Daily routines are an important tool for those that are seeking to increase their productivity. By taking the time to establish a daily routine, you can set yourself up for success by ensuring that you are mentally prepared for the day ahead. One of the most important aspects of a daily routine is setting aside time for self-care. By taking care of yourself first, you will be in a better position to take on the tasks of the day.
Having any sort of routine will help improve productivity, but to really maximize your efforts, here are a few things you might want to add to your regime.
Choose 3 Must-Do Tasks for the Day
Setting your intention and tone for the day is a major goal of any productive ritual. This list should preferably be done prior to leaving the office in the evening. Do you want to be focused or scattered? Are you going in with a plan or merely reacting to others’ actions?
The greatest approach to being more productive throughout the day is to control the story. And one of the simplest approaches to do this is to begin your day by defining your Most Important Tasks (MITs). These are the top 2-3 things you want to be sure you get done that day. Writing these MITs down at the beginning of the day will help give you a clear picture of what having a successful day entail.
Stay Focused on Your Goals by Journaling
Journaling is not just for therapy purposes. In fact, writing and reflecting on your goals, feelings, and dreams can improve anyone’s mood and help us perform better on work tasks.
When we have an opportunity to reflect on what we have done, we get a boost in self-confidence. Seeing what we have accomplished helps us feel like we can do more things. Which in turn helps provide motivation and drive for future tasks.
Meditate To Prepare for the Day
You cannot always anticipate what the day will bring. However, incorporating a daily meditation practice into your routine helps you deal with challenges in a more effective and peaceful manner.
It’s critical to start small if you are new to meditation. Consistency is more important than intensity at the outset. Even simply sitting in a peaceful place with your eyes closed for a few minutes and focusing on your breathing may be enough to get you started.
Schedule Plenty of Breaks
If you continue to work when your body needs downtime, it draws on your energy reserves to keep going. This means that your body must release stress hormones to provide you with a boost of energy.
A better answer is to take breaks when you need them. Listen to your body and schedule regular breaks away from your screen at least every 90 minutes.
If you want to make the most of these breaks, take a walk outside and try to spend some time in nature, which have both been found to rapidly help us rejuvenate and recharge our energy.
Reflect on The Day
It is all too easy to wind down with Netflix at the end of the day and “relax.” Unfortunately, the human brain does not work in such a manner. Instead, when left unresolved, ideas and feelings linger and spring up at inconvenient moments (like when you are trying to fall asleep!).
A personal debrief can help with alleviating work-related stress. It is especially beneficial when it focuses on your triumphs and the good things that happened to you. This technique can even alter the way you look at your days and prevent you from getting dragged into negative thinking. This does not need to be a long document; you can do something as simple as making a list of three awesome things that you accomplished or experienced during the day.
Most people don’t realize that being productive is a skill that can be learned. Just like you would work on your fitness or learn a new language, you can also work on becoming more productive. Try adding some of the things we shared above into your daily routine and see how it goes. After a few, you might just be surprised by how much more productive you can be!
