My friends often ask me this question, "How do you get everything done? How do you do it? Do you sleep?" 

My answer is: "Yes, I get about 7 hours a day if my little one doesn't wake me up in the middle of the night."

If you have a lot to manage, say a business, two jobs, several children, or other responsibilities you absolutely cannot delegate, then you really need to be aware of your habits, because some of them are better than others. 

The formula of just putting more hours in simply doesn't work. It is not about working harder, it is about working smarter that will lift your game. 

I love to learn about different tips & tools on productivity and I have been "collecting" and "testing" them over the years. What I've learned is that you may actually need to modify those tools or habits to make them work for you, instead of the other way round. 

For example, if you are a night owl and hate the mornings, or you work late at night, you may find planning the night before you go to bed works better than planning your day first thing in the morning when you wake up.

I'd suggest you give my suggestions a try first, and then consider what modifications you may need to add more clarity or energy for you. Make them your own!

So, here are my Top 5 Easy-To-Do Habits to Skyrock Your Productivity:

Plan your day ahead

A wise one said: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail". Let's say we don't need to be this dramatic, but I believe in planning ahead so that I am clear about what I need to do for the day, and through consistent daily actions, I know I am moving closer to my goals. 

Here is what I normally do. In the morning, within 30 mins upon rising, I craft out some quiet time alone and use my daily planner to plan my day ahead. I look at my weekly planner first to see my appointments or calls for the day and my must-do list. Then, I simply move the items and allocate them over to my day planner, I also add notes such as "bring gym bag" or "mention my vacation" at the 1 pm call. 

My daily planner has a little section for self-reflection and I use it to put down a few thoughts or things that I am grateful for. It takes about 5-10 mins each morning to do this, but I get really clear about what I need to do for the rest of the day. I feel more in control and if I need to make changes, it is also very easy to see if it can work or not. 

Now, my weekly planner is where I put all my calls, meetings, appointments and events. Don't think it is all complicated, it is not. Keep everything simple and to the point. Once you start doing this, you will realise it is actually very easy to do. 

Sidenote: I like early mornings because it is quiet. I often stretch for a few minutes while waiting for my tea to brew. Then, I take about 10-15 to do a short meditation. I love my ritual because it makes me feel good and centred. I have a clear mind as I have haven't been interrupted by the world of news or social media. I then plan my day ahead because this is the time I feel I am at my best to really think about what really matters to me and if things don't quality to my must-do list, they just got to go! 

Make sure you DO NOT look at your phone or emails BEFORE you do this. You need a clear mind and focus on YOUR day, not what everyone else is trying to tell you or ask from you. 

Break it down 

Be specific with your tasks and start your sentence with a verb, not a noun. On your day planner, where you list your must-dos for the day,