You get home from work and all you want to do is lay in bed. The pressures of day-to-day routines and work duties are taxing on a person. We spend a majority of our hours at the office or focusing on a work project, confined by four walls. We no longer have the flexibility to go out when we want or to enjoy fresh air. The constant thought in my head is when can I return to my place of solace? My bed. Its as if the moment I walk through my apartment doors, I am hit with a wave of laziness. We all know the feeling; the procrastination hits and it’s game over. I’m here to tell you that laziness doesn’t have to take over all the time. And when it comes to having to handle important tasks like looking for a new apartment or keeping your apartment in tip top shape, it’s essential to stay productive.
Here are some helpful hints to beating the lazy:
1. Make a list of things to do
I do this every single day, whether it gets done or not. It is the best way to center yourself around your goals. It can be small tasks such as taking out the garbage or washing that set of dishes in your sink that may have been sitting there for a day or two. There is no better feeling than crossing off an item on your things to do list. Throughout my work day, I like to keep a running list of anything I can think of. Sometimes it can be a creative item, such as creating a food blog or going to a dance class. Don’t limit yourself – the list does not judge! It can even say “wash your hair”. Whatever it takes to remember the little things, do it and a list is a great place to start. Start that list now!
2. Avoid laying down the moment you get home.
This is one of the worst things I do. As I said in the beginning, my bed is my place of peace. It is comfy and is always waiting for me. This can be the ultimate killer of productivity. The moment you get comfy it all goes downhill. Walk around your apartment. Finish those tasks you have been meaning to do, or start crossing the manageable items off your things-to-do list. Do you have clothes on the floor? Pick them up. Is your trash can overflowing? Get those extra steps and bring it to the dumpster. Do you have a pile of junk mail on your coffee table? Start ripping them to shreds and make room. Just don’t lay down. You will commence the sweetest nap and there goes the remaining hours of your day. (If you’re super tired, go for it. Life is short. Take the nap, but set the alarm.)
3. Utilize the technology of your phone.
I could not say it enough about my Calendar on my iPhone. Not only can you set up alerts but it puts your schedule all in one place. Is there an important apartment viewing you need to go to? Set a reminder. We have all of these things at our fingertips… literally. We should use it. In addition to my calendar, I have an app called Any.do, which gives me the ability to compile the ultimate things-to-do list. You have the opportunity to make different sets of lists (i.e.: grocery list, bucket list, personal list, etc.) and the functionality of the app is very simple. You can cross out each items and it has the ability to connect with your calendar, which can send additional reminders for the forgetful folk. Plus it is FREE. There are various types of productivity apps besides the one I just mentioned. Other helpful apps are Google Keep, Todoist, Wunderlist, and Taskcode. Using a notebook and pen and starting a bullet journal is good too.
4. Change your mindset.
We are only given a short amount of free hours a day especially if most of your time is spend in an office. As they say, attitude changes everything and when it comes to productivity, that much is true. If you stay in an ambitious and positive mindset, there is no limit to what you can do. Take advantage of the time you have.
5. Get up early.
Seriously, it can change how you view your day. It gives you time to work out or do some extra clean up in your apartment. We all cherish those few hours of sleep and getting up early is no easy task. If you’re moving into a new place, this gives you time to finish a few minor tasks that can be finished quickly. Furthermore, it gives you time to balance and reflect. Sounds cheesy, I know but it truly makes a difference in how you jump start your day.
