My Health

30 daily routines of healthy, productive people that are easy to adopt

By Laura Berlinsky-Schine | www.theladders.com |image credit: inc.com

This week: Daytime routines Next week: Night time routines

Last week we looked at morning routhines. This week we concentrate on easy daytime routines

11. Check your email at the same time every day.

DO NOT make it first thing in the morning, as tempting as that may be. This will more than likely agitate you and immediately make you start thinking about work and everything you need to respond to that day. Unlike the to-do list, this will bring up issues you may not have been aware of last night. Instead, wait until you sign on to work or enter the office to check.

If you can, try to avoid leaving your email in the background. This isn’t feasible for all jobs — you might need to address urgent issues as they arise — but if at all possible, establish regular times to check during the day rather than looking at it obsessively.

12. Make lunch.

Are you in the habit of going out to lunch every day? Instead,

why not make a simple, delicious lunch to eat in the park or even your kitchen table? This is healthier and cheaper than eating out every day.

Unless it’s critical for your job, make going out to eat a treat, rather than a routine. This will make the times you hit up your favorite coffee shop or cafe all the more special.

13. Stretch.

Sitting in your chair all day long isn’t good for you. You need to stretch. Make it a routine to get up at least once every hour (or more frequently, if you feel like you need it). Get up out of your seat and do some simple stretches. This will make you feel a lot better and get the blood flowing.

14. Schedule in short breaks.

It may sound counterintuitive, but if you work continuously throughout the day, you could end up being less productive than you would be otherwise. We need breaks. Schedule in short 15-20 minute breaks every 90 minutes or so of continuous work. During each break, take a walk around the block, eat a snack or do something else — the point is to take a few minutes to recharge, so you’re prepared for the next cycle.

15. Do one thing that intimidates you.

I once made it a New Year’s resolution to one thing that scared me every day. This is healthy for personal growth and overcoming your fears, and who knows? It may just pay off and allow you to meet your goals. It could be as big as applying to a job or as small as saying hi to a stranger on the street — whatever gets you out of your comfort zone.

16. Commit to time for honing a skill.

Learning a language, a musical instrument or a technical competency? All of these skills require time and commitment. But you don’t have to sacrifice hours and hours. Duolingo lessons take about 5-10 minutes to complete, for one.

17. Straighten up your workspace.

Is your workplace cluttered and disorganized? Certainly, this can happen after a long day of work. But you definitely don’t want to come back to that chaos tomorrow. So, near the end of the workday, take a few moments to straighten up your

space. This will help prepare you for what’s next on your plate and encourage you to stay focused through it all.

18. Set and stick to a sign-off time.

When you’re working from home, as many of us are during the pandemic, it’s easy to get caught up in your tasks and keep telling yourself, “Just 10 more minutes.” But it’s also important to establish boundaries between your work life and your personal or home life. To prevent yourself from getting overwhelmed with work and feeling exhausted all the time, set and stick to a sign-off time every day. This, too, will help you maintain some semblance of order.

19. Track your habits.

Habit-tracking is highly beneficial for understanding how you work and how you can maximize your productivity. When you keep track of what you’re doing and how you’re spending your time. Use these insights to improve your performance.

20. Have at least one real conversation.

Texting doesn’t count. Many of us are missing that social connection, especially if we’re working from home. Ensuring you have one real conversation, whether it’s with your neighbor, on the phone with a friend or even with a colleague on a Zoom meeting, will help you curb the isolation you may be experiencing right now.