Do you struggle with staying productive and focused throughout the day? If so, you are not alone.
In order to have a productive day, you have to start your day off on the right foot, and sometimes it is hard to know where to begin.
We all have different jobs and tasks to get done and we are all different people. What is productive to some may not be to others.
The first step to a productive day is identifying what being productive means to you.
- Does it mean checking off your entire to-do list every day?
- Does being productive mean getting one major thing done each day?
Define what your personal productivity is so that you can plan your day accordingly.
Speaking of planning, one of the key productivity hacks is making sure you stick to a routine.
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You want to be the best version of yourself in order to be productive, which also means locking down a solid morning routine.
Why a morning routine specifically?
If you get your day off to the right start, you will feel more encouraged to be productive throughout the day.
Likewise, you will be able to push through that afternoon lull if you have a great start to your day.
However, in order to have a good morning routine, it is important to remember that you should be getting at least 8 hours of sleep the night before.
Sleep helps cleanse your mind and body from your hectic day; it heals your muscles and organs, while also calming your brain.
As mentioned, a healthy amount of sleep for the average person is around 8 hours, so make sure you are giving your body that much needed recharge.
If it takes you awhile to fall asleep, consider hopping in bed earlier so you can prepare your mind and your body ahead of time.
Put your phone away, and turn the television off if possible. Noise can distract your brain while you are sleeping and inhibit you from getting a healthy amount of sleep.
Once you start getting a solid night’s sleep, you’ll be more willing to jump into a healthy morning routine.
Below, you’ll find a short list of productivity hacks that will help to improve your morning routine:
Table of Contents
- Stretch
- Hydrate
- Wash Your Face
- Meditate
- Tea & Coffee
- Create a To-Do List
- Take Breaks
- Take A Few Deep Breaths
- Stretch
- Go For a Walk
- Revisit Your To-Do List
Stretch
Before you even get out of bed, stretch your legs by hugging your knees into your chest.
Follow this by rolling one of your legs across your body (complete both sides) to stretch your lower back.
You can also follow this simple guide to morning yoga stretches.
Hydrate
Drink a full glass of water before you do anything else. Always remember to keep your body hydrated and healthy.
Wash Your Face
Complete your morning activities before getting started with your day. Shower, wash your face, brush your teeth and do whatever else you need to do to feel fresh and ready to hit the ground running.
Meditate
Take some time for yourself to calm your mind before you start your day. Just 5 to 10 minutes of meditation in the morning can help improve your productivity and your overall happiness for the day.
Tea & Coffee
Make your tea or coffee now if you need a caffeine boost to get your morning started.
No judgement here, many of us need our morning boost although strictly drinking water in the morning would be your best bet.
Create a To-Do List
Sit down, and create a to-do list for the day. Identify what the most important thing to get done is on that list.
Which item will make you feel the most productive to cross off?
Now that you have some solid ideas for your morning routine, you can start your day on the right foot.
You will find that having a calming, yet efficient, morning routine will give you a more positive mindset, which will make you more productive.
Similarly, as you hit your afternoon lull, you will be more willing to combat the sense of laziness that may overcome you.
The key to having a productive day is not to be too hard on yourself. You are only human, you are doing the best you can. Cut yourself some slack.
Only you know what your ideal level of personal productivity is, and if you can not meet it every day, that is okay.
Starting to feel that afternoon laziness kicking in?
Here are a few things you can do to combat it:
Take Breaks
It is completely okay if once an hour you hop on social media for a few minutes. Distract your mind for a little bit to release any tension you may have been feeling.
Take A Few Deep Breaths
Allow some extra oxygen to flow to your brain for a few minutes.
Stretch
Full body stretching is great to release any muscle tension and to refocus the brain.
Here is a visual guide for those who are interested in learning how to stretch while at work.
Go For a Walk
Take a short walk to release some negative energy that may have clouded your mind and body from the day.
Revisit Your To-Do List
Check back in with your To-Do list. What can you cross off as completed? What else needs to be accomplished by end of day?
Once you resume your day after allowing yourself the space to recenter your mind, you should feel a lot more positive.
That being said, the positivity you feel will inherently make you more productive as you continue on with your day. Sometimes you just need a little extra push to make yourself more productive.
Remember to show your mind and body some love every day, and you will be able to conquer any obstacles that get in your way.
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