Do you want to get more done? Have a better life? Be more successful in everything that you do?
Most people who set goals don't achieve them. This is because they fail to follow through with good habits and routines.
They also forget about the importance of daily tasks, which are integral for achieving your long-term goals.
Now, it's easy to fall into this trap, but it doesn't have to be like this forever!
This article will show you how to develop 5 simple but powerful habits that'll make your work easier and help you reach your goals faster.
1. Keep a to-do list
Keeping a to-do list is one of the most effective ways you can become more productive. Most tasks in life are on a critical path and a simple list can help you get through your daily tasks without leaving anything behind that could come back later to sabotage your gains.
You also have to make sure that you tackle your list one item at a time. If you try to multitask, you’ll become overwhelmed with unnecessary complexity as your list begins to spiral out of control, becoming an obstacle instead of a path.
Since we all have different needs, there’s no “one size fits all” way of creating a to-do list that works perfectly for everyone in every situation. However, there are three things that will make it easier for you keep your list under control:
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Tackle your most difficult task early in the day when you have your full mental capacity. If you take care of all the easy stuff first, by the time you get to the hard stuff you’ll just feel exhausted and overwhelmed
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Be specific. Don’t make your tasks vague and subject to interpretation. The more specific you are, the greater your sense of accomplishment
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Sometimes it’s difficult to predict how long things will take, especially for first-time tasks. So, don’t beat yourself up if you can’t finish absolutely every single task you had planned for the day. Just move the remainder to the top of next day’s list.
2. Stay focused on your goals
One of the most important lessons to learn if you want to achieve a successful outcome is to focus on what matters and ignore the rest.
As you start your day’s journey, remember that it’s better to get one thing done and done well than it is to attempt many different things at once and do them all half-ass.
If you’re like me, you’ll be raring to go every morning with a ton of new ideas. Be patient and work methodically.
As the old proverb says, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The subtext of that proverb is that to stay on track you’ll need to focus on each step, one at a time.
Just remain focused on every step while keeping your eyes on the prize, and before you know it, you’ll arrive at your destination.
3. Sleep no less than 7 hours
Think you can function on less than 7 hours of sleep? Guess again. Not only will your productivity take a hit, but so will your health.
There have been a great many studies on sleep deprivation and they all arrive at the same conclusion: your mental faculties degrade rapidly without sleep, and with them your cognitive abilities.
Consistent undersleeping produces the same effect on your reflexes and being drunk, plus your productivity will take a major hit.
What’s worse, after you get your sleep back, your cognitive abilities won't bounce back right away — it’ll almost feel like a hangover.
Sleeping between 7 and 8 hours a night is not a luxury you can choose to do without, it’s a biological necessity and it’s critical for your overall health and well-being.
4. Exercise regularly
Regular exercise is one of the most effective ways to reduce stress and feel happier. A daily workout will not only give you extra energy, it’ll bolster your immune system and improve your metabolism, making it easier to keep excess weight off.
Yet, many people don’t have the time or energy to go somewhere to work out. Fortunately, you can build a healthy amount of exercise into your daily routine if you use a couple of tricks.
Whether you like walking, jogging, going to the gym or working out at home I share multiple workouts on my blog that can be done just about anywhere.
If you don’t enjoy aerobic activities, you can get an inexpensive gym-in-a-box for your garage at most sporting goods stores — and if you shop online they’ll literally deliver it right to your garage door!
5. Eat healthy food and drink plenty of water
You might have heard the saying, "you are what you eat." It is true that good eating habits not only help you feel better, they also give you more energy and improve your overall health.
Here’s the thing, food is the fuel that provides you with the energy your body needs to function. If your fuel mix is poor (i.e. you eat a lot of junk food throughout the day), then your body will be starved of important nutrients and it’ll run out of energy quicker.
That means you’ll be forced to eat more food in order to provide the nutrients your body needs to function properly. And guess where a lot of the extra food ends up? Metabolized into fat cells.
The same goes for water consumption. Your body needs water for hydration purposes, but also in order to flush out the toxins that accumulate daily in it.
If you don’t drink enough water, you’re letting those toxins stagnate in your body resulting in a weakened immune system, which can lead to illness.
But, here’s the best part, all of those problems can go away just by drinking between 6 and 8 glasses of water a day!
In Summary
A life well lived is a life well enjoyed. If you make the conscious effort to incorporate the above five habits into your daily routine, your quality of life will increase dramatically.
An organized to-do list keeps you from going in a thousand different directions and burning out.
By staying focused on the task at hand you’ll finally break out of the shiny-object syndrome that keeps you spinning your wheels in frustration.
When you have a good night’s sleep you allow your body to recondition itself from the daily wear and tear, helping you wake up with your batteries fully recharged, allowing you to maintain your strength throughout the day.
If you make a point of exercising regularly, you’ll be able to sustain a high level of energy throughout the day, and you’ll be giving your body a much needed daily boost of endorphins, especially given the sedentary life most of us live.
And finally, by eating in a balanced way and drinking plenty of water, you’ll be using the cleanest possible fuel to take care of your body’s
energy needs.
Thanks For Reading
Be Well,
Joel
