With 2022 in full swing and the festive season well and truly behind us, the reality of routine and everyday life has settled upon us once again. Many of us have new aspirations and refreshed motivation for the year ahead, and the key to stimulating this is by boosting our productivity in order to fulfil our potential. A day where we accomplish all of the tasks we set for ourselves leaves us feeling satisfied and motivated to maintain momentum, and to continue progressing towards our goals.
We all have the same 24 hours in a day – it’s how we use them that sets us apart. Below we outline the 8 core pillars to having a more productive day.
1. Create a nighttime ritual
You can begin determining how your day pans out before it even begins. Consciously following a routine at night that helps you feel organised and properly rested can have a huge impact on your productivity the following day. Simple nighttime rituals such as limiting your time on devices, reflecting on and processing the day just passed, and setting yourself up for a restful sleep can make the world of difference to your energy and mental clarity.
Another way you can use the evenings to get a head start on the next day is by planning out your tasks. Jotting them down on paper will help release them from your mind and establish a direction for when you wake up so you can get straight into it!
2. Simplify your to-do list
Contrary to what may come to mind, being productive does not necessarily mean cramming as many tasks into the day as possible. Although this is an easy trap to fall into, it can leave you feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to begin. Instead, cut your list in half and prioritise the tasks that need to be completed in the day. This will help set a calmer tone for the day and allow you to channel your attention and energy to each task, rather than leave you with the lingering feeling that you’re constantly behind.
3. A positive routine
Just as setting a positive nighttime routine is important, following it with a productive morning routine is also essential for setting the tone of the day. How you kickstart your day sets in motion the events that follow. This is when you have the power to recharge your body and mind and set yourself up for success. Making your bed, rehydrating, setting aside time to move your body and eating a nourishing breakfast are all ways you can make a difference to how you feel and think throughout the day.
4. Presence
When our plates become too full, our minds tend to race with what needs to be done and hinders our ability to hone our focus on the task at hand. When you start to feel overwhelmed, let your thoughts and responsibilities fall to the wayside and ground yourself in the reality of now – even just for a few minutes. This will help recentre your focus on the present and what is within your ability to control, reducing unhelpful thoughts or emotions that block your productivity.
5. Adjust your attitude
To an extent, we have the power to set our mood and attitude throughout the day. Consciously practising gratitude, acceptance and optimism can help shift any negative energy that acts as a roadblock to your productivity and helps keep your mind clear and focused. One way to do this is by journaling every morning – even for just 10 minutes – to bring to the forefront of your mind what should be prioritised and what truly matters, putting the events of the day ahead into perspective.
6. Redirect worried energy
When we worry, we plant seeds of doubt and regret in our mind and waste precious time and energy brooding over things that we cannot control. When this begins to take over, go back to planning and adjust your routine to what you feel might work better. Redirecting this energy into action is the best remedy to overcoming feelings of discomfort or uncertainty and turns them into opportunities.
7. Dedicate your attention wholeheartedly to each task
When you plan your day and schedule your tasks in your calendar, respect the time you have dedicated to them and give yourself freedom in the times of the day that fall in between. If you’ve scheduled the first 20 minutes of the working day to go through your emails, there’s no need to start looking at them while you make breakfast or enjoy your morning coffee. Dedicating yourself to your time slots allows you to instil more balance in the day and manage your time more effectively.
8. Keep your phone at bay
Notifications can be the death of productivity and a major disruption to your flow state. When you’re in the zone, turn your phone on silent, turn it face down or even put it away in your desk drawer. Out of sight, out of mind.
Every day, we have the power and the opportunity to determine how we spend the hours ahead of us. Avoid a day of incomplete tasks that are inevitably pushed to tomorrow with these simple adjustments to your routine and awareness of obstacles to your productivity. The difference will be noticeable in no time, and the benefits will ripple throughout every aspect of your life and wellbeing to achieve a heightened sense of self-esteem and accomplishment.
