Lifestyle

The 7 most productive things to do during your downtime

Have you ever woken up and wondered, “What did I do last night?” No, I’m not talking about after a late night out with friends, but a Wednesday night jogging at home. Of course, while we believe life is to like so much Instead of a workday that continues to drag on, we are all looking for more productive things to do to help us learn, grow, and embrace the beauty of each moment.

Again, and I can’t stress this enough: there’s nothing wrong with going through four episodes of Strange things (or Love Islandchoose your own adventure) and catch up above all of TikToks you missed for the day. We’ve all had nights like this. And sometimes, they go overboard!

But if you commute to work wondering where your vacation time has gone and feel like your week is all about getting things done, it might be time to switch to how you spend your time. You have all the tools to be productive, so why not stay at home?

In the spirit of doing exactly that, we’ve put together ideas for easy, fun, and productive things that will get you back to work the next day feeling rejuvenated and refreshed.

Featured image of Kristen Kilpatrick.

Pictures of Michelle Nash

Rebuild your mindset

You’re too busy to go to the gym, take that Spanish class, or visit grandma, right? Wrong. At least according to Laura Vanderkam, author of 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think. Vanderkam calls us out when we say we’re “too busy” to take a class, read a book, or follow your passion.

In fact, she believes we have plenty of time for everything that’s important to us. “Think of it like this: if you work 40 hours a week and manage to get the recommended 8 hours of sleep a night, you’ll have 72 hours when you’re not working.” That’s a lot of hours you can use however you want.

Adjust your mindset so that you don’t get too busy and curious. If you’re looking to take on a new hobby or project, remember that the hardest part is always getting started.

If you still feel like this isn’t possible, consider re-evaluating what’s really important to you. According to Vanderkam, instead of saying you don’t have time and using it as an excuse not to do it, she suggests swapping in the phrase, “It’s not a priority.” Not only will you feel guilty for saying no, but it will also remind you what your priorities are. When you think about priorities, you’re holding your time — and yourself — accountable. That may mean fewer hours of fun, but you can become a salsa pro.

Find an Exercise (Finally!) That Makes You Feel Good

Tell me if this sounds familiar: Out of nowhere, you develop a strong, insatiable desire to “get in shape” and you immediately turn to social media. for instructions. While platforms don’t lack fitspo, it’s very easy to get caught up in a routine or activity that works for others. Instead, take a moment to think about what you want to achieve in your fitness journey (journaling can help!).

It could be building strength, energizing, or improving your flexibility. Your goal could also be social — find a sport with a strong community or something you can do with your partner or friends. Remember: There are many ways to stay active — you can choose what feels best to you.

Pictures of Michelle Nash

Write your heart out

Speaking of journaling… this is one of our favorite ways to dream big and live a life of purpose. Putting pen to paper is a powerful way to manifest your dreams and define your direction. While I love using my journal to set goals and map out the steps to get there, it can also be a creative space where you can simply doodle and daydream. simple. After all, it’s one of the best ways to keep your creativity flowing.

Not sure where to start? Find inspiration with our favorite journaling reminders — with reflections on gratitude, developing your core values, and more.

Pictures of Michelle Nash

Commit to purposeful communication

Sure, casual texting is fun, and sending memes back and forth via DM often fills our need for a laugh after work. But nothing creates meaning and connection in our days quite like a good phone call (or FaceTime, if that’s your thing!). As I’m going to take an exercise class or happy hour, I want to set up and schedule calls for the week ahead. I recommend no more than two calls a week (one per night), giving you plenty of space to relax with yourself.

If you’re stumped as to where to start, here are the conversation starters we’re aiming to have in-depth moments and build connections.

Pictures of Michelle Nash

Arrange for a more adventurous life

Just to be clear, this doesn’t mean you have to board a plane multiple times a month or book a luxury retreat (insert warm weather, beach or mountain location here). Like many things we want to improve in our lives, this involves a change in mindset. Ask yourself: How can I bring more spontaneity into my daily routine? Think of a list of small habit changes that can put you in the path of new people and experiences. Maybe it’s a new route to work, a visit to another coffee shop, or a switch to your lunch spot. However, you have made it a reality, embrace the change.

Pictures of Michelle Nash

Make reading a priority

We all said we wish we had more time to read. It topped all of our settlement lists every January for the past six years. But if you count how much time you spend each week watching Netflix or scrolling through social media, I bet you can find some time to make a gap in your reading list.

Shane Parrish of Farnum Street shares some good news: reading more isn’t as hard as you might think. “When I tell people I have a life and I don’t read quickly the question becomes: what’s your secret? How do you find more time to read than the average person? Well, first, there are no secrets. As simple as it sounds, finding time to read leads to choices about how you allocate your time.”

Pictures of Michelle Nash

Seize the opportunity

You can read one book a week. You can take a class. You can travel more. You can learn a new skill every day. The point here is: You just want to do it.

You might have a job that you absolutely love (yay!) that doesn’t make you feel like you’re only living for the weekend, but maybe you should live for the weekend and weeknights, in a different sense. Every hour you don’t go to work — or do housework — is an opportunity to pursue things that excite you. And a safe bet is that when you walk into the office, you’ll be pretty pleased with how you spent the night.

This post was originally published on July 16, 2019 and has since been updated.

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