10 Simple Things to Do to Stay Productive
It's okay to have an occasional lazy day to binge watch your favorite show while sprawled on the couch. Our bodies need proper rest and relaxation in order to recharge and keep going. However, there are times when we actually want to be productive while at home or on the weekends. If you're running out of ways to stay productive, check out the following ideas:
Get Physical
Exercising is not for everyone but the beauty about exercising is it's not only about lifting heavy weights, running 5 miles, or strenuous activities. The are so many ways to be active and get some sort of exercise in to get your body moving and break a sweat. What better way to be productive than to do something for yourself? Go on an afternoon walk, practice some yoga, search for online exercise videos, go the extra mile when walking your dog, learn a dance routine, or shoot some hoops on your driveway. What matters is that you're making the effort to be active.
Clean your Inbox
Let's face it, our inbox is a complete wreck and we run away from it on the daily. Whether it's your work email or your personal email, very few people take the time to actually clean out their inbox and handle it accordingly. According to Matt Plumber from the Harvard Business Review, "on average, professionals have more than 200 emails in their inbox and receive 120 new ones each day but respond to only 25% of them". Having too many emails can cause you to miss important communication that actually needs urgent response. So if you have some extra time on your hands why not do some maintenance?
Strengthen your Skills
Our day-to-day activities are much like a routine. Wake up, go to work, come back home, and sleep to do it all over again the next day. Somewhere in-between this routine we forget that in order to be the best and maximize our potential, we have to constantly keep working on our skills. Use any extra time to do some research, watch videos, or read on your particular skill to be number one at what you do best.
Organize your Goals
Goals are usually set at the beginning of a new year, a new month, a new week, or even a new day. Go over your goals and check up on your progress. How far have you come? Are you happy with your progress? Is there a new goal you want to achieve? Think about your long and short-term goals.
Take an Online Course
Thanks to technology you can basically bring the classroom to your very own home. There are tons of online courses you can take online to learn just about anything. Fill your free time by acquiring new knowledge. You can never know enough and you'd be surprised at how much knowledge your brain can actually retain.
Update your Resume
Even if you're not actively looking for a new job, it's important to keep your resume updated regularly. There is always room for improvement so go through it every now and then and see if there's anything you think should be updated. You can also search online to get ideas on how to improve your resume and examples of the ideal resume employers are looking for.
Read a How-to Book
Books carry an extensive amount of knowledge. Pick up a book that teaches you how to do something. Instead of scrolling aimlessly through social media, read a text that will sharpen your kills, teach you new things, and expand your mind.
Complete your Pending
Pending not only applies to the work place but also for your home. Is there something you've had on the back burner for months? Now is the perfect time to do it. Don't keep pushing things and pilling it up for later. Free time is made for you to take on tasks that you haven't been able to do on busy days so take advantage.
Try a New Hobby
Is there something you've always wanted to try or do but never had the time? Get out of your comfort zone and try a new hobby. Sometimes when you do something out of the ordinary you actually discover new talents you didn't know you had. Mistakes always teach you lessons which will help you in the long run and you don't lose anything by trying.
Listen to a Podcast
There are over 900,000 podcasts out there available for you to listen to! These digital audio files are easy to access and they offer a world of knowledge for free. The best part of all is that you can listen to them while on the go so you're not required to stay in one place. You can listen while you drive, as you work, while you clean, as you exercise, or just about anywhere.