8 Ways to Stay Motivated, Reduce Stress, and Be More Productive

When there’s work to be done but you can’t find the motivation to do it. When you’d rather read anything other than the one thing you’re supposed to be reading. When you’d rather write about anything other than the one thing you’re supposed to be writing.

Then don’t worry about it. Just get up and do something else. Not doing the thing your supposed to be doing seems like a counterproductive way get motivated, but changing your surroundings can help readjust your mind. After doing the same thing for an extended period of time your brain will just give up on you. When I hit a wall or find that I can’t possibly do anything more I like to get up and walk around, usually I find something else to do for 15-20 minutes just to get my mind fresh.

8 Things to Help You Get Back On Track

1. Clean up your desk

After I’ve been at the computer for a certain number of hours / days it starts to look like I’m living there. Food, drinks, stacks of papers books, and lots of random things that I’ve picked up over the course of the day. When all the clutter starts to invade my workspace I find it hard to focus on the task at hand. Throughout the day I take breaks from real work to clean up around me. It gives me time to think about something else and feels a lot better when I decide to get back to it. Empty desk, Empty mind.

2. Get food

Cooking or getting a quick snack is a great way to get your mind off of what you are doing. Not to mention proper diet and nutrition is the key to proper brain function. Many times we snack rather than take the time to cook. This can be troublesome, and eventually you will run out of gas. You may save time by eating snacks or junk food, but when you’re moving in slow motion you won’t be helping anybody.

3. Change the music

How many times have you listened to that same song. When I get myself in a slump I like to completely change the music. I look for something I’ve never heard before. Websites like pandora.com are great because you don’t have to rely on your hard-drive for music. Exposing yourself to new things is a good way to keep yourself interested in what you are doing.

4. Watch TV

This works for me because I no longer have cable. Since I don’t spend lots of time watching TV from day to day, it can be a positive way to take my mind off of working for 20 minutes to an hour. After many hours of reading on a computer monitor its nice to give your eyes a rest. Sometimes a good old fashion TV set (46″ Samsung LCD ) can do the trick. Too much time at a montior can lead to eye strain and headaches.

5. Play a Game

After a long session of programming or writing or even homework I like to get on the Xbox for an hour or so. Although sometimes you just can’t beat a round of Desktop Tower Defense

6. Go Outside

This is something we sometimes forget to do in the technology age. Whether its going out for a run, or just walking aimlessly, just being outside for a while can be a great way to recharge your batteries. Exercise can increase your blood flow and circulation. Sometimes that’s all you need when you brain turns off.

7. Change your Desktop Theme / Backgrounds

When you can’t get a real change of scenery the next best thing is changing the one that’s right in front of you. I try to keep lots of scenic pictures around in my office. Not pictures of people that I know but mostly landscapes or scenic pictures. Sometimes feeling like I’m free to walk down to the beach is enough for the time being.

8. Water the plants

I like to keep lots of green plants around wherever I am. There are lots of reasons to do this. One is they provide lots of fresh oxygen and help to filter the air inside. Also they look nice and add more energy to the room. The other benefit is the more plants I have around the more time I can spend getting up to take care of them. It can be kind of a chore, but it’s also a way to have built in breaks throughout the day.

Conclusion

When you start to run out of gas, it’s important to shift gears. Change the scenery, think about something else for a while and give your brain a chance to rest, you will thank yourself in the end.