I’m a master procrastinator. I often feel unmotivated to start working and no tricks like 5 seconds rule can force me to take action. In all fairness, I have a distaste for all the youtube videos that promise to turn one into a productivity monster in just ten minutes. I’m just slowly accepting the fact that waking up 5 in the morning and hustling all day is not something for me. I still get my things done — by sleeping until 9.
Even though I’m not pushing myself to become someone I’m not (hustler or grinder), I have a few tricks that help me if I get into scrolling and Netflix loop.
1. Productive morning routine
If I start my day rolling in bed for an hour and then have breakfast while scrolling on Instagram or endlessly watching youtube videos, I am doomed to spend my day in a blanket cocoon.
Therefore, if I have something important to do, I start being productive the minute I wake up. I get up with the first alarm ring, make myself a cup of coffee, and open my laptop. The most beautiful thing about this efficient morning routine is that I also tend to finish my work quite early in the day and still have time for daily blessings like catching up with social media news.
If you’re one of those people who need some time to wake up, taking a walk or reading a book does wonders. You get the feeling that you’ve already achieved something which sets the mood for the rest of the day.
2. Task planning
I’m not a big planner. Rather not a plan follower. If I try to plan my day by hours and minutes it never works out. I can sit at home alone, not have any calls or messages, and still deviate from the plan.
What I do instead is make a to-do list, which is also quite flexible. Things that I do not manage to do, I move to another day without shaming myself. Some days are just more productive than others.
It’s best to plan the day before. This way you’re less likely to cut yourself some slack if you wake up feeling lazy.
Photo by Kaboompics .com from Pexels
3. Writing down achievements at the end of the day
Recently I have seen the following method:
Divide a notebook page (or make a table on Notion) into three or more columns. Title each column with the things you want to do every day — reading, exercising, writing or anything else you desire to spend more time doing. By the end of the day write down what you’ve achieved. For example, if you have read twenty pages of a book write it down. It’s very satisfying to see the filled spaces. It can even trick your brain into doing things, JUST SO you can have the pleasure of fillings the blanks.
Screenshot from my Notion daily achievements page
I believe in taking a rest. Waking up at noon and making banana pancakes to eat in front of the TV. Taking a two-hour break instead of one because you needed it. However, if you are a serial loafer like me and your one day of taking it slow turns into three days of lying on the couch and wondering whether Carol Baskin killed her husband, try these simple hacks. Whenever I follow them, by the end of the day I have something greater achieved than merely adding another tv-show to Watch It Again on Netflix.
Love this! Can absolutely relate. I’m definitely not one for the 5am starts, although in my ideal world if I wasn’t working shift work then maybe I’d get up a little earlier than 10am. For now, I’ll enjoy it while they last 😂👍🏼 big yes to taking breaks and listening to when you need a longer one than usual. Thanks for sharing! x
Thanks a lot for reading! It’s actually ideal to start one’s day before 10am hihi. I noticed that getting up early really boosts my productivity as I set a goal to finish my studies/anything else before 2pm let’s say. Still, I don’t think I’ll ever enter the 5am club haha!
Yeah I notice a difference if I’m in bed too long, tend to get really sluggish the rest of the day 😅 all the best with getting up earlier 😁
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