In previous decades the way we worked was a lot different to now, staying in the office late and arriving early used to be the norm. A sign of productivity is no longer a burnt-out individual with no life, scientists say it’s more productive in the long run to have time off and return to work refreshed. Try out and visit now your favorite online games and activities.
Adding more to this philosophy is the fact we have been forced to work from home, proving that the regular nine to five no-longer exists.
So, let’s look at 10 ways to improve productivity through downtime.
Table of Contents
1 – Do What You Love
It’s easy to stay productive when you’re doing something you love. While it may take some time to work out what that is, it’s worth using your downtime productively to find out what your interests are.
2 – Know What Your Up Against
Whatever situation you’re in, whatever you’re facing, a new job, new project, or a new challenge it’s useful and productive to get an idea of what you’re up against. When you don’t know the facts, you can worry unnecessarily.
When you see the truth about any given situation, no matter how bad, at least you give yourself a base: a starting point to come back into your reality.
3 – Get a Mentor
If you’re lacking a spark or losing the ability to remain productive, get a new perspective. No matter how old you are, you can ask someone you respect to give you some time as a mentor. Some companies encourage everyone to have a mentor. It’s a bit like having a therapist but cheaper.
Take time to ask others in your industry for advice or join up to the latest online webinar but not until you’ve taken an hour for lunch.
4 – Download some Endorphins
To be productive, you need two types of exercise, mental and physical. Try whenever possible to get 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day; even when you’re supposed to be relaxing you should exercise, you know you will feel better; exercise is brilliant for stimulating your brain and your mood.
5 – Mental Exercise
Take up the crossword, crosswords keeps the brain active, and an active mind is a healthy one. There’s always a crossword in the paper, and it’s easy to join a club with free online games at every level, easy to expert. You can challenge yourself and others to complete your puzzle in a set time frame.
According to some online forums, crossword puzzles and sudoku can delay onset dementia and even Alzheimers. Crosswords have the benefit of being stimulating, educational, and productive at the same time; that’s not an easy thing to do.
6 – Eat Well
Eat something you’ve never eaten before and then learn to cook it. If you love curry, there are some great online tutorials on Youtube and even an online community who share recipes and cooking tips and will happily deride your efforts, but as long as it tastes good who cares.
7 – Get Some Sleep
Sleep is a luxury and the first thing you should consider during your downtime. A rested brain is a productive brain but if you can’t sleep, just try to relax. Consider meditation or mindfulness, and remember to breathe: only by sitting quietly and listening to our breath, you can give your brain a break.
8 – Meditate for 15 Minutes Every Day
An excellent introduction to meditation for beginners is the ‘body scan’ technique. Imagine a photocopier-style light moving over you, detecting any physical sensations just reminding you to take note of each part of your body.
With your eyes closed and starting at the top of the head, each scan should take about 20 seconds. In making the body scan a part of your meditation, you are familiarizing yourself with bringing awareness to your thoughts and feelings.
Sounds a bit new age but it really helps you stay focused.
9- Reading is Great
I know it sounds simple, but sometimes it’s the simple things that give us the most pleasure. Now that all the classic titles are no longer under copyright, you can spend a couple of hours in the company of Mcbeth or David Copperfield.
10 – Laugh Out Loud
The most productive thing we can do is make ourselves feel better, and nothing does that like a good laugh. Unfortunately, it’s not possible right now to go to the comedy club, but it is possible to watch all the old episodes of Mr. Bean or Faulty Towers.
Whatever you decide to do it’s your downtime and remember a change is as good as a rest, so get some downtime and promote yourself to being a productivity ninja.
About Carson Derrow
