There’s nothing quite like that satisfying feeling of finishing up a productive day.
Getting all your tasks done at work, tackling chores around the house, and running a few errands are all things that release endorphins and help motivate you to keep that productive momentum rolling.
However, enjoying a sense of fulfillment is easier said than done. If you’re unmotivated or simply not feeling your best mentally or physically, picking yourself up to get stuff done will be a challenge.
If this is something you struggle with, there are steps you can take in your life to cultivate an environment and routine that are more conducive to productivity.
1. More Vitamins and Minerals
Many people think of vitamins and minerals as something for kids and professional athletes. However, the best vitamins for athletes tend to help the rest of us as well. For example, B-vitamins (B-3, B-9, and B-12) are excellent for staying energized, focused, and alert.
Others, like Vitamin D3 and Omega 3 fatty acids, have been shown to boost concentration and focus. Certain minerals can help with productivity; magnesium can reduce stress and keep you calm and relaxed, making it far easier to stay zeroed in on a task.
You can purchase all of these vitamins and minerals individually, but multivitamins are also available that combine several to keep you healthy and functional.
Either way, you’ll find what you need at your local pharmacy as well as at specialized supplement stores.
2. Reward Yourself
Accomplishing a task—even a small one—is an achievement – and should be treated as such. You can add an extra layer of motivation to the equation by giving yourself little rewards when you get something done.
It doesn’t need to be anything significant; sometimes, simply giving yourself a 15-minute break might be enough of a reward.
One effective way to do it is to take something you’re already looking forward to in your day and deprive yourself of it until you’ve finished something you’re working on or made a certain amount of progress.
Knowing you’ve got that light at the end of the tunnel can be a compelling motivator.
3. Keep Your To-Do List Reasonable
One thing that commonly prevents people from being productive is the feeling of being overwhelmed. Most of us have been there: you take one look at your massive to-do list, and it feels like you’re staring up at Mount Everest.
Sometimes, when you’ve got so many things that you expect yourself to accomplish, you don’t even know where to start.
If you limit your expectations to a few tasks that you can reasonably get done, you’ll not only feel great at the end of the day for completing them, but you’ll also have an easier time getting going.
4. Get Plenty of Sleep
You’ve probably been hearing all your life how important a good night’s sleep is, but it truly can’t be overstated. People who keep a consistent sleep routine of at least seven hours a night will be more focused, motivated, energetic, and upbeat.
Being consistently productive depends on the state of your mind as much as it does the state of your body, and getting enough rest will massively improve both areas.
If possible, try to go to bed and get up as close to the same time each day as you can. This type of routine allows your body to get more restful, effective sleep.
5. Turn Off Your Phone
A lack of motivation certainly isn’t the only thing that stands in the way of productivity; distractions are also a major culprit.
If you’re in the middle of a project and working hard, pausing to respond to a text message or check on an app notification can easily distract you and throw you off your rhythm.
If you’re someone who feels the need to use their phone frequently, try using that as a post-task reward to help motivate you. For example, you could turn the phone off when you start but promise yourself half an hour of phone browsing or texting once you’ve finished.
This goes for other distractions as well; turning off the television when you’re working on something can also be helpful. Ultimately, staying focused on what you’re doing is one of the most critical aspects of productivity.
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