5 Simple Things You Can Do to Make Your Days More Productive
The word “productivity”, in recent times, has taken on an almost mythical meaning. For most of us, we tend to attribute it to superhumans who operate on 18 hour days and live by the “daily grind”. If they fail to accomplish 20 tasks on their to-do list then they deem their day a failure. When you look at it like this, it can be easy to be intimidated and avoid productivity altogether.
The truth is that it need not be this way. I’d like to dispel this myth and share with you five incredibly easy ways to automatically boost your productivity (or output, if you prefer that word) levels without setting impossible expectations on you.
1. Wake up earlier.
There isn’t much to say, really. Waking up earlier means that you utilize more available time in the day to accomplish things. Rising even a couple of hours earlier each morning can legitimately boost your output levels multiple times over. Aside from literally allowing you to do more, multiple studies have shown that the psychological effects of early rising can positively impact your overall mental health. Check out this piece that I wrote if you want to learn more.
2. Do the most crucial tasks early in the day.
Classify your tasks in one of four areas: important and urgent (Q1), important but not urgent (Q2), urgent but not important (Q3), and neither urgent nor important (Q4).¹ This system is known as the Eisenhower Matrix. Tasks in Q1 are ones that you should take care of immediately, such as completing and submitting an assignment; tasks in Q2 should be scheduled for a later time, such as going to the store to return something; tasks in Q3 should be delegated if possible; and tasks in Q4 should not be done or, at the very least, not be a concern at all.
3. Engage in some form of physical activity.
Your body is what you spend the entirety of your life with, so it’s a no-brainer that you should take care of it. Even the simplest activities such as going on a daily walk or practicing yoga can really add up in the long term. Show yourself some love and walk around and stretch after reading this newsletter. Trust me, your 70 year-old self will thank you.
4. Read a book or listen to a podcast.
On the mental side of things, dedicate time each day to activate your brain! Listen to an educational podcast and learn something new, or read a fiction book and let your imagination run loose. If you’re not doing something every single day to fire off your neurons and keeping your brain alert, then you’ve gotta fix that ASAP. Like exercise, investing time each day to keep your mind alert will pay off in the long run.
5. Do something for someone else.
I’ve always believed that self-improvement doesn't exist in a vacuum. In other words, making yourself the best person you can be is worthless if you do not translate that to your environment. Trying to practice kindness? Go out and do it. The situation to do so is everpresent, you just have to recognize and act on it. At the same time, don’t just take my word for it- try to cultivate a genuine desire to help someone because you truly want to be of service and not because you feel that it is an obligation.
