get a double dose of mental clarity. You go to bed with a clear plan for the next day and you wake up with a clear plan. You waste no mental energy deciding what to do, which leaves more energy to do the work.

• When you have your priorities planned out, it’s easy to get more done in less time.

• By planning your day, the night before, you eliminate a lot of chaos, which gives you more control over your time. You have the time to enjoy your personal or professional time and make the most of it.

Remember it’s what we do consistently over time that compounds and leads to the big results in our lives.

If you can start focusing on this small habit, you can supercharge your productivity and mental clarity in ways you can’t imagine.

15 Minutes of Clarity for a Productive Day

The 6 steps to use at the end of your day:

1. Create a Brain Dump at the End of Each Day
   
   Before you close out your workday, spend 5-10 minutes writing down everything that’s on your mind.
   
   This includes unfinished tasks, new ideas, and any loose ends that are swirling in your head.
   
   This mental release clears the clutter and will help you enjoy your downtime more and sleep better.
   

2. Identify Your 3 Most Important Tasks for Tomorrow
   
   After your brain dump, choose the three most important tasks you need to complete the next day.
   
   These should be high-impact tasks that move you closer to your goals, not busy work.
   
   A simple way to identify these tasks is, “If I only had time for 3 tasks, what 3 tasks if completed, would leave me happy with my day & on track toward my goals?”
   

3. Assign Time Blocks for Each Task
   
   Look at your calendar and block off time for each of your top priorities.
   
   Be realistic with your time estimates and do your best not to underestimate how long a task is going to take.
   
   If a task is complex, break it into smaller steps and assign time blocks for each part.
   

4. Plan Breaks and Non-Negotiables
   
   Hard work comes from good rest.
   
   Don’t forget to plan breaks, meals, and any personal commitments.
   
   These are crucial for maintaining your energy and mental clarity throughout the day.
   
   Include them in your schedule so you don’t feel guilty when stepping away from work.
   

5. Set Your Environment for Success
   
   Once you’ve finished planning tomorrow, it’s time to clean up your workspace.
   
   Whether it’s organising your desk, setting up materials you need, or placing your task list in a visible spot, these small steps make a huge difference in how you start your day.
   

Start Your Nightly Planning Habit Tonight

Here’s your challenge: start this nightly planning habit this week.

It should take anywhere from 15-20 minutes.

Set a reminder that triggers this habit if that works for you.

Here’s a quick summary:

1. Brain dump your ideas and tasks.

2. Identify the 3 most important tasks for tomorrow.

3. Block out time for each task.

4. Plan breaks and non-negotiables.

5. Tidy up and prep your workspace.

Try it for one week and watch your productivity skyrocket.

You’ll notice how much more in control of your day you feel, how much more relaxed you feel in the evenings and how much clearer your mind is when you wake up.

— Shana

If you want daily content and to connect, you can follow me on 𝕏 @thriveminds1

If you want to work less while getting more results, book a call with me here and let’s chat: https://calendly.com/shanamdluli/claritycall