Do you want to improve your energy levels? Are you struggling with productivity due to fatigue or stress? By developing habits that improve your productivity and emphasize good health, you are able to reduce stress and increase your energy. It also helps you reach your personal or career goals without wasting your time or causing greater levels of fatigue.

Make a To-Do List

A highly productive person starts with a clear path for the day, week or month ahead. By making a to-do list each day or week, you give yourself a clear focus for your attention. It tells you what you need to accomplish in your day or week, which prevents certain tasks or activities from falling through the cracks in a busy lifestyle.

After you have a clear to-do list, organize the list by its level of importance. The most important tasks go to the top of the list, and the least important tasks fall to the bottom of the list. An important task is any activity that you need to accomplish within a set timeframe or that is critical to move on to other tasks.

Always clarify your priorities on your list to ensure that you complete the most important tasks before you start working on the least important tasks. This helps you avoid procrastination as you work through your day, and it gives more time to the critical items when compared to the tasks you can do on another day.

Set Up a Morning and Evening Routine

Although a to-do list helps you stay on track and prioritize tasks throughout your day, it is only one part of productivity. Rest, sleep, and healthy habits also play a role in your energy levels and your productivity. If you do not get enough sleep, then you will not have the energy to follow through with the tasks on your to-do list.

A key part of developing a healthy sleep pattern and healthy habits as a whole is routine. Organize a morning routine with a clear time to get up and start your day. Set up an evening routine that focuses on calming down, turning off your screens, and settling into bed at the same time each night.

Your morning routine should clarify the time you get up each morning when you plan to eat your first meal, and when you plan to get ready for your day. Ideally, you want to plan out exercise, stretches, or similar activities in the morning to help energize your day. Even if you have limited time in the mornings, consider adding a few minutes of stretching and walking before you move into your work routines or daily tasks.

Evening and bedtime routines also play a role in your productivity. If you do not get enough sleep, then you may find it difficult to maintain your energy levels throughout the day. As a general rule, try to plan for seven or more hours of sleep each night. The average adult needs roughly seven to eight hours of sleep for optimal health and well-being. Make it easier to sleep at night by turning off screens at least one hour before bed and organizing a calming routine. For example, add some meditation before bed or read a book.

Eat a Healthy Diet

A healthy diet sounds simple, but modern convenience foods can complicate your health and energy levels. Read the labels on any convenience foods you plan to buy and make sure they stay in line with your productivity goals and your health goals. Convenience foods may seem to improve your productivity by reducing cooking time or time spent on a meal during a stressful time, but they can reduce productivity by sapping your energy with poor nutrition, high sugar levels, or similar complications.

Adjust your diet as necessary to focus on a well-balanced meal plan. Opt for lean sources of protein, a wide array of vegetables and fruits, and whole grains when appropriate for your meals. When you need something convenient and healthy, consider a piece of fruit, a handful of nuts, or vegetables dipped in hummus as an alternative to boxed convenience foods. It will stave off hunger without wasting time when you are busy. Furthermore, a healthy food option maintains your energy levels and improves your productivity or focus.

Plan for Unexpected Events

Plan for unexpected factors in your life. We all get caught up in traffic, run late due to a phone call, or otherwise get distracted by unexpected events in our lives. If you have a plan for unexpected factors that may reduce productivity, then you will never face a situation where you do not complete tasks or ruin the outcome of tasks due to rushing through the work.

While it is not always possible to plan for every eventuality, you should give yourself enough buffer room in your schedule or your plan to address common problems that may arise in the day. For example, plan to arrive at a destination at least 30 minutes prior to an appointment, flight, or similar activity. It ensures that a traffic jam, an accident on the road, or even a phone call as you are walking out the door doesn’t cause you to arrive late.

Take Breaks Throughout the Day

Breaks are a fundamental part of productivity and energy maintenance. Don’t try to push through to finish a task if you need a break. Take a five-minute break every 25 to 30 minutes to stretch and move around. You should also take a meal break or a snack break every three to four hours while working on a task.

No person can maintain focus for an entire day without taking a break and resting for a few moments. Make your breaks deliberate to help with productivity. Focus on a task for 25 to 30 minutes and give that task your intense focus. Then, take a break for five minutes where you intentionally do not work but instead stretch, move around, and drink some water or other beverages to stay hydrated. Don’t engage in distracting activities like social media since that may reduce productivity over time.

Conclusion

A productive lifestyle starts with an energetic foundation. You want to get enough rest to focus throughout the day. By working on habits that improve your energy levels and productivity, you are able to accomplish more each day and see positive results in your overall well-being. Take the time to sleep well, eat healthily, and focus on the most important tasks in your day to improve your ability to accomplish tasks and to increase your energy levels on a daily basis.

Megan Isola

Megan Isola holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and a minor in Business Marketing from Cal State University Chico. She enjoys going to concerts, trying new restaurants, and hanging out with friends.