6 Ways To Be Productive (Even When You Don’t Feel Like It)

Have you ever woken up in the morning and just did not feel like being productive that day?

Maybe it’s gloomy and rainy outside, or the day before was exhausting. Whatever the reason, you wake up and feel like doing absolutely nothing.

I get it. I totally do. In fact, I started this week like that. On Monday morning, I woke up to grey skies and pouring rain and all my motivation to have a productive day was completely gone.

I’m a huge advocate of productivity and organizing your life so you have more time to live. I’ve written blog posts about how to have productive mornings and ways to incorporate healthy habits into your every day life. Yet sometimes, I don’t have the energy to do any of that.

And you know what? That’s okay. That’s normal. We don’t have to go, go, go all the time, and not every day has to be extremely productive. Sometimes the day goes by a little slower than normal.

That’s okay. Sometimes it takes just a little push to get going. Here are a few ways to stay productive on those types of days, and the best part is, these things don’t take a lot of effort at all.

{ONE} Write a to-do list.

Even if you aren’t feeling your best, write down the things that need to get done. Even it’s as simple as “make the bed,” write it down. Checking off to-dos makes you feel accomplished, and even if you don’t complete the entire list, at list it’s written down for tomorrow!

{TWO} Listen to a podcast.

One of my “productive hacks” is listening to a podcast while I do other things like get ready for the day, brush my teeth, and pack my lunch. It’s a great way to gain information without overloading your brain. If you want to take it a step farther, listen to an audiobook instead.

{THREE} Read for at least 5-10 minutes.

I am a huge reader. I’ve gone through phases when I rarely read, but this year I’ve made it a goal to read every day. People say, “I don’t have time to read. I’m so busy!” But really, it’s the simple act of creating a habit that people don’t want to commit to. On slow days when I just do not feel like being productive at all, I still read even if it’s just 5-10 minutes. It doesn’t take very long but you still accomplish something, no matter how small!

{FOUR} Tidy up.

While you may not feel like deep-cleaning the house, that doesn’t mean it should go untouched. Tidy up instead. Fold the blankets and make the bed. Put the dishes in the dishwasher. Throw away the junk mail. Creating a clean space can help ease your mind. Seeing the house slowly transform into a tidy space improves your mindset and makes you feel productive.

{FIVE} Always leave the room with something.

Similarly, whenever you leave a room, bring something with you. Is there a cup in the living room? When you leave the room, bring it with you to the kitchen. Are there shoes in the kitchen? Bring it with you to the bedroom. Without too much effort, you clean the house one room at a time.

{SIX} Add little exercises throughout the day.

You may not feel like going to the gym and running for miles, but that doesn’t mean you should not move at all. Add little exercises throughout the day instead. Do squats as you brush your teeth. March in place as you wait for the microwave. Walk up and down the steps for 5 minutes straight. Moving your body, even if it’s only for a little bit, does wonders for your health and your mindset.