You clicked this article because you love the idea of putting in small efforts for huge results.
Are you lazy?
Nah, you’re just smart.
Good thing is there are many things we can do at a tiny level that will transform our days.
Here are some examples:
Take 5 breaths.
Forget the nonsense about deep breaths.
That just sucks in more CO2 and makes you light-headed. Instead, take five in-and-out shallow breaths through the nose.
This will centre you like little else, helping your mind still, so you make better decisions.
Micro-journal.
Write exactly three bullets at the end of each day:
One thing you noticed
One thing you learned
One thing you’re curious about
This takes 30 seconds, but after a year, you’ll have 365 observations that drive you forward.
5 minutes of stretching.
Your old, creaky-ass self will thank you in future.
Plus, stretching will help you feel more energised right here, today.
Brainstorm lists.
Pick a challenge and write down everything you can think of to solve it.
The more you write, the more creative your brain gets.
This is cathartic, but it will also help you realise how much you really know.
Air squats.
Get off your chair and get dipping.
Clasp your hands in front of you, and then drop your butt to the floor. Then up. Do this until you’re breathless.
With a pounding heart, your brain sparks to life like you just found the cheat code to IQ enhancement.
Snack less.
Snacks give your gut work, which, in turn, makes your brain work.
Stop distracting your brain with cheap snacks and return to lucid thinking.
Save the eating for two or three feasts, leaving 90% of the day to non-eating and time saved.
Go outside for a brisk walk in the fresh air and sun.
This may take up time, but it will return twice as much in creativity and a lifted mood.
Write short.
Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter aren’t only for ‘personal brands.’
Everyone should be writing online, and it needn’t be long.
It’s essential to have an opinion and to publish your thoughts. You grow as a person, and you build a following as a side bonus.
Keep your phone out of your bedroom.
The phone has no place in your sacred place of rest.
Blue light frazzles you and steals from deep sleep. Bedrooms are for paper notebooks and novels.
Let go of your serious thoughts.
It might seem next to impossible to think less, but this is possible when you realise thoughts are suggestions, not facts.
Not everything you think is true. In fact, most is hogwash.
This makes it easier to let thoughts drift by, like pestering gnats, leaving you light and optimistic.
The 2-second pause.
Wait two seconds any time someone talks to you in conversation.
This gives you time to process, reduces anxiety and makes you a more empathetic and effective communicator.
Message a friend.
Forget yourself for a moment, and turn your attention outward.
Message someone without expectation. Do it to lift them up. Now you will be lifted.
Eat some eggs.
Eggs are pure health superfood. Eat more of them. I often eat them raw to maximise the nutrients.
Watch your vibe lift. This is a productivity and health cheat.
Daily deletion.
Every morning, delete one thing from your:
To-do list
Calendar
Digital space
Physical space
Mental space
This is how to develop a simple life, allowing you to do and see things most miss because they’re so overwhelmed with stuff.
Onward!
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Oh, and I just launched my writing course for impact: Online Writing Alchemy.
Good list but do you think you breathe in Carbon Dioxide?
Haha, I love these effortless productivity hacks. I can't wait for the brisk walk in the sun!
Keep up your energy :)