10 tips and 5 apps for daily productivity and well being
Do you ever wonder why all this interest in productivity lately? Why do we strive to be productive, anyway? Is it just to be able to do more stuff? I realized that, for me, it is actually about well-being. I want to be productive so that I feel accomplished, or, at least to get rid of the anxiety of an ever growing to do list. Both of which are part of well-being. Whereas, if I’m not feeling well — if I’m tired, stressed out, or just have low morale — I’m not productive. Therefore, to me, productivity and well-being create a virtuous cycle. And I’m constantly looking for ways to enhance it. Here’s what works for me:
I believe that starting your day right has positive ripple effects throughout the day. And while much has been said about technology providing too many distractions, it also offers many great tools that help us in our daily quest for productivity and well-being and I do believe that we must make the best of it. Therefore, my favourite apps listed below.
1. Make my bed
I first read this in Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project and I thought this to be trivial and non-essential, potentially relevant to people with rebellious teen-age kids only. I did give it a try though. It takes me about 10–20 seconds each morning to pull the curtains, to open the window, let the sun in, arrange the pillows and the sheets. And: I do get a kick out making something messy look neat!
No app for this one — yet!
2. Hydrate
We’re dehydrated as we wake up — just spent a good number of hours not drinking water. A glass of water after waking up is great to re-hydrate and to speed up my metabolism. Also, drinking plenty of water throughout the day prevents headaches, overeating and it’s one of those magical “2-in-1” benefits and reasons to get up from your desk!
Waterlogged is an easy way to keep track.
3. Meditate
This one is easier said than done, but the point is, at least for me, to keep at it. I started with five minutes a day and … I’m still at five minutes a day J. Sometimes I’m better at it, sometimes just sitting and focusing on my breathing is not enough to keep away the million thoughts, urges and worries. But, as it turns out, I get better with practice and, the really good part is that I notice and start to catch myself when I’m overreacting, or acting on my “default” reaction. This is the first step to actually choosing the way I want to respond to a certain circumstance.
What got me convinced to start was this talk and, unsurprisingly, the guy’s app, Headspace, is a cool tool to get started.
4. Stretch
I start my day and end my day with two-three minutes of stretching. It’s not much, but with most of my waking hours spent sitting in front of a computer, this keeps my back, neck and shoulders in reasonable shape.
5. Exercise
Complementary to stretching, most mornings, I exercise. I either go for a run or do a quick workout, outdoors or in my living room or hotel room. I love the flexibility offered by apps with video workouts — I use Hot5 Fitness but there are many apps or video workouts on YouTube to suit everyone. Since I started using these, I work out mostly outdoors and save plenty of time each week by skipping the activities adjacent to going to the gym (getting there, queuing at the showers, the traffic on the way back etc.). And I’m in great shape!
6. Use tech that makes my life easier
I believe that whatever can be (made) easier should be easier. And there are so many ways technology can be used to simplify our lives. For instance, I use Simpli app every day as it makes my workflow very smooth. Having all the tools I need to get things done in one place is way less taxing on my energy and time, and I can work in a more focused way.
Full disclosure: I help building Simpli and it’s still work in progress; we’re doing it precisely to help eliminate the unnecessary and to make more time for things that matter.
7. Guilt-free snacks
This is actually about two things: the first is that I do my best to avoid being hungry for too long. When I’m hungry, my stress level immediately goes up, headaches ensue and what I deliver while postponing lunch or dinner is never my best work; which, in turn, makes my stress level go even higher. Instead, and this is the second point, I keep healthy snacks handy — emphasis on healthy and on handy. The time pressure of a deadline is real, but it should not necessarily come hand in hand with unhealthy eating. After a substantial number of Snickers bars and Cokes for fuel, I finally managed to keep handy things like raw almonds or other nuts, my mom’s oatmeal cookies, fruits and dark chocolate. So, instead of guilty pleasures, how about guilt-free pleasures?! Definitely better for my waistline and a sustainably- high energy level!
To know more about what you’re eating, My Fitness Pal is a great resource.
8. Take time for unstructured time
It’s so rare nowadays that we spend even a couple of minutes not doing anything — I do think that one of the reasons meditation catches on is that it gives some purpose to our standing still. But, whenever I allow myself a couple of minutes of daydreaming I feel refreshed and new ideas somehow magically pop-up.
9. Spend time with people who energize you
Did you ever notice that we tend to spend more time with people and on issues that are more energy draining than energy boosting? We spend more time talking to co-workers who are facing issues, than with those who are doing well, or to clients who are more difficult, than to those who are happy with our work. We try to understand, mend, improve, fix. Of course, all these need to be done. We just too often forget to also replenish our energy levels. And the easiest way to boost this is by increasing the number of positive exchanges. Perhaps with that colleague who is doing well, but still appreciates a compliment, or that client who is always happy to hear from you? Or by calling your parents for no reason in the middle of the day or texting a couple of minutes with a friend you haven’t talked to in a while?
10. Have a treat to look forward to every day
It can be a massage, going to a show after work, dinner with friends, trying out a newly open wine bar — whatever works for you. Again, the purpose of this is two-fold: first, having something planned, forces you to be more efficient in getting your work done and makes you less prone to procrastination and getting distracted while at work. Second, and equally important, anticipation is a key component to happiness. We feel happy thinking about an upcoming positive experience, just as we feel happy experiencing it and then remembering it. I have a hunch that the anticipatory part is often overlooked other than when it comes to holidays, but we can have more of that, daily. I usually plan these treats in the evening, but depending on your work style and schedule any time of day would do, the benefits are the same.
What works for you?
