Most people dislike those days where they don’t know if they did anything meaningful. They want to be productive but can find it hard to keep the momentum throughout the day. Life isn’t always easy and distractions can come from anywhere, such as needing to do an extra task or having to take a phone call that lasts a lot longer than you expected.
There are certain things that you can do to ensure you are at maximum productiveness throughout the day. However, we’re not saying you have to be working all day, but there are tips and tricks to making sure you make the most of the time you have before relaxing in the evenings.
Don’t Hit Snooze on the Alarm
It is important to make sure you get the right amount of sleep, which experts recommend is at least 7 or 8 hours, but what you don’t want to do is to lay in for too long. That means it is time to stop hitting the snooze button. Those few minutes extra aren’t doing anything to help you. In fact, they can leave you feeling even groggier than if you had gotten up when the alarm first went off. The reason for this is that you aren’t able to have the deep, restorative sleep you get when given the time to relax.
Instead, make sure you are going to bed early enough, so you don’t feel the need to keep snoozing. An extra tip is to always stretch first thing in the morning to improve your circulation, which is especially important if you have a job that requires lots of sitting at a desk.
Be Healthy
When people sleep, they often become slightly dehydrated throughout the night, so it best to drink a glass of refreshing water instead of a hot cup of coffee. You will feel much better for it and more awake than if you’d had a drink with caffeine in it. Another way to stay healthy is to make sure you are fuelling your body in the right way, which means eating a breakfast that will give you enough energy to power through the day. A simple bowl of porridge with some fruit will have enough nutrients to keep you feeling full until lunchtime rolls around.
Make a To-Do List
Before you get your day started, write down everything you want to achieve. It could be a mixture of small and big jobs but writing it down will help to keep you on a schedule and stop you from wandering. If you assign the amount of time they need or a deadline then that’s even better, but always be sure the most important or biggest task are completed first. It will be like a weight has been lifted from your shoulders when you cross off that task from the list. Nobody wants to be doing their most taxing task in the afternoon when all they want to do is relax.
Move Around Often
Sitting for long periods of time is never good for the body. It can make your muscles ache and has even been shown to cause people to gain weight. A good way to avoid this is to take regular breaks in-between your tasks. Some people suggest getting up and moving around every half an hour or an hour, whereas others prefer to have a break every couple of hours where they go for a brisk walk. Most people find that a break gives them a chance to rejuvenate themselves and get the creativity flowing again. Another way people combat the problem of sitting too long is to own a standing desk, which has been proven to burn calories.
Avoid Your Phone
The number one reason why people find they aren’t being productive is due to their phone. It is very easy to stare at the screen, whether you’re on social media or checking emails, and before you know it you’ve wasted twenty minutes. If you find that you are someone whose gaze always drifts to their phone, make sure it is out of sight. That way, you aren’t thinking about it and can do some browsing during your designated breaks.
Staying productive doesn’t have to be difficult and with these tips, you will find you can complete so much more in the same amount of time.
