I love a lazy Sunday spent binging Netflix on the couch as much as the next gal, but I know how important it is to stay productive. I’m not saying you should quit your lazy Sundays all together (I know I won’t!) but allow yourself to have a good mix of ambition in with it.
We all have dreams, right? Even if we don’t think about them every day, we all have things that we desire and a life that we wish for.
I have a powerful little equation for you:
Self-care + mindset = productivity = success
You read that right. Achieving your dreams starts with self-care.
I’ll say it again… achieving your dreams starts with self-care. This is so important.
In order to live your best life and find success, you need to be productive. In order to be productive, you need to have the right mindset… Finding the right mindset only happens when you truly take care of yourself.
If I was a grumpy, sad, glass half-empty kind of person, I would not be doing what I am doing right now. Instead, I make time for me and practice self-care so that I can show up here on my blog, do what I love, and create my dream life.
Here are 10 things you’re probably not doing that are totally killing your productivity. I’ll let you take a guess what #1 is…
#1 Practice Self-Care
Woohooo! You guessed right, right?
Have you ever been neck deep in life, stressed out, feeling like you just can’t catch a break? Working too hard nonstop can cause you to burn out.
Whether you’re working too hard at your 9-5 job, working too hard at home for your family each night, or even if you have your own blog and you’re working too hard to constantly try and make your blog better… you need to make yourself a priority.
If a nap is what you need, nap. If you could benefit from a professional massage, book the massage. If you just need a night to yourself to binge Netflix and eat salt and vinegar chips, do that.
The point is, do not forget to take care of yourself. You need to be healthy and happy before you can put all of your focus into something else to create your dream life. Find balance.
#2 Set Goals
Take a moment and jot down your dream. Now jot down some of the things you need to accomplish before you can get there. Next, identify how you can accomplish each of those tasks to get you one step closer to living your dream. These are your goals.
Instead of setting 1 or 2 huge goals, set 8-10 smaller goals to reach those big ones.
You’ll feel accomplished and motivated each time you reach a goal.
#3 Reward Yourself
Okay, this sort of ties in with self-care… I just really love self-care, okay?
But no, this is a little different. Self-care is something you should always work on for yourself no matter what. Rewarding yourself because you reached one of your goals brings you a sense of accomplishment and honor.
When setting your goals, write down next to each one what you can reward yourself with. This can be something as simple as making popcorn and renting a new Redbox movie or purchasing a new pair of jeans that you’ve been eyeing up.
Reward yourself and celebrate you getting one step closer to achieving your dreams.
#4 Rid Yourself of Distractions
This one sounds like a no-brainer, but it’s something I struggle with all the time.
Distractions aren’t only the TV being on in the background… for me it’s having my phone next to me, my Apple watch on and vibrating every time I get a notification, and my husband being home. Yep, my husband is my biggest distraction (sorry babe).
Create a distraction-free space for yourself.
I like to light a candle, get comfortable with a fuzzy blanket, and focus in a room by myself.
I realize we all have very different goals – getting comfortable and lighting a candle might not help you achieve your goals, but my goal is creating quality content for you lovlies, so it’s a yes for me!
Either way, just give yourself space to really focus.
#5 Figure Out Your Peak Hours
I am an early bird… definitely not a night owl. Therefore, if I try to be productive any time after 8:00 PM, I’ll no doubt be a struggle bus.
To be productive, you need to figure out when your peak hours are and aim to get your tasks done during those hours.
If you’re a person who has the hardest time waking up in the morning, being productive before the afternoon hits probably isn’t your best bet.
My peak times are 30 minutes after I wake up, and then again immediately after dinner. What are your peak times?
#6 Get Some Vitamin D
Did you know that vitamin D can almost immediately increase your energy levels?
Whether you’re sitting on the deck soaking up some sunshine or taking vitamin D supplements, you’re sure to combat fatigue and improve your overall health.
#7 Breaks Are Powerful
When some people think “productive”, they think you need to be working for your goals constantly. That’s not the case. Productivity is about working efficiently, not continuously.
Make scheduled breaks for yourself throughout the day. For example, every hour on the hour, allow yourself 5 minutes for an active break.
Yes, I said active. Don’t let yourself fall into a trap and get tired on your break. Try going for a little walk to boost your energy.
Coming back from a break is like hitting restart. You’ll be able to sit back down with a fresh mind and be more productive than if you were tired and burnt out from working too long.
#8 Routines Are Key
Have you ever heard the saying that it takes 21 days to make a habit out of something? Well, that’s a great start… but actually, studies show that it takes 66 days to build a new habit.
Set a goal for yourself to get to work during your peak hours every day.
Think of that time as an appointment that you have with yourself that you can’t miss – just like if you had a doctor appointment.
If you continue to (hate to say it but…) force yourself to focus and work on your goals during those same times every day, it will stop becoming a daunting task and start becoming more of a fundamental part of a your daily life.
#9 Sleep Is Goooood
I’m not good at this one… but I try. I think every knows how important sleep is for your mind, body, and soul. But some of us over-achievers tend to put sleep on the backburner in order for us to complete more tasks.
Here’s the thing: Sleep deprivation completely destroys productivity.
Most adults need 6-8 hours of sleep each night. Your brain will not work correctly and up to your highest standards if it is tired, stressed, and overworked.
Make sure you allow time for yourself to chill out, take work off your mind, and relax.
Have a hard time clearing your mind and falling asleep at night? Try lavender scented candles to promote relaxation. Another good strategy is to stay off your phone right before bed! Your device actually has a ton of power over your sleep pattern.
#10 Find Passion in What You’re Doing
I know not all of your goals are something that you LOVE to do. But try to think of the positives and remind yourself of the good that will come by achieving your goals.
I’ll use myself as an example.
If I was writing this blog post about cars, I would dread every minute of it. I don’t know anything about cars and I don’t care to learn about them either, lol.
Instead, my blog focuses on self-growth and wedding planning. Two things that I am passionate about.
Not only do I get to talk about topics that I love, but I also get to help my readers in the process, and that’s something I really love.
If you find passion in what you’re doing, it’ll make it easier for you to work towards. You’ll actually enjoy doing it. 🙂
Now work towards those dreams, girl!
