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How to Be Productive When You’re Feeling Super Lazy

Published on by thesmartyfemme2 Comments

Because Netflix and chill can’t happen 24/7 😦

~ 3-5 mins read

Maybe today is that day. A day when you wake up feeling that you don’t want to do anything. It was only yesterday you told yourself that you are going to cross out five things off your to-do list tomorrow. Now, those thoughts have come to a screeching halt.

It’s totally OK to have a relaxing day and not do anything productive. But, let’s say you really need to get out of bed and tackle some tasks. You might feel lazy now, but it could be because you haven’t turned on your productive mindset and it needs a little help.

TSF TIP:

Some days, we need to think productive in order to be productive.

Here are some tips to help you get started:

  1. Change out of your pajamas and into something that’ll get you in a productive mindset. It can still be soft and 100% cotton, but change into something with the goal of making yourself feel ready to kick-off the day.
  2. Do a quick, 10-minute workout to get your body energized for the day. This doesn’t have to be a full-on HIIT workout with 8 lb weights, unless you want it to be. You could do 10 push-ups, 10 jumping jacks, some stretches, and a couple of deep inhales and exhales. That’s totally fine.
  3. Given the stay-at-home/quarantining circumstances, you’re not seeing anyone with the exception of your daily “coworkers,” aka your pet and significant other (if any; if not, ignore) and the occasional blurry video call from your boss. But, it can possibly help get you in a good mood if you take care of how you look. Comb that hair, brush your teeth, and use that scented body lotion (this is my favorite). Whatever it takes.
  4. Eat something substantial. Three bites of your candy bar from last night doesn’t count. Here are some delicious eats if you want to look at food pictures and drool over them. You can also have one of three options: 1) Oatmeal with cinnamon and fruit, 2) Toast with peanut butter and chia seeds, or 3) Banana and yogurt. Or, you can pick whatever you want to eat. Just make it good and insta-worthy, duh.
  5. Cool, you read through this entire post. Leave the comment: “I got this” and give yourself a pat on the back.

Hope these tips can help jump-start your day. Now, go own it, you smarty femme!

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Hack Your To-Do List and Make It Work for You

Published on by thesmartyfemme2 Comments

Because, not all to-do lists are alike

~5 – 7 mins read

I’ve had my fair share of to-do lists that seemed daunting to complete. Often times, I found myself tempted to give up since I thought, “There’s no way I’ll be able to complete the list, so why even bother doing it?” 

You might have found yourself in a similar situation, and it’s certainly no fun. To-do lists are supposed to help you, so you can actually get things done (duh!). It is so much easier when you know exactly what you need to do and how important the task is to complete today.

Luckily for you, I’ve tried many to-do lists (some of which were created with colorful gel pens) and discovered a list format that works best for me. I’m a big fan of this list format since I feel more motivated to tackle my to-dos. Also, it makes me feel less anxious and overwhelmed knowing what I need to complete next. Hopefully it does the same for you!

Let’s begin!

Step 1

Make three sections, labeling them: 

DO TODAY

TODAY IF POSSIBLE

IF TIME PERMITS

Step 2

It’s time to fill-in these sections with your to-dos. Here is how I classify them:

DO TODAY: This section is for urgent to-dos that you utterly, absolutely, 110%, need to complete today. Today, I needed to do my laundry, make a doc appointment, call my friend Kelsey, go to Trader Joe’s, and drink enough water. All very adult-ish things.

TODAY IF POSSIBLE: This section is for to-dos that can be finished today, although you still have the next couple of days to complete them. In my list, I wrote: clean my bedroom and pack for my trip to Yosemite. I don’t need to do them today. I can, in fact, do them tomorrow. There’s still some wiggle room here.

IF TIME PERMITS: This section is for tasks that are further out in the future, but if you are able to zip through the past two sections, then by all means start tackling this section as well. After all, we’re all here to become more productive.

I have some tasks such as organize my pantry and find a birthday present for my friend Michelle. If I don’t have time today, I can complete these tasks next week. But, let’s see how the day goes and if I’m able to complete my other tasks, then I’ll get these to-dos squared away.

Step 3

You’re ready to start tackling your to-dos. By using the format, you can clearly see what tasks you need to get done. I use this list format both at work and at home, and I find myself getting a LOT more to-dos done. Hooray for productivity!

You can use the list again for the next couple of days, depending on how many tasks you have on it. So, you don’t need to keep re-creating these lists unless you absolutely need to, saving you time to focus on actually doing your tasks.

Below is what I actually did today. I clearly need to drink more water.

Enjoy tackling your to-dos, you smarty femme!

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How to Create Goals for the New Year (Not Resolutions!)

Published on by thesmartyfemme3 Comments

Resolutions aren’t your thing? Don’t worry, neither is mine.

~3 – 5 mins read

Maybe New Year resolutions aren’t your thing, and it definitely isn’t for everyone (it’s definitely NOT my cup of tea!). While I think that resolutions can be a bit vague and it can be hard to hold on to once the months pass by, I think there is a wonderful thing about setting goals for yourself at the start of the year. 

I recently did this with my husband, and it was refreshing to have an open discussion about our goals, and what we wanted to achieve. I reflected on what goals I wish to accomplish this year, and he did the same. After we took the time to reflect on our goals, we sat on our living room couch and shared what each of us wrote. My notes were scribbled on a piece of paper, while his goals were listed on a color-coded spreadsheet, labeled with different buckets. Needless to say, we clearly have different personalities. 

TSF TIP:

Regardless of whether you’re writing these goals alone, with your S.O., or with your best friend, I recommend writing your goals out, whether you prefer writing on a piece of paper or electronically. It helps reinforce the ideas that you have when you see it for a second, or third time, instead of keeping it in your head. 

When my husband and I discussed our goals together, we made it a point to talk about the significance of why we wanted to achieve the goal and how we can go about doing so. For some goals, you don’t need to know how to completely achieve a goal at that exact moment (e.g. learning about a certain subject or learning a new hobby). Maybe you need to do some more research to see whether it would be possible, and maybe you realize later that it’s not worth your time — and this is completely OK. <insert hug here>

After discussing our goals, we gave each other our honest advice, and sought out ways on how we can help the other person out. If you are doing the brainstorming on your own, I recommend sharing them with a trusted friend or mentor, and ask them to give their honest and transparent thoughts. As a result of our sharing and advice-giving session, my husband and I both had a better idea of what are our goals, why we want to achieve them, and how we can try to achieve our goals. 

Most importantly, use this brainstorming sesh as a catalyst to jumpstart into driving these goals in formation. Keep your list handy so you can refer to it from time to time, and make 2020 your year!