3 Tips for Getting Your Productivity On

Have you ever had one of those majorly productive days where you look back at the clock and realize the whole day has gone by and you never even took a lunch break? You rocked all those things you needed to get done. You happily head home, while checking off x, y, and z from your list.
 
Those days are the best. It feels great to power through the to-do’s. But if you’re anything like me, the following day is where things get interesting. You might find yourself feeling all revved up initially.

And then, the slump comes in. All that energy?? Gone. Out the door. 
 
I had this very experience recently and talked about it with my friend. I told her I’d been feeling a little down because I would have these super productive days, and then whoooooop, nothing. No energy. (Can you relate!?) She said something to me in that moment that I really needed to hear. What if this is all just part of how I work? That I’m somebody who has one or two super productive days a week, and the days that follow I may experience lower energy levels. If I know this moving forward, I can seize the days I’m feeling my energy peak, and plan to do my most important work during this time. Talk about a game-changer!
 
So, how about you? What’s your productivity like? When does your energy peak? Are you like me, and experience energy in waves, or do you find that your energy is consistently high at a certain time of the day?

Here are my top 3 tips for getting your very own productivity on:
1. Identify your own personal patterns of energy.

Start by taking inventory of your own energy levels. I recommend taking a week to do a little self-research. Log your energy levels based on your schedule. Do certain errands tire you out? Do various work tasks promote or drain your energy? Get clear on what they are.

2. Try to plan around your energy if possible. 

The purpose of planning around your energy levels is so you can be more effective at getting what you want done, DONE. Have you been wanting to work out more often? Plan to take a class on those high-energy days. Are you needing to get a project done by a certain date? Commit to doing that project first thing on the days you feel your energy peak.

3. Don’t be hard on yourself for having low productivity on your low-energy days. 

Instead, give yourself some love for having such a productive day and allow your body the rest that it needs to replenish for the next one. Try to do the things that don’t require so much thought and creativity in the meantime, while tending to the things that still have to get done, like your everyday tasks. 
 
Once you understand your own personal energy flow, you’ll be getting your productivity on in no time. 

How to Deal with Comparison in a Positive, Self-Loving Way

I have been seeing a lot of the hashtag #DoYou lately and have to admit I’m a fan. I love a message that encourages us to keep our eyes on our own page. Yet, what I find ironic (CUE a little Alanis here…) is that it’s a hashtag leading us to other social media pages, which begs a game of comparison. 

The comparison game doesn’t just exist on social media. It shows up in unexpected ways in our everyday life. But like any game, we can play strategically.  

Comparison doesn’t have to be a negative thing.

Here’s my challenge for you. When you're perusing Facebook or Instagram & find yourself thinking about what you don’t have or don’t do—you know, playing a good old game of comparison—take a moment & think about the flip side. The flip side is you tapping into YOUR interests, YOUR wants, YOUR desires, YOUR truths. It is you seeking more information about what you are craving & wanting in your life. It is using a moment of comparison to learn more about what you innately might be craving.

So let’s play for a minute. You see a photo and find yourself thinking the following:

"I don't have enough money."

What's the flip side? Maybe it's something like, "I will get serious about how much money I actually need. I'll create a financial plan & stick to it."

"I don't have time to travel."

What's the flip side? "I'm craving more adventure. I'll plan a day trip to somewhere new."

"I don't do yoga."

What's the flip side? "So I don't do yoga. But I DO do hair flips & dance parties. I'll call a friend & take a Zumba class."

Let's use the comparison game to understand ourselves more. I’ll be playing this week too over on Instagram & would love for you to join me. Use the hashtag #DoYou & tag me in your post.

A New Meaning for Self-Care

When I was a teacher, I remember talking to my 6th graders about the importance of good hygiene. My colleagues and I loved these conversations with kids, even though it usually meant swapping the smell of B.O. for clouds of cologne.  

As adults we understand the importance of basic self-care. 

Brushing our teeth, showering, getting enough sleep. We know how important these daily habits are to not only our health, but our well-being too.  

Self-care goes beyond the daily rituals and routines of good hygiene. 

It encompasses those little moments throughout the day when you take time out just for you. And no—I’m not talking about mindlessly perusing Facebook and Instagram. I’m talking about those intentional moments when you honor your worth and give yourself profound care. It could be a hot shower in the morning and really noticing the warmth of the water as it hits your body. Maybe it’s a yoga class after a long day of work. It might be an iced-coffee on a summer’s day or reading your favorite book at night before bed. If you’re like me, it might be in the form of a private dance party in your living room— hair flips included. Self-care looks like any and all of these mini-moments of you loving on you.  

Self-care is self-love.  And self-love is not selfish.

Let that sink in for a minute. Think about all the times you’ve decided to skip your self-care. Maybe there just wasn’t enough time to squeeze that workout in or get that manicure or take a full lunch break. What happens when you decide there’s not enough time?  You decide to push through whatever commitments you have. You keep going and doing, going and doing. When you create a habit and daily routine of NOT prioritizing your self-care, you start to feel drained, exhausted, and completely wiped. This leaves you feeling frustrated, and you better believe this comes through in how you show up in the world.

I’m a believer that by creating daily rituals and routines around self-care, you are making a bold statement that it’s okay to take time out for you.   

Self-care really is AN intentional statement you are making to yourself that you are worthy of your own care.

Sometimes it might look like a bubble bath, a yummy latte, or a new top. And other times, it is lovingly reframing your self-talk, taking a deep breath to collect your thoughts, or creating some much-needed personal boundaries.

What statement do you want your self-care to communicate?