6 Daily Habits to Maximize Your Efficiency
There is so much one can do in one day. There is enough time to fit everything we need; only if we know how to make the most out of a day.
The mind has a lot to do with what you can accomplish in one day. If you talk yourself down and constantly engage in things that consume your mental energy, it may be difficult to cultivate inner motivation and concentration to get things done.
On the other hand, if you fill your day with things that give you joy, you will feel happy and excited which will mentally make you more motivated and focused on accomplishing even better things.
There are a few simple yet powerful ways to hack your mind and body to maximize your efficiency. I outlined some below for you. Modify them and fit them to your needs but I hope that you understand their importance for your efficiency!
1. Sleep well
Sleep is the #1 requirement for daily efficiency because not only lack of sleep will sabotage your success but also what you miss out on by not sleeping well will hinder your mental focus and clarity. During sleep, so many positive improvements and hormonal balances take place. These are not only beneficial but also crucial for our physical and mental well-being.
Work on regulating your sleep by creating a sleep routine. Start your day with sunlight to regulate your circadian rhythm. Avoid overusing alcohol and caffeine to minimize substance effects.
2. Start your morning in silence
Many of us start our day by checking emails or scrolling down social media. We have this inexplicable urge to be connected to the world immediately. However, mornings, especially the period right after we wake up, are one of the most effective times to set goals, visualizations, and self-reflection. In the mornings, as we transition from sleep to wakeful state, we are in a light state of hypnosis.
Take advantage of this natural hypnotic state by not grabbing your phone within the first 30 minutes to 1 hour after waking up. Use this time for meditation, journaling, goal setting, morning walk, or visualizations. Especially the goals that are set at this time of the day tend to be much more effective than at other times of the day.
Daily efficiency is directly related with daily habits.
3. Eat well
What we eat and how frequently we eat have a lot to do with daily efficiency. Even though the mind may be very advanced, the body still works primitively. When we don’t eat frequently and nutritious enough, the body reacts similarly to anxiety, as if in danger. In a state like that, it’s very difficult to focus, concentrate, or feel motivated.
The solution is simple, eat regularly nutritious foods that are not processed. Carry snacks with you and nourish your body with healthy fats and proteins. This will help with balancing the blood sugar, therefore, balancing your mood.
4. Practice a mind empowerment technique
The mind works best when we give it a clear direction and a goal. Every day, if we don’t set our minds towards something, the mind does it itself; whether we like it or not. By practicing a mind empowerment technique, you can actually maximize your mind power and set a clear internal direction.
If you’ve never heard of “mind empowerment techniques” don’t worry, because I came up with this name! Some call it self-help, or self-improvement but all of these small habits do the same thing: empowering the mind. Meditation, journaling, breathwork, self-hypnosis, or walking are just a few examples of mind empowerment techniques.
Practicing one of these daily will not only help with regulating your nervous system but also for having a clear vision for your goals.
5. Do something that puts you in a “joy” state
As humans, we are very much driven by emotions and hormones. This is why during depression or anxiety, it’s extremely difficult to get things done. The same goes for the other side; when we are happy and fulfilled, we can maximize our efficiency as well.
During busy day-to-day life, between work and chores, it can be difficult to step outside of the mundane routines and find inner happiness. You can balance this by doing an activity that makes you happy and joyful every day. The key is to make time and plan for this activity ahead. This could be a small activity like planting, playing with a pet, drawing, or an activity that takes more time like hiking, grabbing a coffee with a friend, or a hobby.
6. Have a to-do list with priorities
Don’t worry, I used to hate to-do lists in the past too because I didn’t know how they could contribute to daily efficiency and feelings of accomplishment. The key to an effective to-do list is to know how to do an effective one in the first place!
Every morning or the night before, make a list of the things you are planning to get done on that day. Include both small and big items (Ex: ordering dog food (small), completing the presentation (big)). Then, prioritize these items. Which ones absolutely need to be done today? Which ones you can delegate for another day?
As you go by your day, rank the priority items first, still doing your best for the second group without stressing. As you complete the tasks, put a checkmark on them. This way, you will realize how many things you actually accomplish in one day. Most of the time we tend to underestimate the amount of work we do in one day. Seeing your completion will give you more motivation and an inner sense of fulfillment.
Plus, you will also be able to separate urgent matters from not-so-urgent ones. We often stress over the things that we don’t really need to. Separating the two helps with focusing on what matters and staying on track.