Does your to-do list feel like the bottomless mimosa that never ends?
You’re not alone. We’ve all wished we could be more productive in our lives - but how can we actually make the change in our daily routines?
Here are a few psychological hacks to get more out of your day. Let me know what you think!
Reduce the Number of Decisions in a Day
Former President Barack Obama once said that he only wears blue or gray suits. “I’m trying to pare down decisions,” he added. “I don’t want to make decisions about what I’m eating or wearing, because I have too many other decisions to make.”
While not all of us have White House staff to decide what we eat and wear, we can reduce the number of decisions we make during the day by forward-planning. Meal prepping and having clearly-marked meals ready to go means you can spend your time and energy on the decisions that have to be made that day. Similarly, laying out what you want to wear the next day the day before can help you have a smoother start to your day.
Work Hard, Play Hard
Did you know that taking time out of your day to boost your mood and do something that makes you feel happy can increase your productivity by 12%, according to Psychology Today?
It can feel tempting to power through your day and get everything done as quickly as possible. However, this research proves that dotting happiness-inducing activities throughout your day can actually help you to be more productive than slogging your way through your to-do list.
Use This Mind Trick
The Pomodoro Technique can be extremely helpful with productivity. Set up a timer to work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. Repeat as many times as necessary.
How could you use those 5 minutes? Do something that will bring a smile to your face! That could be calling a loved one to catch up, eating a favorite snack, or simply stepping outside for a breath of fresh air. Whatever it is, it should leave you feeling happy, refreshed, and ready to get back to your day. This will also help you feel more productive as you go throughout your day, since all tasks are broken into reasonably sized chunks.
Looking for more productivity tips? I covered two more in this helpful blog! And this article is helpful if you’re trying to increase productivity while working from home. Let me know if any of these hacks are helpful to you. Have a great week!