Simple Daily Changes to Boost Productivity in the New Year
A new year is a great chance to start fresh. Everyone’s thinking about what they’d like to achieve or which changes would be most beneficial for their lives. If you’re one of the many people who want to be more productive long after January ends, you’re in luck. Here are a few simple daily changes to boost productivity and make your New Year’s resolution easy to accomplish.
1. Drink More Water
Sugary energy drinks or coffees might taste great, but they’ll eventually cause a blood sugar crash that leaves you feeling sluggish. The extra energy isn’t worth not feeling great. The good news is that you can stay focused by drinking more water. You’ll give your body the hydration it needs to remain in peak condition so you can conquer whatever goals you have in mind.
2. Schedule Frequent Breaks
No one enjoys feeling stuck at their desk until the end of the workday. You deserve to step away and clear your mind, but the pressure to push through your to-do list might prevent you from taking a breather. When the new year starts, schedule daily breaks to become more mindful about your mental health. Employees who do this feel happier and increase their daily productivity regardless of their job.
3. Make Your Space Cleaner
You can’t be productive if you’re coming down with an illness. Be sure to clean and sanitize your workspace and high-touch areas in your home. You can also avoid getting sick by changing the air filters in your home or office. Consider using something like high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters because they’ll catch 100% of airborne particles like allergens or bacteria and keep everyone healthy.
4. Listen to Focus Music
Your productivity might suffer because there are distractions all around you. Block out ringing phones and traffic noises outside your window by listening to focus music. Whether you get in the zone with nature sounds or low-fi playlists, the sensory activity will direct your thoughts to the project at hand.
5. Maintain a Sleep Schedule
Sleeping is your body’s opportunity to reset and prepare for a new day. If you don’t get enough of it, you’ll struggle to stay awake, focus or even enjoy your job. Experts recommend that adults get seven hours of sleep every night, but that changes based on your routine and biology. Test different lengths of shuteye to determine how much you need to wake up refreshed.
6. Take a Walk
When the early afternoon need to zone out or scroll through social media creeps into your mind, take a walk. Getting your blood pumping is one of the best ways to boost productivity in the new year. Enjoy some fresh air outside or walk down the hallway to return to your desk with renewed energy and perspective.
7. Organize Your Notes
If you have sticky notes scattered around your desk or monitor, they’re likely not much help when it’s time to reference them. Instead, use a notebook app or a paper tablet with tabs. Whether you want to organize things based on subject or date, you’ll always know where to find the information to continue your daily productivity streak.
8. Tackle the Biggest Task First
Procrastination is the biggest enemy of productivity. Many people face it first thing in the morning while reviewing their to-do lists for the day. Starting in January, tackle your most significant project or assignment first. You’ll finish what you dread the most so the rest of the day flies by. You’ll rarely have to deal with procrastination because you won’t feel stressed about what’s left on your calendar.
Boost Productivity in the New Year
There are many simple daily changes to boost productivity in the new year, so try a few of them out for yourself. You might have more success by ditching sugary drinks or helping your immune system by removing potential allergens or viruses. Give yourself time to test new tricks, and 2022 will quickly become the most productive year ever.
Cora Gold has spent over five years writing about life, home, family and more to provide inspiration and motivation to other women who share her passions. She is the Editor-in-Chief for lifestyle magazine Revivalist, and she can be found on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.