How to Plan Your Day in 10 Minutes
Whether your day begins at dawn or later in the evening, dedicating just 10 minutes can provide clarity and a sense of balance. Rather than focusing on what’s considered “most urgent,” you can prioritize what is meaningful to you and arrange it in a way that feels purposeful and achievable. Here’s how to make the most of those 10 minutes.
Step 1: Write Down Everything You Want to Do
Take a few minutes to jot down everything you’d like to accomplish today—both the big tasks and the seemingly trivial ones. The goal isn’t to organize or prioritize just yet; it’s about acknowledging every single thing that’s occupying your mind, so it no longer feels scattered or overwhelming.
Examples of What to Include:
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Wrapping up that presentation for work.
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Going for a walk to clear your head.
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Calling your friend for a quick chat.
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Reading a chapter of your current book.
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Preparing ingredients for a week's worth of meals.
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Clearing out your email inbox.
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Don't get bogged down in trying to make the list perfect or overly detailed. The aim is simply to get everything out of your head and into a space like the Long Weekly Sidebar Sticky Note or if you have a planner, you can use the Half Page Ritual Inserts in the February Intention Box, where you can see it all clearly. This is an exercise in clearing mental clutter, not organizing chaos.
Once the tasks are all on paper, you can start to approach them with a clearer mind, knowing you’re not trying to keep everything in memory.
Step 2: Group Tasks by How They Feel
Once you have your list, look at it and start grouping tasks based on how they feel to you. Some might feel light, while others might be heavier or more intense. You can group them in any way that works for you, but here are a few ideas:
Energizing Tasks (things that get you excited, creative, or motivated):
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Brainstorming ideas
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Working on passion projects
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Meeting with a friend
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Focus Tasks (tasks that require concentration, like deep work or study):
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Writing reports
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Reviewing contracts
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Planning for upcoming meetings
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Restorative Tasks (activities that refresh or relax you):
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Taking a walk
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Doing a quick workout or stretch
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Meditation or journaling
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Catch-Up Tasks (low-energy but necessary tasks):
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Sorting through emails
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Organizing your workspace
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Running errands
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Step 3: Set Flexible Time Blocks
Give yourself loose time blocks for each group. You don’t need to rigidly plan out every minute—just assign an approximate time range for each task or group of tasks. For example:
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Focus Tasks (e.g., working on the project)
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Catch-Up Tasks (e.g., checking emails)
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Energizing Tasks (e.g., meeting with a friend)
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Restorative Tasks (e.g., a walk or stretching)
Navigating energy levels while managing responsibilities for others can definitely feel like a balancing act. The key is to create small, intentional moments that allow you to recharge without disrupting your flow or neglecting your commitments.
Once you’re comfortable with the flow, you can transfer these time blocks to another section of your planner, such as the Routine Builder Planner Inserts or 2025 Dated Weekly Schedule Planner Insert with Time Block Stickers, to establish a more structured and cohesive daily schedule. This will help you visualize your time more clearly and ensure everything fits together smoothly.
Step 4: Add Something Fun or Refreshing
Make sure to include something in your plan that feels like a treat. It could be as simple as having your favorite snack, watching a funny video, or taking a short break to recharge. Including these moments of joy is just as important as tackling your tasks—it helps you stay energized and balanced.
Rather than viewing self care as a luxury, treat it as a non-negotiable. Here are a few ways to integrate them naturally:
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The Morning Jumpstart: Before you dive into responsibilities, dedicate a few minutes to a grounding habit like deep breathing, journaling, or simply savoring your favorite drink without distractions.
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The Midday Recharge: Block off 5–10 minutes for a reset. This could be a walk, a quick meditation, or simply stepping away from the chaos to regroup. Even sitting quietly in a different room can help.
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Evening Wind-Down: Let the end of the day be your moment to reflect and recharge with something that feels restorative, whether it’s a relaxing bath, a favorite show, or light stretching.
A Place for Everything, and Everything in Its Place
If planning your day like this feels new, there’s no need to feel pressured to follow every step immediately. This guide is designed to be flexible, encouraging experimentation and adaptation at a comfortable pace. Over time, you may find certain steps naturally becoming part of your routine while others are skipped, or you might even develop your own unique approach. The focus isn’t on perfection—it’s on progress. Try incorporating one step at a time throughout the year, and let your routine evolve naturally.
With just 10 minutes, you can list tasks, group them in ways that feel intuitive, and arrange them around your natural rhythm. This simple process creates a sense of control and focus, helping you navigate whatever challenges come your way.
Whether your day starts at 7 AM or 7 PM, take a deep breath, embrace the process, and step into your day with intention and purpose.
Comentarios
Renee dijo:
I love this idea. I do a list at the end of the night, so my mind will shut down to sleep instead of worrying about what needs done tomorrow. However, I am loving the idea of doing a 10 minute start the day one as well. Can make the jumble I write at night make more since!
Shawn dijo:
This article/email was very insightful and helpful. I’m going to implement a couple of the steps with what I already practice to increase my productivity and feel more comfortable and in control of my scheduling. Task can be overwhelming and sometimes no fun, but I’m gonna make a point to add the taking a walk idea into my day; every time I have done it, I did find it refreshing and restorative. Thank you for this reminder.
Valentina Pettway dijo:
I truly enjoyed reading this post. The start of a new year can often feel overwhelming, but today I’m reminded to slow down and be intentional. I’m looking forward to planning my days with purpose. Thank you for the inspiration!
Ramona Taylor dijo:
Planning in ten minutes was very helpful. I was stuck once I did a brain dump of all my tasks for the week. Things just kept popping up, but once I sorted them out by the Energizing, Passion, Writing and Catchup Task outlines, my anxiety calmed down. I also took advantage of my time blocking stickers to plan out my day. Thanks for the helpful tips.