“Remember when life’s path is steep to keep your mind even.” — Horace 65-68 BC
As humans, we often struggle with keeping ourselves motivated and productive on a daily basis. Stress, expectations, deadlines all tend to pull us off track. However, there are a few rituals and routines you can incorporate into your daily life to help you stay on track and improve your happiness
Below are five helpful daily rituals or routines that will keep you productive and happy:
- Make your bed: It might sound silly, but making your bed first thing in the morning is a great way to start your day off with a sense of accomplishment. Taking five minutes out of your morning to make your bed gives you incentive to check something off the list and help set the tone for a productive day ahead.
- Start your day with a positive mindset: Your mindset plays a huge role in how your day will unfold. Therefore, it is important to start your day with a positive outlook. As I’ve mentioned before, I start the day with reflection and reading. You may find doing things like practicing gratitude, meditating, or simply reciting positive affirmations will help set the tone for a positive day. And keep in mind that this doesn’t need to be long, but it should be consistent.
- Exercise: Incorporating daily workouts into your routine is one of the best ways to improve your productivity. A 15- to 30-minute morning walk is something I try to do at least every workday, and a 30-minute bike ride on my Nordic Track bike or 20 minutes on the rowing machine in the afternoon helps keep me focused and productive during the day.
- Plan your day: Setting out a plan for your day is crucial in keeping you on track and accountable. Ideally, do this every evening before going to bed to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve the next day. You can use a planner or to-do list app to help you stay on top of your tasks and to make sure that you accomplish all your goals.
- And to wind things down, implement a nighttime ritual: Developing a nighttime ritual is a great way to wind down and prepare for the next day. This could include things like reading a book, taking a warm bath, writing in a journal, or practicing relaxation techniques. A nighttime ritual helps you gain perspective on your day’s events and ensures that you sleep well and wake up ready to tackle whatever comes your way the next day.
By following these five helpful daily rituals and routines, you can keep yourself productive and happy. Being consistent with these routines means they will be more effective and will become second nature.
Make a commitment—practice these habits each day, and you’ll start to notice the positive effects that they will have on your life.
