8 Simple Ideas To Be More Productive Everyday

Are you a goal setter or a goal setter wannabe? Do you get up every morning ready to hit the ground running and start knocking off those ‘to-do’s? Or maybe you want to be productive, but ‘life’ gets in the way… 😉 Well, I totally get it. I’m right there with you. But I want to encourage you with these 8 simple ideas to be more productive everyday.

We all have lists of tasks and goals to reach, so we write down all our to-do’s and things we want to get done, only to find at the end of the day, we have may be accomplished 2 or 3 of the 10 things we wanted to do. And then the frustration and depression come… where did the day go? You’d think by this time in our lives we’d have it together and get more tasks accomplished!

But I’m here to encourage you right now. You can be productive! You can feel good about your use of time at the end of the day. It’s all about perspective. Yes, it’s great to get lots of things checked off our ‘to-do’ list. But we do not need to be slaves to the list or feel unproductive if we did not get done what we wanted to accomplish.

It’s time for some self-grace, my friends. Time to practice gratefulness and awareness of the simple accomplishments that can go unnoticed or unappreciated, simply because they are not the ‘big, must get done’ tasks.

We need to appreciate the little things we do that, when put together and seen as wonderful accomplishments, add up to a very productive day. So keep reading to find the 8 simple ideas to help you feel more productive everyday!

#1: Make your bed!

Your mother was right! Now, this may seem like such a small thing, but even the military teaches and trains soldiers how important this one thing is to complete each and every morning. There is such a great feeling of accomplishment knowing we have started out the day with a job done.

And it’s not just throwing the covers over the sheets and calling it done. Truly make your bed: straighten the sheets and coverlet; fluff the pillows; put your decorator pillows on; make it pretty. And keep the bed clear of other things like laundry, books or other assorted items. This way, every time you pass by your bed, you’ll feel good that you have accomplished this simple, yet important task.

#2 Exercise for a Minimum of 15 minutes everyday.

Of course, we would all love to exercise for an hour everyday…if we were able to. But that is not always possible. Our days can be filled with so many things, fitting in an hour a day seems almost impossible. But! If we can do some exercise for at least 15 minutes everyday, we will feel so much better and more productive.

Exercising regularly can improve our mood, reduce feelings of anxiety and depression and bring us some needed energy. I recommend, if weather permits, to exercise outside to get the added benefit of fresh air to rejuvenate the body and mind. Exercise can also improve brain function and protect memory and thinking skills. So all those other tasks will be just a bit easier when we exercise everyday.

#3 Drink Water!

Accomplishing this one task will improve your day and your body so much. Our bodies are approximately 60% water. Wow! think about that. The majority of our bodies are water. And we need to keep that water replenished. Here are just a few of the benefits of drinking water everyday!

• Increases Brain Power and Provides Energy.
• Promotes Healthy Weight Management and Weight Loss.
• Flushes Out Toxins.
• Improves Your Complexion.
• Maintains Regularity.
• Boosts Immune System.
• Prevents Headaches.
• Prevents Cramps and Sprains.
• Helps Regulate Body Temperature
• Prevents Backaches
• Improves Heart Health
• Prevents Bad Breath
• Puts us in a Better Mood.

That is an awesome list of reasons to drink water. 🙂 But how much should we drink? It’s been said that a good rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight in ounces of water. For example, if you weigh 140 lbs, you should drink 70 ounces of water. So another sure way to feel productive everyday is to drink your water!

If you are traveling and want to stay healthier, like drinking water, check out our post on healthy road tripping.

#4: Get Fresh Air!

I mentioned before about trying to get your 15 minutes of exercise outside. Well, there is something wonderful about getting fresh air everyday. It helps relieve stress, revitalizes your lungs and breathing and generally makes you feel better. Research shows that exposing your lungs to fresh air, and the scents of flowers and plants, can help to relieve stress and anxiety.

Oxygen is thought to affect the levels of serotonin released in the body, and in turn, contribute to feelings of happiness and relaxation. Well, those are good enough reasons to get outside and breathe in that air, even if just a few minutes every couple hours. Do this and feel more productive and ready to tackle those other ‘to-do’s’.

#5: Be ‘Screen-Free’ for at least an hour or two a day.

We love our screens; phones, computers, tablets, TV’s, etc. They are a great help in our busy lives but they can also be a distraction and even unhealthy if we never put them down. Be sure to give yourself the rest your eyes, mind and body need from those glowing screens.

Too much screen time can bring eye strain, neck pain and poor posture among other things. So to help in being productive in your day, turn off that screen and read a book, talk to your spouse or go for a walk. And if possible, stop your screen time at least an hour before bed. It will help you sleep better so you can be more rested for your next productive day.

#6: Wash your dishes throughout the day.

This may seem like such a simple, almost silly thing to feel productive about, but there is a such a strong feeling of dread and frustration when you get to the end of the day and the sink is filled with dishes. Ugg! And you may even be tempted to leave them till tomorrow. And that makes your next morning even harder.

Having all those dishes to look at will not bring that sense of accomplishment and productivity we are looking for. So instead of the dread of the dish pile, wash them as you go. And if possible, teach or at least suggest to your spouse to do the same. You will feel so great when that one little task is always done!

#7: Smile!

The act of smiling can change our mood almost instantly. Scientists and spiritual teachers alike agree that the simple act of smiling can transform you and the world around you. Current research (and common sense) shows us that a smile is contagious. When someone smiles, you can’t help but smile back. It lifts our mood, as well as the moods of those around us. And as a bonus, it works your facial muscles to keep them more toned and can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. 😉

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

So be sure to smile at a stranger and make their day. Smile at your spouse often and keep your relationship happier. Smile at your dog and they will love you back. Just remember to smile everyday. It will be another reason to feel more productive.

#8: Be thankful!

Gratefulness is such a powerful thing. We can be having the worst, everything has gone wrong kind of day, but when we really stop to appreciate and be thankful for little things, we will see how truly blessed we are. So everyday, add to your productiveness by being thankful.

Find at least 5 things to be thankful for either first thing in the morning or before you go to bed at night. It will either start your day off with a positive attitude, knowing you already have so much already. Or, you’ll finish your day with a grateful perspective of your day, thus feeling so much more productive.

Can you see how it’s not that hard to feel productive everyday. It really is a matter of perspective and appreciating the smaller accomplishments that add up to quite a lot. So keep these simple ideas in mind as you go throughout your day. Allow yourself to feel good about making your bed and getting even 15 minutes of exercise in. Remember to drink water, get fresh air and keep that sink free of the dish pile. Smile often for yourself and others and keep that gratefulness in the morning and/or at night. I’m right there with you as we work to be productive everyday.

If you were inspired or really resonated with something by reading this post, I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment. Let’s do this productivity thing together! 🙂

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