The self-improvement industry is booming. From our diets to our sex lives, we are constantly deemed inadequate – not productive enough, not positive enough, not skilled enough.
And, for every deficiency we’re accused of possessing, there is a self-help process to fix it – one that takes time, effort and, usually, a substantial amount of money to achieve.
While nobody’s saying you need to learn the first thousand digits of pi, spring is nevertheless the time for new initiatives. From getting up earlier to getting more done, there are a few simple things you can do to set yourself up for success this year.
Here are three free things you can do that will send your productivity soaring and fit around a full working day.
Become an early bird
We all know the stories: Einstein with his chronic napping system; Margaret Thatcher with her four hours a night; Tom Ford with his three. For most of us, these ideals of productivity are unobtainable; research shows that our sleep requirements are genetically ingrained, and those with the mutation that allows them to get by on less are the exception rather than the rule.
But while it’s a bad idea to actually cut down on sleeping hours – your performance will suffer rather than skyrocket – what you can do is optimise the ones you do get.
Though our body clocks are partly nature, there is a large nurture aspect; you can train yourself to be an early riser, if you put in the effort. First, decide on a time. If you want to learn to wake at seven in the morning, set your alarm for that hour every morning – yes, including weekends.
Improve the quality of your sleep by limiting use of screen pre-bedtime and light/noise pollution at night. Sleep in a place where natural light can filter in gradually throughout the morning. Thanks to your inbuilt circadian rhythms, you’ll find yourself waking happily at the appropriate hour. Too wintry for morning sun? Get yourself a wake-up light alarm clock. When it works, you won’t regret the investment.
Get moving
Don’t make me reel off the numerous physical and psychological benefits of a good exercise regime. As well as the obvious bodily improvements, fitter individuals demonstrate better mental health, higher cognitive abilities and superior concentration.
Yes, we all know we should lead active lives. But fitting exercise around a full-time work day is another matter. Your evenings are best spent with friends or family, and who honestly has the willpower to head to the gym before work? You can barely get out of bed at the right time, let alone take a run two hours earlier.
The answer, my friends, is clear. It’s time to opt for an active commute.
That’s right: I’m telling you to run to work. Alright, so you’ll have to deal with pollution and annoying slow walkers. And you’ll have to ensure there’s some kind of shower at the other end to take advantage of. But, altogether, running to work will make you healthier, smugger and – in most cases – better at the job you’re headed to. Say goodbye to transport issues too; there’s not many traffic jams that can stop a runner pushing on through.
Can’t run? Walk. A few extra train stops on foot never killed anyone.
Plan ahead
No, I don’t mean buying that train ticket two weeks in advance – although this is a no doubt worthy goal. Planning ahead in your personal life and career is an essential step in managing both. Of course, you can’t predict exactly what the world will look like in two, five, ten or twenty years. But you can sure as hell work out how you’d like it to, and the steps it will take to get you there.
Set yourself deadlines. Want to own a house in five years? Work out how much you’ll need to save and set yourself concrete monthly goals. Got a huge project in next week? Break down the next few days and write out a daily schedule or to-do list. Be realistic in what you can accomplish and, when it comes down to work, strict with yourself.
If you have trouble sticking to self-made deadlines, try sharing them with a spouse or friend – potentially, via social media, the world. The added peer pressure may help you live up to your own expectations. You could even consider seeking out an accountability partner.
Stuck in a rut? Get planning. Feel less than optimally productive? Get planning.
Got so much to do you don’t know where to start? Break it down and get planning.
About the author
Susanna Quirke writes for Inspiring Interns, a graduate recruitment agency which specialises in sourcing candidates for internships and giving out graduate careers advice. To hire graduates or browse graduate jobs, visit their website
