Self-Improvement Tips for a Productive Life [INFOGRAPHIC]

Are you looking for ways to be more productive? If so, these tips for a productive life will help you achieve more without needing to make any drastic changes to your daily routine.

As graphic designers, we all know what it feels like to have to juggle a whole bunch of different projects at once, and on top of that deal with deadlines, communication, ad hoc request, and just daily life too.

After a few years of being a full-time freelancer, and experiencing burnout on an almost regular basis, I wanted to do something to change for the better. This is where introducing these simple self-improvement habits into my life became essential.

Below, you can check out the very simple – but very effective tips to help you lead a more productive life!

Get Some Fresh Air

Getting out into the world and taking in some fresh air has significant benefits on your ability to remain focused for extended periods of time.

When I feel stressed or like I’m not being productive as I could, I try to take a quick break to go for a small walk around my little village. It doesn’t have to be a huge walk! Something as simple as a five-minute stroll will get you out into the fresh air and away from the stress of work.

Show Gratitude

Being grateful for the things you have in your life allows you to feel more content with yourself, your friends, and your family. When you feel content, you're more likely to be productive.

At the end of every day, I write down something I’m grateful for. Some days, that’s as simple as being thankful for my morning cup of coffee. The important thing is that doing this allows me to be constantly mindful of all the good things going on in life – something that we’re all guilty of overlooking now and then.

This is also included in my guide to productive evening routines, which you can check out here!

Define milestones

Milestones will help you determine how far along you are to reaching your goals. These aren't end-points, but rather markers of progress. You can even attach a treat to a milestone, so you can reward yourself for your hard work.

Giving yourself little rewards for all the milestones you achieve is a key part of gamifying your life, which can also have a huge effect on boosting your productivity and overall wellbeing.

Focus on the Journey

It can be easy to get bogged down in chasing goals, and not stopping to focus on the task at hand. Try to focus on the work, and enjoy your journey to success. When you enjoy the work, being productive will feel very easy.

I know that it sounds cliché, but when you forget about the goals and targets, and instead focus solely on the work, you’ll find being productive actually becomes fun, and something you want to do instead of have to do.

Embrace Failure

Failure is part of the journey. Nobody who has ever succeeded in anything got there without a good amount of failure to go along with it. When you're not afraid of failing, your productivity will go through the roof.

Everything you want is on the other side of fear, so said Jack Canfield, the American motivational speaker. And it’s true! When you look at failure as not something to be feared, but something to be embraced, you’re much more likely to be productive and try new things!

Switch Disciplines

As a designer, it doesn't take much to feel burned out or creatively stagnant. When you feel like you can't come up with anything new, switch your creative medium. Changing to writing, painting, drawing, or anything else you're not used to will help spark ideas!

I do this all the time! I’m not particularly good at drawing, but I find that stepping away from Photoshop every now and then and trying my hand at physical drawing can be hugely helpful in letting me see problems from a different perspective.

Conclusion

So there you have it! You now know the six simple techniques and habits that I use to be more productive in my day-to-day life!

I really can’t understate how important these have been in not only helping me be more productive, but also managing stress and maintaining a good work/life balance too.

What methods, tricks, or techniques do you use to be more productive? Get in touch with us!

Like this? Pin it!

---