5 life-changing habits

Tried and tested habits that improve your productivity, health, and mindset

Photo by Content Pixie on Unsplash

I’ve put together habits that have genuinely improved my life for the better, and I’m pretty sure if you implement some of these, you’ll see a significant change in your productivity, approach to work, and shifting your mindset to a healthier version.

1. Scheduled mornings: Use your mornings to get as much as possible done. This doesn’t mean heading straight into work; more so, it means having a morning routine that allows you to relax and prepare for the day, followed by tackling things on your to-do list in order of priority. I find that if I can get ahead of my work by midday, then I’m on the right track. The rest of the day then doesn’t have to be so rushed, and it doesn’t feel like I’m fighting against time trying to finish the day's tasks. A few hours of your morning should be dedicated to completing your high-priority tasks. For example, from 10 to 12 p.m., I keep my head down; I’m focused on getting work done.

2. To-do lists: This is a habit I adopted from my husband because he’s the most organized person I’ve ever met. It’s been a complete game changer for me because every morning I write down my to-do list, and to be honest, sometimes I prepare this the day before. I write down a list of everything I would like to get done within the day, and once I’ve put this list together, I reshuffle it so that my list starts with the highest priority and finishes with the least. As I get things done throughout the day, I tick things off my to-do list, and although this may seem like such a simple method, it genuinely helps to keep your mind decluttered so that you don’t overwhelm yourself by thinking of how much you have to do throughout the day.

3. Weight lifting: I go to the gym three times a week for weight training, and I never in a million years thought I would have the time to go to the gym because having your own business means you work more or less all of the time, even when you’re relaxing and chilling, work is still on your mind. However, my husband and I decided we needed to start putting our health first because if we don’t look after ourselves, then how are we meant to look after our businesses? Now, I am healthier and stronger, and going to the gym gives me energy for the rest of the day. It also helps us to eat better; having worked so hard at the gym means that I really don’t want to ruin all of that hard work by eating rubbish.

4. Clean space, clean mind: One of the first things I like to do before I start my day of work is to clean my workspace, and sometimes that will involve basic tidying up of my desk area; sometimes it will involve a thorough clean; for example, my keyboard needs cleaning; my screen on my laptop and iPad need cleaning; and sometimes it means rearranging my workspace so that it fits in well with whatever it may be that I’m planning to work on during the day. Although this may seem like such a small thing to do, it’s actually very effective because, visually, your workspace will put you in the right frame of mind for whatever it is you are planning to be working on.

5. Reading: Running your own business means it can sometimes be difficult to switch off, so reading a few pages of a book every day allows me to switch off and focus my mind on something that has nothing to do with work or life. This is the only thing that forces you to pay attention to something other than what may be consuming your mind. I feel like this is a habit that can work in any situation, not just work. If you’re feeling upset or worried about something, open a book and read. Even though it may be temporary, it still allows your mind to calm down and focus on something else.