5 Ways to Increase Productivity in 2017

Productivity is one of those things that everyone is trying to increase. I am a firm believer that there is enough time in a day to get everything done if we manage our lives correctly. With that being said, when personal and professional obligations start to build up, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed. Here are 5 easy ways to increase your productivity in 2017. 


1) Consume Wisely
So much of our day is spent in blind consumption. When we start to realize the opportunities we have to consume wisely, we can take advantage of every minute of the day. The easiest way to start is by looking at what you watch on television. If you are watching shows live, you have to sit through commercials. Why not record it and watch it later? Instantly, you've saved yourself 10 minutes of commercials. When you're in the car do you listen to music? Maybe switch it to NPR so you don't need to read the news later, ESPN so you don't have to watch replays at night, or put on an audiobook. 

2) Limit Scrolling
If you are superhuman, you can try to get yourself to check each social media application once a day instead of constantly scrolling throughout the day. I, personally, cannot do that, but instead consciously choose when to open Instagram instead of doing it when I have a free moment. Every minute you spend on social media is a minute you can spend on something that can improve your life (like working out or calling a friend...)

3) Focus On Yourself
If you are not functioning at 100% you are not going to be the most productive you can be. Prioritizing your sleep, health, or mental stability will definitely make you more productive in the long term. 

4) Eat Right
People tend to fall into two groups when stressed. They either eat a lot or they forget to eat. Regardless of what group you are in, make sure you realize what is happening and figure out the trigger of your stress. Also, make sure to surround yourself with healthy foods and snacks. The better you eat, the better you feel, and the better you'll be able to take care of yourself and others. 

5) Limit Caffeine 
Our society has such a coffee culture that glamorizes massive amounts of caffeine. But while caffeine can help you stay awake, when you start to come down from a caffeine high, your cognitive performance starts to reduce. The only way to beat that is with more caffeine, which then wreaks havoc on your sleep and perpetuates the cycle. 

In the end, the most important thing that you can do to increase your productivity is to practice mindfulness in your everyday life. Once you become aware of your obligations and the way you allocate your time, you will find it so much easier to make changes. I believe that if something is important enough to a person, they will choose to make time for it. Mindfulness is the best way to achieve work-life balance and decrease stress. 

Let me know in the comments how you like to increase your productivity and if you have any other tips! Also, don't forget to follow SIENNA on bloglovin to stay up to date with new posts. 
-Sienna