Think about your typical day. Do you feel like you’re running from one thing to the next? Maybe you’re checking your email before you get out of bed, you’re skipping breakfast so you can get to a morning meeting on time, or you’re staying up late night after night to catch up on work. While this might feel productive at the time, it really isn’t a sustainable way to live your life. Your brain is being pulled in all sorts of directions and this can lead to burn-out and physical exhaustion. To be truly productive, you must start first with your mind. Here’s how.
Your brain needs rest.
If you are getting less than six hours of sleep per night, your brain simply won’t be able to function at its peak. Humans need at least eight hours of sleep (sometimes more!) to be at our best. So, if you’re looking for ways to be more productive, look no further than sleep that brings total renewal and rejuvenation.
Do things that bring you joy.
Name some things that you love to do. Perhaps you find satisfaction in listening to or playing music, reading, traveling, or writing a poem. Or perhaps getting out into nature or taking a long run is something that helps you feel revitalized. Regularly participating in hobbies or other interests that bring you happiness releases endorphins through your body that alleviate stress and calm your mind and body. Find time to unwind. Do things that you love. Life is too short not to.
Communicate.
Holding in your thoughts – positive or negative – can lead to a cluttered mind. So, communicate the thoughts and feelings you have with someone you trust on a regular basis. Maybe it’s a partner, a close friend, a parent, or another good listener in your life. Talking things out helps you to clear out the things that make your mind feel jumbled, and it’s one of the best ways you can renew your mind, increase your productivity, and minimize anxiety.
Taking time to relax and renew your mind is well worth the effort. Not only will it help your physical wellbeing, but it will help increase your capacity for storing and retrieving information, ultimately helping increase your productivity at work and at home.