I know the weather has changed, and frankly, some days it can be bloody cold (polar vortex type of cold, for some ❄️). Sometimes the only energy you can muster is to throw on your comfiest oversized sweater, high wasted yoga pants and lambs wool slippers. The days when even getting to the grocery store sound like a feat. It’s dark. It’s raining. A hot cup of coffee is brewing and your favorite show is queued up on Netflix ready for your binge watch session.
Trust me I get it. I’m just as guilty. I have always been a a spring/ summer babe myself. Seasonal depression is a real thing in my world and I’m sure I’m not alone in this. When its cold and wet out it’s so easy to blow off your workout, that St. Helens sized mound of laundry is still taunting you, and the only thing you want to prioritize right now is… LAZINESS. Screen time with the kids exponentially goes up and you excuse it more and more because “family movies” don’t count right? Its bonding time and its only temporary.
But rather than slipping in to that non productive winter slump that can be so easy December to Feb….. okay, March. I want to give you some great little tid-bits of tools to staying productive this winter season– some can even be done in the comforts of your stretchy pants and slip ons, OH YA!
First things first.
Get a calendar. I don’t care if you’ve got the memory of a elephant. It’s so important to have a place for all your things. We all have a million things going on day to day and it’s impossible to keep track of it all if it’s not in one place you can easily reference. I prefer the old school planner myself, well actually, to be honest I use my icalendar and a planner. I like the tangibility of having a book to reference, too. Really thorough over here 🙋🏼♀️ but hey, whatever works right? Plus its fun to decorate!
Second.
To-do lists. Everyone loves crossing chores off a list. Am I right? There is so much satisfaction in crossing or checking off items on a list. Sometimes I make lists of things I already know I’m going to do in the day just so I can check them off… things like;
- make my bed ✔️
- Eat breakfast ✔️
- Wash my hair ✔️
Okay so maybe I don’t do this everyday, but trust me, there is beauty in lists. I’m not saying you need to make yourself crazy with lists of “to do’s” that sprawl over the entire year. Start small, with just this weeks tasks, first. Maybe it’s getting around to the tedious task of dusting, or meal prepping to make cooking more simple for the rest of the week, or organizing the linen closet that’s been neglected. Or maybe, its finally the week to drop off your clothes at the cleaners. Just small tasks throughout your week that make you feel productive. By the end of the week you can look back at said list with all those crossed off items and feel like you accomplished so much. Give it a try! Because even if it wasn’t your best week, you can still feel good about the things you DID do.
Third.
Eat your brain food. Yep, just like your mother used to say. You cannot function to your full potential, when your body isn’t fueled properly. It is such a huge part of our productivity. If you’re eating empty calories or way too heavy of meals, you’re going to feel sluggish, or spike and then crash, then there is no way that pm workout is happening, or anything else remotely productive.
Start small, once again, for healthy eating. Try to get in a real breakfast. Don’t just slam down a venti coffee and call it good. Instead, think ahead, make a few servings of overnight oats, or simple three ingredient veggies and egg muffins. Heck, even yogurt and some berries will suit you well. You don’t need to be a chef to eat clean, fuel powering foods. Your body needs energy first thing in the morning, especially after fasting for 8-12 hours. You know thats why they call it ‘break-fast’ 😉. Not only does it make you feel better, its actually linked to kick-starting your metabolism, lowering your cholesterol and it can level out your blood sugar throughout the day.
I’m well aware that comfort food and baked goods are everywhere this time of year. But remember how hard you worked this summer? Don’t let it go to waste, stay on track. Keep those small goals in mind, so that when Spring is here, you’re not just beginning to make better choices. Make Sundays your “planning day,” — plan your dinners, lunches, and healthy snacks for the week. That way you’re not stuck eating a bowl of cereal for dinner because you have no food. Make it fun– Pick a new healthy recipe to try out each week to spice it up.
Fourth.
Get moving. Just as important as everything else can be, moving your body is so necessary for productivity. I know it’s cold and wet this time of year most places, and its hard to get out and just go for a run. Yes they may have slowed a bit (or a lot bit) but its time to get creative. If you consciously set a goal to get in 2-4 workouts this week I promise it’ll become more and more routine and less dreadful (and possibly break the winter blues.) Book ahead a few hot yoga classes with your bestie (mmmm warmth) which is always a great way to keep you accountable. Get your partner on board. If your partner is doing it along with you, it’s much more likely you will stick with it throughout the “cold” season. Motivate each other, make it fun! Keep each other accountable.
By a class pass. Its proven that if you have invested time or money in to something already you are more willing to commit to it. So stop making the excuses and just do it– try cutting out those daily trips to Starbucks, and voila, you’ve got your money for a months pass. If you’re trying to save money and don’t have the means to go to a gym or class, there are still so many options for free at home workouts. On demand, youtube, so many trainers offer free workouts on their sites, you just have to put a little bit of time to find what suits you.
If you prefer a morning workout, set out your workout gear the night before so its all ready to go. Set your alarm for 45 min and boom you’re ready to tackle the day before your kids are even awake. You’ll feel energized and be so thankful you already crushed your workout before your day has even begun. If you prefer afternoon or evening workouts, like myself, try setting an alarm on your phone so you can be reminded of what you made a point to do. Don’t let the excuses creep in. Just a quick 20-30 min is all you need.
If your not a “workout” person, then try to keep with your 10k steps a day goal, even if it means your doing laps around your house (my husband and I are totally guilty of this). Whatever gets your body moving!
What does this have to do with productivity? A lot, actually. Movement and exercise create alertness and energy. It keeps your brain sharp and is linked to creating the chemical “mitochondria” in our bodies, which convert to energy, thus powering you through your workday or perhaps an extra boost to chase around those never ‘energy-lacking’ toddlers all day. Energy is key to staying on task and remaining productive. An energized body equals a productive body. If you don’t believe me, try it for yourself!
Fifth.
Find alternatives. There are so many ways to enjoy the things we love and crave, by finding simple edits or alternative ways to “healthy it up.” With Pinterest and cookbooks galore we have health at our fingertips, literally. There are so many ways around those heavy dishes that are usually served at holiday feasts or parties. You can make gluten free, sugar free cookies that taste incredible. You can make brownies from black beans (tried and true, I swear) that are just as ooey gooey. Pizza with cauliflower crust and fries from root veggies, roots! Like I said, the possibilities are endless. Find at least one good healthy swap once a week. Then try for once a day, and in no time it’ll become habitual and you’ll feel better too!
Sixth.
Avoid the things that take you away from productivity. Ahem. Time to put that cell phone in the drawer and leave it be for an hour. Its so easy to get lost in cyber space, one minute your checking your emails and the next you’ve found the end of the internet… (two hours later.) Its easy to do. Especially when its dark and raining outside and “you’ve got nothing better to do.” That goes for video games, television and your computer. All the gadgets that can distract you from what you really should be doing. Even if you just set a “TIME OUT” on electronics for an hour after you get home, then you can instead, knock out a quick workout or tackle one or two of the chores on that new nifty “to do list.”
Seventh.
Stop multitasking. I get it you’re so good at doing this. You can master emailing, homework, breastfeeding and folding laundry all at once. But is this necessary? We’re constantly glorifying busy, and it needs to STOP. Studies have actually shown that multitasking and changing your tasks several times a day actually lowers your IQ. Isn’t that interesting? Time to slow down. Focus on one (MAYBE two) tasks at a time. If you put all your energy in to one task, I guarantee it’ll be finished much faster than if you were trying to do it while mastering five other tasks at the same time. Focus more on quality rather than quantity.
Finally, number eight.
Stop overreacting. Take things slowly. Truthfully, I am guilty of this. All the “things” just get caught up in my head of what I need to do, where is the money gonna come from, how am I going to have time to do this? So many worries and unnecessary stresses that really can be handled in a more calm, realistic manner. Thats where my lists come in handy for me. I prioritize whats most important first, then let the rest follow, or simply cut that list in half and focus solely on a few tasks at a time. knowing full and well I have time to get to the other not as necessary things later.
Don’t overcommit yourself. If you want to see your productivity get thrown out the window, then book your calendar as full as you possibly can. Then see what happens. You will literally burn out in a week. Take things slow, prioritize whats best for you and your family. Prioritize whats most important first, then you can. pencil in the bonus things after, if you feel up for it.
Hopefully these little tips will help spark your productivity and get you back to feeling energized and ready to take on the day. Let me know what you feel is most helpful for boosting your productivity during the cold months? Id love to hear your thoughts!
sunshinestateofmine 