productivity

And whatever you do,

whether in word or deed,

do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, 

giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

Hey guys!! I hope everyone has been doing well. Also, is it just me or are these weeks flying by? I post every other week, but it has been feeling like I post weekly. Anyways, I am so excited for this week's topic. Productivity has become such an amazing coping mechanism for stress, anxiety, hard times, and overall just living life for me. 

The first thing I want to touch on when it comes to productivity is that you have to want it. You can't just hope you will wake up one day, and have a better sense of time management. It is so easy to just lay around, and hope things will get done. It is also hard to get things done when life is not going the way you want. So, here are my tips on how I stay productive. 

#1 Sleep schedule :

Many of you who read my blog are young like me. We want to go to bed super late, and then, a lot of us either have work or school in the morning. Feeling tired is the worst when we have things that need to get done. My sleep schedule is not perfect by any means, but it does work for me. 

Every night, I get into bed no later than 9:30. I like to have plenty of time to wind down and relax. I will scroll through Instagram during this time, or watch YouTube. I try to put my phone away at 10:30. I like to be asleep by 11. My hours have changed at work, and I work 9-5 Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On these days, I have to wake up at 7:30. I do not have work until 1:15 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and so, I try to be awake no later than 9:15 on those days as well as on the weekends. This sleep schedule has been working for me, and I am very rarely tired. Also, I try my best to avoid naps, and if I am that tired, I will just go to bed earlier that night. 

#2 Mindset :

On days where I go into work later, it is especially easy to think that I can just lay in bed for awhile on my phone. It is up to me to get out of bed, and actually get things done. I think of it like "if I do this now, I will feel better, and will not have to do it later." Another huge thing that I have found helpful is planning ahead. The night before I will think of everything that needs to get done, and everything I would like to do. Then, I will put it in an order I would like to get it done in. Example : "I need to clean my room, write a blog, do a face mask, and run some errands. If I apply my face mask first, I can clean my room while it is drying. If I finish cleaning my room earlier, I will start writing for my blog before I wash the face mask off. Then after I am done writing my blog, I can run errands." Obviously, that part is pretty self-explanatory, and my schedule of what needs to get done is not always that cut and dry. Instead of just waking up and winging it, I already have a plan in my head, and this helps me to push myself out of bed in the morning. It is extremely helpful to change your mindset, and make the most out of what needs to be done. 

#3 Things to do to stay productive :

Now, for this part, I will just list out what I do myself to stay on top of things. Just a reminder, social media and watching videos/movies/shows are all great, and I am not saying that is a bad thing to do. I like to watch things at night before bed, but it is important to not get carried away and stay up half the night. It happens to me as well, but if you say you will turn it off at 10, turn it off! If you take yourself seriously, it becomes a lot easier. 

• Face masks / skin care routine - I have a morning and nighttime routine. I used to suck at skincare, but forcing it into my routine has been incredibly helpful and rewarding. 
• Reading - I read books that I like, and I also read books that are informational. Since I am no longer in school, I use it as an opportunity to learn and focus on the things I would like to know about. On most days when the toddler is napping, I read a book called "The Homegrown Preschooler: Teaching your Kids in the Places They Live." Also, I try to set time aside each day to read a devotion and the Bible. 
• Writing : I am always brainstorming for different things that I can blog about. Then, there is the actual writing up my blog that I have to do. I journal occasionally just to straighten out my thoughts, but since starting a blog, I have found myself journalling less and less. I also write for my sister's book. As for simple writing exercises, I have a book called "Burn After Writing" that basically asks things like "things I should let go of", "my favorite 'little things' in life", etc. 
• Cleaning : When I was in high school, my room was always the messiest when I was stressed or going through a bad time. No one feels like cleaning when they feel like their life is falling apart, right? That is no longer the case for me. I feel so good playing music and straightening up my room. I like my room clean, but it is always most clean when I am stressed. Cleaning and having a clean, comfy room makes me feel like I have at a least part of my life together.
• Research : THIS IS THE LAST THING I WILL TOUCH ON I PROMISE. Another thing I love to do to stay productive is research. I am constantly looking up activities for the toddler and I to do together. Then, I have recently been researching things for an online business my mom and I have been thinking about starting for awhile. 

I want to wrap this up by saying staying productive and getting out of bed in the morning can make the days go by smoother while helping you stay more organized. It is easy to have days where all we want to do is stay in bed (when we have the time for that), and sometimes, we need that. However, try to push yourself to go do something. There's always the chance it will take your mind off of things, and give you a sense of accomplishment. 

(I could not choose just one quote for this week's blog. Also, if it bothers you that they are not side by side, I apologize. I tried my best, but blogspot would not let me.)

As always, you ALL are loved and appreciated! <3 Thank you for taking the time to read my incredibly long blog. Please keep on praying for grandmother. For those of you who are new on here, my grandmother has a failing heart that causes a lot of other health complications. She could always use the extra prayers. 

Let's talk! I love hearing your own stories and opinions! If you have any questions / comments / concerns that you would rather not comment down below, direct message me or email me!

Instagram : Newkindofliving

Email : Newkindofliving@gmail.com  

PEACE OUT UNTIL NEXT TIME!!!