| 7 ROUTINES TO MAKE YOUR DAYS MORE PRODUCTIVE |
| Follow a Regular Sleep Schedule. Getting a good night’s sleep is the first step to being more productive and accomplishing more in the day. Experts say waking up at the same time each day supports healthier sleep. |
| Do Some Morning Tasks the Night Before. There are lots of little things to do in the morning before you start working—figuring out what you’ll wear, setting up the coffee pot, deciding on breakfast, fixing lunch for yourself and/or another family member, packing your bag, getting your keys if you’re heading out, etc. The night before, do as many of these things as you can before going to bed. Waking up with less to do means your mornings are instantly more efficient, setting you up for a more productive day. |
| Practice Gratitude. Studies show being in a good mood increases productivity. A proven way to boost your mood is to think about the things you’re grateful for. In the morning, review some things you’re happy about, and then get up with a smile. In the evening, thinking about things you’re grateful for is a great way to calm your mind, eliminate negative thoughts, and get a good night’s sleep. |
| Eat. A good breakfast energizes you—physically and mentally—for the day. Many nutritionists recommend a well-balanced meal that is high in protein with complex carbohydrates and healthy fats. You’ll find plenty of healthy breakfast recommendations on the internet. |
| Postpone Checking Emails and Social Media. Unless you know an email about something urgent is coming to you first thing in the morning, put off checking emails until you’re settled into your day. Schedule your social media check-ins for the same time or later. Social feeds and emails can be big distractions, delaying your more important to-dos. |
| Turn to the Sun! Light helps wake up your internal clock, or sleep/wake cycle, so you’re active and alert. Your internal clock takes some of its cues from light, so bright light triggers your energy and focus. Open the curtains as soon as you get up. Weather permitting, have your coffee outside, or go for a quick morning walk. Work near windows if you can, or at least take your breaks outdoors, again, weather permitting. |
| Don’t Procrastinate, Don’t Get Distracted. Procrastination and succumbing to distractions happen when you slip out of your productivity mindset. To avoid these pitfalls, stay on top of what you must accomplish each day. Don’t let projects pile up. Accumulating a big backlog of things to do forces you into long workdays. The longer these marathon work sessions continue, the lower your productivity as your energy wanes. |
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