April is still a mere infant and the sun has made an appearance this week – not bad for a school holiday!

I get excited at the prospect of a new day – fresh, clean, untouched yet by misery and full of promise. Often, we plod through the day on auto pilot not noticing the magic nor enjoying the marvel that is. Too frequently we get caught up in the mundane and forget to be grateful for what we have.

Here are my top 3 ways to ensure you get the most out of your 24 hours:

Listen to your body

What is it telling you? Do you need a day of hard work and focus, to get stuff done or do you need to unplug and relax?

Whether you want a day to yourself, a day to connect (or reconnect) with friends and family, a day spent clearing your to-do list or some time fully emerged in projects to stay ahead of the game. Listen to what your body is saying it wants to do. If your days are free, great – carve out some time to do what you need. However, if you have commitments – start with just an hour. It’s so easy to get caught up in the rat race, to lose track of what we want to do because we’re so focused on what we think we need to do.

I was lucky enough recently to have a whole day to myself – and it was just what I needed. I was feeling burnt out and needed some quiet time to clear my head. I decided to spend it doing lots of little things just for me – mini spa treatments in my bathroom, healthy lunch, a leisurely walk, bought myself flowers, drank wine while I read…you get the idea. I listened to my body and knew I needed some down time, time spent in the present not focusing on the past or worrying about things yet to come.

Action: Give yourself the gift of time.

Have a plan

Decide what needs to be accomplished and write it down, preferably the night before. List your priorities. I’m a lover of lists (in case you didn’t know) as you don’t have to hold all that extra information in your brain once it’s on the paper.

Set your intentions for the day and decide how you are going to spend your time. Break large jobs up into smaller tasks and have regular breaks. Going for a short walk, drinking water, being distracted for 10 minutes can aid increased focus and clearer thinking. Reward yourself – complete a monotonous or difficult task first, then do something a little more fun, creative or easy. Don’t focus on all you have yet to complete – just the things you are getting done. Sometimes things don’t go to plan and we have to exercise our flexibility bone – hey it happens to the best of us. Let go, move on and congratulate yourself on the things you did do – amazingly, I’m sure.

Action: Plan for what you would like to accomplish today

See each day as having potential 

It’s a new start, a clean slate, 24 hours of brand spanking newness.

Don’t ponder on yesterday. That’s over. Look forward with anticipation at what the day may bring. Start the day believing it could be great, with your glass half full, that the universe is working with you not against you.

When the sun shines, I always feel the day seems to have a lightness about it. This in turn seems to encourage a lightness in my heart as if the rays from the sun are pouring their warmth and love into all things living, creating a day filled with positvity and happiness. People seem happier, they comment on the weather and how much nicer it is when the sun’s out.

What if you could recreate this feeling just by choosing to make it so? To look for the magic in the new day, the friendly faces, to see the good stuff, the endless possibilities, the lessons to be learned, opportunities to be had, new memories to be made? What if you showed up today expecting the day to be amazing and focused on the potential it could hold?

Action: Be open to the possibilities of having a fabulous day

We all have the same 24 hours in a day (except Beyonce, obviously) – how we view them though is unique to us. Make it work for you, be productive, have some fun, find the balance.

Every. Single. Day.