How to Stay Productive This January

Productivity

‘Productivity is less about what you do with your time, and more about how to run your mind.’ (Robin S. Sharma)

Start today and start off small. Spend a few minutes at the beginning of your day to choose the things that, no matter what, you need to finish by the end of the day.

Daily planning is a perfect way to stay productive, doing this makes it easy to review and prioritise the most important tasks of the day. Clarifying your daily goals will also help you stay motivated and focused.

Tackle your challenging and most important tasks before lunch when your brain is fresh. Scheduling your day this way is a more productive way to manage your time.

Setting goals

Start off small. Short-term, realistic goals are much more attainable, so you will be far more likely to stick to them. The feeling of accomplishment will keep you motivated and on track.

Having a set goal to work towards provides a sense of direction and the ability to focus on priorities. Once goals are decided they can be worked towards in order of their priorities, this ensures tasks are completed in a logical order and distractions are minimised.

Take on one task at a time and stick to it! The more we try to multi-task the less we accomplish. When our attention is divided, the brain fog can kick in and you will most likely become overwhelmed. Instead, manage your time effectively and set a deadline. Knowing you have a set time to complete a task prevents procrastination and the urge to try and do everything at once.

Food is your fuel

A healthier diet is key to better productivity. Poor nutrition doesn’t just impact our physical health - an inadequate diet can affect our mental health too. Eating well not only improves your energy throughout the day but also helps you keep a regulated sleep cycle at night - leading to greater concentration, less irritability and overall improved mental health.

I’m sure you have heard before that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Starting your day with a nutritious meal has benefits for energy levels, mood, productivity and, believe it or not, weight loss. When you eat and how often you eat are just as important as eating well and getting the right nutrients.

Stop skipping meals!!! Skipping meals has a number of negative effects. The likelihood of overeating later in the day is increased, concentration plummets and your mood can be negatively impacted.

Exercise

In today’s society the vast majority spend the working day at our desks. Extended periods of time sitting in the same position is bound to have some negative effects on our physical health.

Exercise has a multitude of positive effects on both your physical and mental wellbeing. Workouts as little as 10 minutes a day can help boost memory, improve concentration, enhance creativity, and most importantly release endorphins.

As the daylight hours are limited, and the majority of us are coming to and leaving work in the darkness, it’s no surprise that you find yourself struggling to be productive. Getting into a mid-day routine is the solution. A short walk in the fresh air is enough to boost your motivation and sense of accomplishment, preparing you for a productive afternoon back in the office.

Imagine where you want to be by the end of 2023 and let that be your January motivation! Each day is a step closer.