Have you been working on a new resolution this year?

Have you been productive these past few months or are you still in holiday mode?

If you want to become more productive this year, you have to practice new habits and stick to them no matter what. Because change will never happen if you still hold on to your old habits and behaviors that are clearly not getting you anywhere.

Here are 5 habits you can start doing today so you can have a more productive year:

 

Stay active

According to Mayo Clinic, getting enough exercise can help improve mood, boost energy and promote better sleep which all directly contributes to one’s productivity.

It doesn’t have to be rigorous exercises though, it just has to increase your physical movement and should be done regularly. So, whether it’s just walking, running, or even dancing, as long as it’s something you enjoy, have fun with and you can do consistently, then you’re at it.

 

Always plan your day

Make it a habit to plan your day. Create a to-do list with your daily tasks and learn to set priority to each of your tasks. It may sound very easy yet most people don’t practice it and that has made all the difference because productive people always plan their day.

With so many distractions, it’s easy for our minds to wander and forget the things we should prioritize or things we ought to do in a day, so having a list that you can check from time to time will help you accomplish more.

 

Manage your time

Do you ever feel like you have been very busy all day, yet you haven’t done much or you don’t feel like you have been productive?

Well, that’s because you did not manage your time carefully.

So, what you can do is on your to-do list of the day, including the time you need to spend on each task. Don’t worry this should not be exact though but just something you would be willing to spend for each task.

 

Fill in your knowledge gaps

What skills or knowledge do you think you need to acquire so you can become more productive?

Is it time management, collaboration techniques, or maybe skills on some tools, etc.? Whatever it is, you should be able to identify the skills and knowledge you need to improve yourself when it comes to becoming more productive.

And once you have identified those gaps, list out the ways or resources you can use so you can fill in those gaps.

Remember, the change will only happen if you are willing to do the work. You can’t just change by identifying what needs to be changed, you have to take action.

 

Take care of yourself

This is probably the most important thing you should do so you can keep yourself productive and be able to do the things you want to do and that is to take care of yourself.

Take care of your overall health. Sure, most days will be busy but don’t forget to give yourself the time you need to pause, breathe, relax and energize your batteries.

After all, health is our key to living life. You can never be productive when you are not the best version of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Eat good food, keep yourself active, have some good quality sleep and take time to pause from all the negativities so you feel better and empowered to do more and achieve more.

It’s not going to be easy to create new habits, all the more stick to it but that’s the only way to self-improvement. You have to do the hard part because change is never easy but if you are willing to do the work, you will be amazed at how much your life is going to improve.