Whether it be the beginning of the week, a gross and gloomy day, or a day where we just feel like procrastinating, we can try new things to help us stay productive. Below are a few suggestions of how you can keep your focus on work or school.
1. Coffee!!!
It would be a sin for me not to include coffee in this list. However, if coffee isn’t your thing, the best alternative is always tea.
Many people begin their day with a nice big cup of coffee. Each morning I wake up, I hop out of bed and head to the kitchen to brew myself a morning pot that will last me at least 4 cups. The more, the better!
Regardless if you drink coffee or not, it's a good idea to make yourself something in the morning to wake yourself up from the grogginess you experience after hitting your snooze 4 or 5 times.
Getting something hot and caffeinated in your system will provide that morning boost that you're looking for.
2. Take a shower and put a fresh outfit on.
I know how annoying it is when you’re all cozy in bed and then all of a sudden, your annoying ass alarm clock goes off.
Our initial thoughts are to just roll out of bed, flip open the laptop and leisurely get to whatever work needs to be done.
Well, I say get up and act as though you're going to work or school. That means wake yourself up with a shower, do your hair, and put on that new outfit that you bought before you started working from home.
When you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good, you get shit done! There's nothing better than a hard-working individual who looks like a SNACK.
3. Plant yourself in an isolated area that is NOT your bed.
We all know how easy it is to just wake up and open our computers from the comfort of your own beds.
Trust me, I do it sometimes too. But those of us who do that also know how easy it is to fall back asleep in the middle of what we're working on.
To be productive, we need to get ourselves out of bed and over to an area where we can focus on what we need to do. Maybe a desk, the kitchen counter, living room.
Somewhere that’s comfortable but won’t make you want to take a nap after the first 5 minutes into an assignment.
4. Write out all of the things you would like to accomplish for the day.
This one is my favorite, and I don't think people do this enough.
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed when I have too many things that need to be done all at once, so I like to make lists.
Take any scrap piece of paper and write down things you'd like to complete for that day. You don't have to list them in order of when you'd like to do them, but it just gives you an idea of what you want to concentrate on.
You don't have to consider yourself an organized person to do this, but I think it can help you stay focused on what you need to do. It's also so satisfying to cross things off after you finish them! Give it a try; I hope it helps.
5. Play some music, but nothing you can sing along to.
If you're in a procrastination rut and need help getting out, I have a potential solution for you. Try putting on some music that won't make burst out singing.
By that, I mean playing music that's just instrumental or a nice and steady beat. Something that'll get you in the mood to just work.
Think about how you have a specific playlist that you listen to in the gym. It might be hype music that encourages you to work out harder and keep on track. Mask a similar playlist but for your mind.
Here are a few playlist suggestions from Spotify: Brain Food, Deep Focus, or Focus Flow.
6. Burn your favorite smelling candle.
Hear me out on this final one. There is something nice about working at a table or your desk while having a candle burning beside you.
Sitting at your desk as the sun is beginning to set and the room fills with darkness. Your work is lit by a single shimmering light of a candle that smells like freshly cut cedarwood and teak.
My obsession with candles began shortly after I created my own personal workspace at home. I feel that certain scents of candles have a way of prompting concentration and focus.
Similar to how Lavender helps you relax, I find that bright and musky scents help with concentration. So next time you sit down to work, burn a candle and inhale the delicious aromas of blood orange and vanilla and get to work.