I've always had a hard time getting out of bed at the same time. The one thing I find hardest to control is my sleep pattern. To be more productive, I would like to alter my sleep schedule and wake up simultaneously each day. Now, I don't want to get up at 5 a.m. every morning because, honestly, not everyone can do that. But I have to pick a time that suits me, and I have to get up every morning. My body will become accustomed to having a specific schedule if I have one, and eventually, it will become a habit that I am unaware of. It's important to follow a defined schedule so our body can develop a rhythm and predict your bedtime and wake-up times. The time you choose must allow you enough time to get ready before you have to go to work and fits with your schedule and lifestyle.
Every morning I wake up, trudge to my laptop, and check my emails. It's a cycle that has become so routine over the years that I could do it in my sleep. But today, something inside me said enough is enough! I decided to break this mundane cycle and make one small change: no more email checking first thing in the morning. Instead of rolling out of bed and diving into work mode headfirst, I'm going to start using those early hours for something else — like yoga or breakfast with friends or even just a few extra minutes of shut-eye. It may seem like such a tiny detail but trust me when I say it's already making an impact on how productive (and sane) I am throughout the day. Not only do these little moments help reset my mind before tackling all those emails but they also give me time to appreciate life outside work — which is important too!
Ever since my baby daughter was born I have started a habit of drinking a couple of energy drinks every day. Having a newborn I was exhausted and needed some caffeine to help me get motivated in the morning. It has escalated to one in the morning and one in the afternoon. This is something I plan on changing out of my daily routine now that my daughter is older and I am getting better sleep. I know energy drinks can’t be that great for you. I plan on just cutting back to 1 a day at first, then with the plan of no more energy drinks completely.
For the most part, I stay locked in. Since the New Year, I have been going to bed earlier, waking up earlier, eating healthier, and staying on top of my tasks. This has benefited me significantly but at the end of the day, I find myself restless. I think this is because there is a crucial piece of the puzzle missing.. and that piece is fun. That is not to say that I do not have fun throughout the day, but I would like to make a point of incorporating it into my daily routine moving forward! This can show itself in the form of social interaction, trying new things, or engaging in activities that I know bring joy. I hope this helps! Best, Nick Varga nick@eridejournal.com
I generally have a busy schedule starting in the early morning and time just passes by really fast when I am working on something. When it is time to rest after my work hour, I often look for something that can be done at home, even after I finish doing the basic activity or chores such as preparing food or cleaning the house. For me, it is a bit difficult to sit down or rest without thinking about what other things that can be done apart from resting. It can be exhausting in the long term because the feeling of tiredness accumulates over time and it is not very healthy to keep trying to be productive. Therefore, I think it is important for us to be able to just enjoy our free time more.