Many swear by creating a daily routine so you can be more productive and live a more fulfilling life. But have you found that you start one and do it for a week before you forget to do it a few days? Or ever got down to the art of your morning routine before going to work but change happens. Now you’re juggling life so you sack off any form of routine you ever had because it feels easier in that moment.
Maybe you’re just here because it’s nearly 2019 and being completely new to this type of living. You want to design your own full proof productivity hack.
Well here’s some tips for what helped me along the way..
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- Don’t plan to do anything for a long period of time, read a chapter, start a 1 minute meditation timer, do 5 push ups, knit one line. It all adds up and you don’t want to be put off by unrealistic daily time goals.
- Put your phone away, correlate the thought of going on social media with doing something else instead, Instagram will still be there for a scroll later on in the day. But don’t be hard on yourself for avoiding life by going on social media either, guilt tripping yourself is not healthy and won’t make you want to be productive in the future.
- Download an app such as forest – it includes a timer which also grows a tree (on app). It helps you avoid going on your phone and it is weirdly satisfying to watch your virtual forest grow. Or maybe that’s my natural world love. The only down point is if you get a phone call your tree will die and even though its not your fault, it can be a bit upsetting when your 49 minutes into your 50 minute tree growth.
- How to get more done in 3 hours than most do in 1 day. Use the above app for 50 minutes before having a 10 minute break where you walk around, make some tea, look away from your screen. Then repeat 2 more times (I would normally change subject so I stay productive). Wah la, that’s how I learnt my driving theory and searched for jobs successfully over summer. You can change the time frame to fit your concentration span but 50 minutes is proven by many to work best.
- Wake up and instantly make your bed – this is a well known productivity hack, you’re only just awake and you feel accomplishment already. A clean room is also great for your mental state.
- Make a list before bed of what you need to do the next day, set out your clothes, make your lunch for work so you don’t have to do it in the morning. Decision fatigue is a thing and by planning the night before you can wake up and just leave the decisions to other things that pop up throughout the day. I like to put my list into groups of things i ‘have’ to do and things that make me feel good such as yoga.
- Before going to bed put your phone into airplane mode/ Do not disturb and also avoid looking at it for 1 hour before sleep and after you wake. Get your feel good list ticked off before you’re even off to work.
Now to be 100% honest I’ve been off my morning routine for a month or two now. I’ve been going on my phone first thing, avoiding my journalling and meditation and I’ve noticed a difference in my mental health. Going on social media first thing is proven to effect your subconsciousness especially when seeing bad news. Your brain waves are more receptive in the morning so treat yourself to something positive for yourself instead.
And with this advice I wish you guys a productive and happy 2019 and I hope these tips help you create a routine ready to win your year.
Earthly Luna Wellbeing 