7 Ways to Streamline Your Day

I received compensation from Bayer Consumer Health, makers of MiraLAX® to write this post. MiraLAX® is a laxative used to treat occasional constipation. All opinions are entirely my own. #EaseTheDay #CollectiveBias

As a work-at-home mom that’s always on the move, I’m constantly trying to get more things done in less time. Whether it’s finishing a blog post that’s due in two days or tackling that never-ending DIY project list or finding ways to entertain the kids during the summer, I’m always striving to boost my productivity. On any given day, I’m typically juggling (or at least trying to juggle) many balls in the air at the same time. Today I’ll be sharing 7 easy ways that you can streamline your days and get more done in less time. From using multi-tasking beauty products to working with your friends and family to streamline schedules, keep reading for easy-to-implement tips you can put into practice today.

7 Ways to Streamline Your Day

1. Set a daily to-do list!
As an entrepreneur, it can sometimes be challenging to figure out what tasks to tackle on any given day. Do I work on that big project that’s due in two weeks or that small project that’s due in two days? Fortunately, I have found a system that works well for me. On my monthly calendar, I keep large-scale goals and long-term project deadlines. Every morning, I look at my monthly calendar and prioritize all the tasks that are on my plate. I look at upcoming deadlines for the next 7 days (sometimes more, sometimes less) and extract the specific tasks I want to accomplish on any given day. Then throughout the day, I simply look at my daily to-do list and keep myself on track!

2. Set up carpool schedules with friends!
If you head to an office every single day, see if you can set up a carpool schedule with coworkers that live nearby. Streamlining your morning commute would save you time & money in the long run. Maybe you don’t work outside of the house but you have kids that head to camp during the summer? Find local friends, with whom you can set up a child pick-up & drop-off routine. One of Charlotte’s camp classmates lives a few blocks from us, so we alternate pick-up and drop-off days with that family. This saves us time and helps Charlotte develop more meaningful friendships with her classmates.

3. Freeze your breakfast from the night before!
I am definitely not one that can skip breakfast. If I somehow forget to eat in the morning, I feel sluggish & unmotivated by 10am. That’s why I always prioritize a well-balanced meal in the mornings. However, that doesn’t mean I have time for any complicated meal prep. To keep my morning meal quick & easy, I often turn to smoothies. My favorite smoothies usually contain some combination of the following:
Tip: When needed, I add MiraLAX® for relief of occasional constipation!

• almond milk or yogurt
• veggies: spinach, kale, cucumbers
• fruits: berries, avocados, oranges, bananas
• protein: almond butter, peanut powder, collagen powder

4. Use multi-tasking beauty products!
When I’m trying to get out of the house quickly in the morning, I want my beauty routine to reflect that simplicity. After all, there’s no time to mess with a few dozen different products! Skip the individual primer, highlighter, concealer, lip liner, etc. Look for products that can do double (or triple) duty to save time.

• To give my complexion a smooth appearance, I use a BB cream or tinted moisturizer with built-in highlighting ingredients.
• To add some color to my face, I use a color stick that can do double duty on both my cheeks and lips. A quick swipe and some blending is all it takes!
• For my eyes, I like to use an eye shadow stick so I can quickly swipe on some color without having to find the right brushes & eye shadow palettes. Plus, a little mascara also makes a big impact and only takes about 15 seconds to apply.

5. Stick to quick, easy hairstyles that still look put-together!
Just like my makeup routine, I want my morning hair care routine to be quick and easy. One thing I have always done is ask my hairstylist to add loose, layered waves to my hair because it tends to be easier to manage long-term. One quick, go-to hairstyle for me is a high ponytail with loose beach waves. To create the beach waves, I will braid my hair from the night before. Then in the morning, I will put my hair in a high pony and sometimes also add a cute headband for a little extra pizzazz! Easy peasy!

6. Keep your bathroom organized effectively!
One of my tricks for quickly getting ready in the morning is to set up my bathroom cabinet products according to the time of day that I use them. For example, in the cabinet above the sink, the top shelf is dedicated to products I typically use in the mornings (rejuvenating face wash, facial sunscreen, UV-shielded hair spray, makeup, and more). The bottom shelf is dedicated to products I typically use in the evenings (serum, calming moisturizer, intensive eye cream, and more). The middle shelf is dedicated to products I use less frequently, such as that leave-in hair conditioner or that bubble face mask that I use a few times per week. When it’s time to get ready in the morning, I can focus on only one shelf, where I know I can find everything I need to get ready.

7. Delegate tasks appropriately!
When we keep more on our plates than necessary, we tend to get stressed and overwhelmed easily. Look for ways to take tasks off your own to-do list. At work, try to delegate projects to others. At home, give the kids age-appropriate chores so you have less housework that needs to be tackled. Throwing a party? Consider hosting a potluck so the cooking duties can be shared among all guests. When you successfully master the art of delegation, you will find more free time in your everyday life.

Combat Occasional Constipation
I love that MiraLAX® works with the body’s natural process to offer effective relief from occasional constipation.

Occasional constipation is one of those things that affects all of us at one point or another. Both my husband and I have turned to MiraLAX® when we experience occasional constipation. In fact, I remember one funny story from a few years ago. I left the house early to head to the gym and my husband was supposed to take Sophia to the bus stop for her school pick-up. Well, apparently, he had to go a few minutes before the bus was supposed to arrive. He told Sophia, “I’ll be out in 2 minutes”. Well, it turns out he was constipated and it took him longer than 2 minutes… actually, significantly longer than 2 minutes! Needless to say, Sophia missed the bus that morning.

Did you know that stimulant laxative pills can make your body go by forcefully stimulating the nerves in your colon? Unlike stimulant laxatives, MiraLAX® works with the water in your body to soften and ease your system in a natural way. Trust me, it’s a pleasant experience!

I appreciate that MiraLAX® has been a safe, effective brand for many years. It has been a staple of our medicine cabinet for a while now. Look for the MiraLAX® bottles and MiraLAX® Mix-In Pax® at your local Walmart store. As with all over-the-counter medications, always use as directed on the product packaging. Oh, and be sure to save on any MiraLAX® product with this coupon here.

I hope these tips have inspired you to streamline your days. Don’t forget to check out MiraLAX® to treat your occasional constipation. How do you keep your productivity level up during busy days?

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