How to Be More Productive

Productivity may seem a little outside the realm of adventure sports, but here’s the thing: if you’re constantly struggling with work-life balance or you can’t seem to conquer the day the way you’re hoping to, even vacations will seem exhausting. Productivity isn’t just about to-do lists; it’s also a health issue. In fact, productivity and health have shown over and over again to be deeply tied to each other. Learning to be more productive in your day-to-day life will help you relax more and travel better.

Wake Up Earlier

Studies show that waking up earlier naturally leads to more productivity. Why? Not simply because you have more hours in the day to cram in your to-dos, but because that morning is yours. Use it to do what’s important to you — read the news, listen to a podcast or drink your morning coffee outside. Spending the first hours of your day doing what you love helps clear your mind for the day to come.

Eat a Healthy Breakfast

The old adage holds true even in 2019: breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. Just think about the word itself; it comes from the idea that you are breaking a period of fasting that takes place while you sleep. If you go into your day without giving your body and mind the nutrients it needs to get stuff done — well, it won’t get stuff done. Eat a carb and protein heavy breakfast to energize you for the day to come.

Write It Down

This one is simple, and yet so many people don’t take advantage of its ease. Your brain can only store so many random checklist items before it overloads and becomes to bogged down. You know all those small, seemingly insignificant tasks that you suddenly remember as you go throughout your day? The ones like calling your sister or reminding your kids to feed the cat while you’re on vacation. Those little blips throughout your day can be a huge distraction, so whether you choose to use sticky notes, your digital to-do list or have Alexa keep track of them; make sure to jot them down and leave space for the bigger tasks.

Exercise Regularly

It’s repetitive because it’s true: healthy people are productive people. Our bodies are machines, and as such, they need to be well taken care of to work properly. Exercise is a vital component to keeping your body healthy, and unless you work a regularly physical job, it’s unlikely that you’re getting this in your day-to-day routine. Make sure to take time consistently — even if it’s once or twice a month — to fit in some cardio and strength training.

Take a Break

Even the most productive workers need time for a breather. In the same way that your muscles need to rest in between sets during a workout, your brain needs time to recuperate from all that hard work. Make sure to schedule in breaks throughout your workday and use that time to actually rest. Don’t check your emails or make a phone call. Instead, step outside to enjoy the sunshine — even if it’s just for 5 minutes.

Find the Best Time

As admirable as it is to start your day off early (and we do recommend you at least try it), people are productive at different times. If you’ve tried to start your morning off productively and it’s just not working, try figuring out what times are most productive. If lunchtime is your time to grind, then push your lunch a little earlier or later and make the most of that midday crunch. If you’re a major night owl, utilize that to your advantage. The point is: learn what works best for you and capitalize on that, instead of trying to work the way that everyone else does.