Nothing beats a day where you come out of work feeling like you did a lot of things. However, we can’t deny that there have been times when we don’t feel as productive, leaving us feeling disappointed and perhaps even in a bad mood.

Wouldn’t it be great to end the day feeling happy and content with what you’ve achieved in the last 8-10 hours?

Daily Habits That Will Make You Happy And Successful

Here is a list of tips that can help you do exactly that.

Be Consistent

As the old saying goes, “consistency is key”. You may find yourself switching from one task to another after a few minutes of concentrating on only one. You may think this is something normal. You may even think that a lot of people do this in their daily work process.

Well, you’re right!

However, this is something that hinders you from doing more. Jessica Harris from Trello explains that switching from one task to another can temporarily lower your IQ by up to 15 points.

Eliminating multitasking from your work routine is something that can’t be easily achieved. But, avoiding distraction and concentrating on one thing at a time ups your productivity by a whole lot.

You need to create rules for yourself. You need to plan ahead and make a work schedule. Remember, consistency is key.

Write a Gratitude Journal

A study conducted by UCLA proved that people who jot down events they were grateful for are actually more optimistic in contrast to people who do not practice keeping a gratitude journal. These people tend to visit the doctor’s office less frequently. And these people tend to be at work more often than those who don’t.

Gratitude journals are a popular way to get you pumped up for the next day. Write what you are thankful for today. Put it in a note and watch yourself become more positive and more productive.

If you’re not a writing person, then you can still benefit from this. There are apps out there that you can use as an alternative.

You don’t have to write grand and important things. It can be as simple as finding a stray bill in the pocket of your jeans on the way to work. It can as simple as talking to that beautiful barista that you see every day. Anything that brightens up your day can be an entry.

Use the “If/When-Then” Method

Highlighted in a book called “Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade by Robert Cialdini”. The “If/When-Then” method has been proven to improve people’s chances of meeting their goals.

The first thing that you need to do is to pick a cue, then you need to put a desirable action that you can link to that cue. For example, If/when you finish a task earlier than the time you had allotted for it, then you can take a break and eat your favorite chocolate bar. This simple method will help you in a grand way.

Try finding some situations that you can use to apply the “If/When-Then” method.

Using this method can help you be more productive in the day-to-day grind. Decision-making will be easier for you as well because you’ve already figured out the right thing to do. This saves you from wasting time and prevents you from being unsure of yourself.

Set Aside Time for Exercise

Fitting exercise into your busy schedule is hard, but you should still try to do it. Exercise brings lots of benefits. And even a few minutes of it can help you be more productive.

While you might think that you would need an expensive gym membership or to spend lots of time running laps, there are options for busybodies like you to only spend minutes and still get benefits out of your workout. The 7-Minute workout routine is an example. You can do it anywhere and it actually gives you results.

Alternatively, you can go for a short walk while on a break to help reduce stress. Quick strolls will help you get your focus back by letting your brain rest for a few minutes. Once you get back to work, you’ll feel refreshed and ready to take on more challenges.

There are many options on how to insert a simple workout routine into your everyday office life. You can still do this even if you aren’t a gym person. You can even use your office chair to conduct simple stretches to ease back or shoulder pain. Give your joints a tiny reward for their hard work and they will reward you back by making you more productive.

Create a Shutdown Ritual

Like you, our office computers and gadgets also need to rest after a long day of being used. So if a tireless machine needs time to rest, then what does that say about you?

Having a shutdown ritual is where you take time to finish up your day’s work and prepare yourself for the next day. Eric Barker, a celebrated author, has found out through research that even the simplest act of writing down what you need to do for the next day can help your brain settle down and get ready to end the day. Letting your mind unwind before leaving the office makes you less anxious and helps you enjoy your evening more.

A tip for creating a shutdown ritual is by listing exactly three specific things that you will need to do the next day. Research has also shown that having a clean desk helps you concentrate more on tasks, so don’t forget to clean up before leaving.

Aside from these tips and tricks, it’s also very important to take a moment and reflect on your life. You need to define what success means to you. Having a clear vision of what success looks like will help you stop yourself from burning out.

Remember that these steps are only a guide for you to achieve your goals. In the end, you are the creator of your own destiny. Never forget that the most important thing is prioritizing “YOU”. Follows these tips and tricks and you’ll be set on your way to real and lasting success.

LA STARTUPS

Website | + posts

LAStartups.com is a digital lifestyle publication that covers the culture of startups and technology companies in Los Angeles. It is the go-to site for people who want to keep up with what matters in Los Angeles’ tech and startups from those who know the city best.