How To Have Productive Day: 16 Things To Do Everyday

This new article will show you everything you need to know about how to have productive day.

If you have a busy schedule, you probably want to make the most of each day. This can be intimidating if you have a lot of things to do. On the other hand, basic organizational and time management skills can help you have a productive daily routine.

You can start your day with a nutritious meal, a glass of water, and exercise. This will ensure that you arrive at work or school invigorated. Sort your tasks according to their importance. Allow yourself a break to avoid exhaustion.

At home, prioritize cleaning and preparing for the next day. Try to do something relaxing, too. Self-care is just as important as increasing productivity.

How To Have Productive Day:

1. Start preparing in advance.

If you want to have a productive day, you need to prepare in advance. Make a list of things to do before you go to bed. However, be sure it is manageable. If you list a lot of responsibilities, you are more likely to stress yourself out than be productive. Stick to three to five main daily goals.

If your goals are more ambitious, use a smaller number. For example, completing a report for work will require a large number of sub-goals. You can set a goal that simply states, “Complete the report by the end of the day” and assume that several sub-steps will be required.

If you don’t have any major responsibilities ahead of you, choose four or five smaller goals. For example, respond to an e-mail to Mary, revise a press release, edit material for a website, and take a phone call from Tom.

Remember that you can do more. In fact, if you work hard and stay productive, you will most likely exceed this list. The purpose of making a list is to get a sense of what needs to be done before the end of the day. Seeing your main goals written out will help you prioritize.

2. Drink some water with lemon.

Lemon can increase your energy levels in the morning, allowing you to be more productive throughout the day. Drink a glass of water with lemon juice as soon as you get up in the morning. Drinking straight lemon juice is bad for your teeth. Keep a pitcher of lemon water in the refrigerator before going to bed.

Drink lemon water on an empty stomach to get the most benefit.

After drinking the water, wait 15 to 30 minutes before eating.

3. Avoid social media.

Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms can make you lose track of time. Don’t check Facebook first thing in the morning on your phone. Instead, direct your attention elsewhere.

Consider a calm, feel-good approach to starting your day. Social media can often trigger unhelpful thoughts about various things, making you grumpy first thing in the morning. Instead, stretch, meditate, watch the birds outside or listen to your favorite music.

Make a rule for yourself about when you might check social media for the first time. You can promise yourself, for example, that you won’t check Facebook until after breakfast.

If it becomes a serious problem, you can even ban distracting sites on your iPhone.

4. Eat breakfast.

A nutritious breakfast is essential for a productive day. It is called the most important meal of the day for a reason. Breakfast improves your mood and energy levels, as well as your overall productivity.

Go for a decent breakfast. Avoid processed meals and sugary snacks such as donuts.

Breakfast options include oatmeal, yogurt, fruit, and eggs.

If you’re pressed for time, grab something small on your way out the door. Even eating a banana on the way to work can boost your productivity.

5. Exercise before going to work.

Exercise can help you manage your mood and stress. Exercise also increases energy levels. Get up earlier in the morning to do some exercise before work or school.

You don’t have to do prolonged exercise. Even 10 minutes of physical exercise can be beneficial.

You can go for a brisk 10-minute walk, do 10 minutes of aerobics in the kitchen, or sprint for 10 minutes on the treadmill. If you like yoga or Pilates, try doing a 10-minute sequence online.

SEE ALSO: How To Make a Daily Routine For Yourself: 17-Step Guide

6. Remove all distractions.

A productive day starts with a few distractions. Before you leave for work or school, remove anything that might pull you off track. You want to be able to focus only on your task.

If you are working on a computer, close all distracting browsers, programs, or software. Log out of all social media platforms. Turn off websites where you read the news. Close all distracting programs that run in the background.

Remove anything from your desk that might distract you. Put away the books you brought to read during your break. Put away any technological gadgets that can drain you of energy, such as your iPhone or iPod.

7. Reject requests that are not in line with your priorities. 

There is nothing wrong with saying “no,” especially if you have a full day ahead of you and others are asking you to do things you don’t have the time or energy to do. If someone asks you to do something that doesn’t fit into your daily priorities, tell them that you are unable to help them.

Try saying, “No, I have a lot on my mind today and I can’t add anything.” Or, to put it bluntly, “No.” I’m afraid I can’t help you today. “

8. Put your workstation in order.

No one can work effectively in a cluttered environment. Take a few minutes to straighten up before starting work. Organize all your documents and throw away anything you don’t need. Wipe up any debris and dust on your desk as soon as possible. Throw away any waste you find, such as a soda can or candy wrapper. A well-organized office can help you become more productive.

Rationally sort papers. Papers that need to be reviewed or worked on can be grouped together. Papers that have been completed can be stored elsewhere.

Keep your materials organized. Keep all the necessary office supplies (staplers, scissors, pens, etc.) in one section of your desk (1).

9. Concentrate on one element at a time.

Keep your focus on one task at all times. For example, don’t think about driving home while working on a report. Don’t worry about the next task you have to complete while working on another. Focusing on one thing at a time can increase your productivity because you will work more efficiently when you give it your full attention.

Multitasking is really detrimental to productivity. Trying to do three things at once will take you much longer than doing one thing at a time.

Instead of switching between things, pick one, finish it, and move on. Avoid activities such as checking your phone or email while trying to complete a task.

10. Prioritize the most important tasks.

If you are worried about a difficult or important task, do it first. This way, important tasks won’t be overlooked. You will also feel more at ease after completing a major task, which will help you get through the day with less tension. This can increase your productivity.

You can refer back to your list from the previous evening. What were the three to five most important things you had to do? Start with one of them.

Suppose you’re worried about responding to an email from an important client. Instead of putting it off and worrying about it later, do it first thing in the morning.

SEE ALSO: How To Know Who You Are: 14 Tips to Discover Your True Self

11. Take breaks and give yourself rewards throughout the day.

Taking care of yourself from time to time is part of being productive. If you don’t take breaks, you will be exhausted long before the day is over. Measure your time while working and take short breaks every 15 to 30 minutes.

You can also give yourself a reward. You can work harder if you know there is a reward waiting for you when you finish a particular task. For example, after completing one essay, you can reward yourself with a piece of candy. After you finish preparing your presentation, give yourself a 5-minute social media break.

12. Reflect on your day.

When you get home at the end of the day, take some time to reflect. Don’t immediately start a new task for the day, as this can leave you agitated and exhausted. Instead, take some time to reflect on your day.

Reflect on everything you’ve done. Allow yourself to be proud of yourself. Congratulate yourself on what you did well during the day. 

Then forgive yourself for any mistakes you make. Remind yourself that everyone makes mistakes and accept that flaws and slip-ups are a natural part of life. “I realize that there was a mistake in the message I sent, but everyone makes mistakes,” for example.

13. Prepare your outfit for the next day.

It is a good idea to have your outfit prepared the night before (2). Choose your clothes for the next day for work or school. Place them near your bed. That way, you won’t have to spend time looking for clothes in the morning.

14. Do some housework.

Cleaning a little each day can make you feel more productive at home. Remember that a clean atmosphere promotes a productive mentality. In addition, frequent cleaning saves time. You won’t have to spend hours on the weekend cleaning if you clean a little every day.

Start with a task that you find particularly unpleasant. Once that’s behind you, you’ll have more room in your brain to manage other tasks.

You can divide your chores into different days of the week. For example, you can do laundry on Monday, dishes on Tuesday, bills on Wednesday, and so on.

15. Take part in relaxation activities.

You can’t always be on the go. It’s important to give yourself a break each evening. Do something before bed that keeps you sane and grounded. Choose an activity such as reading a book, taking a warm bath or watching TV. All of these activities can help you feel more at ease, minimizing burnout and increasing productivity.

16. Before going to bed, make a to-do list for the next day.

Make another to-do list. You can continue this productive cycle the next day. Remember to write down 3 to 5 tasks you need to do the next day.

Thank you for reading this article about how to have productive day and I really hope that you take action my advice.

I wish you good luck and I hope its contents have been a good help to you.

Przemkas Mosky
Przemkas Mosky started Perfect 24 Hours in 2017. He is a Personal Productivity Specialist, blogger and entrepreneur. He also works as a coach assisting people to increase their motivation, social skills or leadership abilities. Read more here