6 Steps to Heighten Productivity

“The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.”

The ability to be insanely productive is often times viewed as something out of reach. Getting out of the morning slump of grogginess due to sleep or perhaps too much Netflix can be a difficult task to some people. Here are 6 steps you can do to heighten your productivity level:

1. Pre-Day Preparation
2. Mental Organization
3. Morning Reward
4. Clothing Choice
5. Environment
6. Knowing Yourself

Productivity is simply our attempt to get tasks and projects finished quicker than they otherwise would have. The goal of heightening productivity is to gain more time for the things you love (friends, family, faith, etc.) – not just to achieve things. Achievements don’t last.

Time is the greatest gift you can give someone, including yourself. We should not spend our time. We should invest our time.

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1. 10 MINUTES OF FUNDAMENTAL PLANNING BEFORE BED

In order to turn the morning hours (the most critical) of your day into a productivity powerhouse, be sure to adopt this rewarding initiative into your routinely schedule! I usually go to bed anywhere between 9:00-11:00 PM on any given day. Before I allow myself to rest from what ever my day might have entailed, I write down, in a list, what I plan to accomplish that next morning. I use the Notes app on my iPhone. There are many methods of doing this:

• Smartphone Notes Application
• Pen & Paper
• Index Card
• Whiteboard
• Etc.

Place your tasks, from top-to-bottom, in order of importance. After you have completed this, it’s lights out! No T.V. and no phone. These things can hinder the quality of our overnight sleep and can prevent us from maximizing our efficiency the following morning.

for more information about sleeping habits “Do’s and Don’ts“, read this article!

2. MENTAL ORGANIZATION

Mental orderliness is not a common criterion that we hold to a high regard. I give the power of mental organization a lot of respect. There’s nothing more frustrating than feeling cluttered and dysfunctional inside your head. This shatters productivity.

The first thing I do when I get up in the morning is run through my day and study my objectives. This often involves spending a few minutes talking to God. Then I begin my day.

Tip: remaining off of social media until your work is complete is ideal, as it prevents you from distracting yourself and talking yourself out of being as productive as you should be.

3. REWARDING YOUR BODY WITH FEEL-GOOD FOOD

After I get up, stretch, and eat, I reward my body from a long night sleep with sustenance! Eating the right food is a huge factor in the quality of your day! Avoiding heavy foods with grease and high levels of sugars will save you from experiencing fatigue later throughout your day! (I speak from experience.) Be sure to fill a cup with ice and water to take with you on your day of action! You’d be surprised how effective this is at promoting creativity, productivity, and an overall sense of well-being!

Plant Nanny is a fun mobile app that motivates you to stay hydrated throughout the day. When you drink water, you log it in the app and it waters your plant!

4. FROM PJ’s TO PERFORMANCE

Believe it or not, the clothes that you wear can have an enormous influence on the way you feel! I’ve always enjoyed changing out of my ‘sleep clothes’ and putting on a fresh pair of jeans, socks, and one of my favorite T-Shirts! This is especially nice after taking a quick rejuvenating shower, and  washing your face – preparing yourself for becoming the ultimate poster child for efficiency!

5. ENCOURAGING ENVIRONMENTS PRODUCE CREATIVITY

As a photographer, graphic designer, web designer, bible reader, people lover, and checklist enthusiast, I invest a lot of my time doing things that often require me to sit down and plan/strategize workflow, as well as perform meticulous tasks.

To do this in the most effective manner, I surround myself with an environment – an atmosphere – that invites positivity!

Sunlight is my secret weapon. It may not be very manly to compare myself to a flower… But seriously. I’m a flower. I thrive off of sunlight!

Consequently, dark rooms and gloomy days often drain the productivity out of me and I end up feeling lazy and sluggish.

The most inviting atmosphere for me is a simple table and chair directly in front of a window with an ample amount of sunlight emitting from it!

6. KNOW YOURSELF

Every one of us are uniquely different; each designed with our own preferences and personalities. What I find to be an unproductive environment (like a rainy day) may just be where you find a lot of your productiveness!

How I “know myself”: I enjoy listening to contemporary Christian music at a low volume level while I work. I’ve found that it promotes a happy mood that I desperately need in order to feel as though I’m truly maximizing my time.

Life is about living and learning; try some of my techniques that have helped me acquire more time for my personal life. Then evaluate their effectiveness in your life. What helps you have a productive morning? Share your tips with me in the comments below.