5 tips to instantly increase your productivity
Intro
In this post, we will discuss five adjustments that you can make to your lifestyle that will instantly help you become more productive. But since most changes don’t happen in a vacuum, these positive shifts will spill over into many other areas of your life, from your mood to your relationships and energy levels.
Of course, you can dip your toe in the water and try these singularly. But for best results, make sure you test them out together so you can reap the benefits of the entire lifestyle change at once!
Now, let’s get right into it.
Also, if you want to learn more about productivity and top performance, check out these posts and save it for later.
Do your most important work when you wake up
You’ve heard it a million times, but the early bird indeed gets the worm. Not only that, the sooner in the day you start working on your important tasks, the more “worms” you get! Your brain is like a sponge, absorbing countless amounts of data throughout the day. That means the more time goes by in the day, the less focused you’ll be. Instead, when you wake up and dedicate your prime hours to the needle-mover tasks, you’ll get ahead faster and more efficiently.
Get natural light early in the morning (or use a light therapy lamp)
Our circadian (day-night) rhythm is mainly regulated by light. That’s why it’s recommended to use blue light blockers in the evening and turn off all devices before bed But the opposite is true for the morning. So if you want to get to work with energy and focus, you must get exposed to bright light. And since the sun is 50 to 100 times brighter than most indoor lights, your best bet is to look up at the sky (don’t look at the sun, of course!!!) But if weather conditions are extremely poor (i.e., total overcast or rain), you can always buy a light therapy lamp and place it on your desk!
Have a cold shower
Cold showers are painful when you first start, but they can become addicting in the long run because of their immediate positive effects on mood, confidence, focus, energy, muscle pain, and more. To get started, just get in the shower and resist as long as you can. And every day, try to beat the previous one. The key is to learn how to control your breath and deliberately breathe in and out. This will relax your muscles and help you detach your mind from the discomfort.
Do a physical activity in the morning
It’s no secret that doing some cardio or even going for a brisk walk will clear your mind. But there’s a lot more to it. Any type of exercise triggers the release of a molecule called BDNF in your brain (Brain-derived neurotrophic factor). This molecule supports brain functions such as memory and learning. In addition, physical activity releases endorphins (the feel-good molecule) which boosts your energy levels and your confidence.
Avoid processed carbs, especially at lunch.
I’m sure you are familiar with that groggy feeling you get after lunch. You want to be productive and get work done, but your eyes are not cooperating. Well, turns out that there are a couple of things you can do to avoid that crash altogether. In fact, in most cases, the culprit are processed carbs, which give you an immediate boost in energy, followed by a couple of hours of brain fog. So, next time you are working on a tight deadline, avoid eating pasta and other white flour derivatives or products that contain white sugar. By doing this, you will stay focused throughout the day, get more work done and (as a positive side effect) you will not get as hungry during the afternoon.
Conclusion
There are no tricks or gimmicks to getting more done throughout the day. The difference between the top performers and the mediocre ones is not more hours in the day, or a secret formula that allows them to work faster. The only things all humans have control over are
Energy
Focus
That means that if you want to increase your productivity, you must either replenish your energy levels faster, or you need to maintain your focus levels for longer stretches of time. So next time you wonder why your peers are getting ahead while you are not, stop making excuses and concentrate on improving those two parameters.