Volume 64 | Spring 2020 Issue 3

Page 17

LIFEST YLE

Proven Productivity Ways to create a routine to stay productive at home

H

uman bodies are capable of producing limited amounts of energy to help people get through daily tasks, and as the day carries on, motivation wavers and makes completing these tasks difficult. Creating an energizing morning routine is the first step to setting yourself up for a productive day. According to a study conducted by the Harvard Division of Continuing Education, waking up early, exercising, and reflecting through journaling or other other creative outlets increases energy reserves and helps you stay motivated throughout the day.

3. Get active: YouTube currently offers a variety of different workouts to do with no equipment from home, such as dance classes, yoga classes, high intensity interval training classes, and muscle group-targeted workouts. Starting your day off with a ten minute workout, yoga, or stretching routine can boost energy throughout the day, relieve stress and tension, and improve your health.

1. Begin your day by waking up early: Setting an alarm for the same time each day helps prevent grogginess and possible headaches later in the day. While you do not have to set a particularly early alarm, waking up before 11am and avoiding oversleeping- sleeping over 9 to 10 hours a night- increases energy. Waking up at a consistent time also helps your body recognize a circadian rhythm, naturally creating a sleep routine.

2. Invest in a creative hobby: Morning pages are one of the most popular creative outlets to integrate into a morning routine. Keep a journal by your bed, and after you wake up, allow yourself to write out your thoughts. You can set a five minute timer, or simply write until your mind feels clear. Morning pages help reduce anxiety, find inner creativity, and center your mind to increase focus. NASTASIA ROZENBERG

4. Plan your day: Creating to-do lists and blocking out time slots for different tasks throughout the day can help you stay on track throughout the day, as well as relieve anxiety caused by incomplete work. Planning your day helps ensure that you have enough time to complete your work without feeling overwhelmed.

5. Change out of the clothes you slept in: Changing into a new set of clothes can be changing into a clean pair of pajamas or a comfortable T-shirt, as well as an outfit you would normally wear to class. Embodied cognition, the theory that how you look affects how you feel, has been proven by multiple studies. Wearing the same clothes that you slept in can subconsciously affect your mood in a negative manner, while changing intoclean, comfortable clothing can affect your mood in a positive manner. Being intentional with your day and setting up a consistent morning routine are key ways to increasing productivity. Remember to do what works for you during these changing times. SPRING 2020

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