10 little habits to improve your creative process
Do you feel stuck and unproductive most days? Yet, you have so many things to do, but somehow when it’s time to take action you don’t. I feel you! I have been there so many times. Your creative process can improve so much if practice this little habits. They will improve not only your creativity, but also productivity and mood!
do you Want to learn how?
You work from home. You are a mom. You have children or pets or plants (or all of those things!). You know what you want but it’s hard to stay focused. It’s hard to find time to be creative and have a schedule. I hear you! A little routine to create healthy habits will go a long way for you, your health, your creativity, your career, … you name it!
First, let me tell you that the following list is not meant to overwhelm you even more. I didn’t start doing all these things at the same time. I started one at a time and only when they felt right. But one thing is for sure, when you make changes to become the healthier and more focused version of yourself everything else starts falling into place as well.
So, here it’s my list:
No cell phone first thing in the morning
I know this is the very first thing I did every morning. Check my emails, instagram and what not. But really? All those things have been there waiting all night, they can wait one more hour or 30 minutes. So, now, I turn off my alarm and I shower. Then get the girls ready for school and take a quick look at my email to see if there is anything urgent. Everything else will wait until I return from dropping the girls off to school. Your morning routine, might be all different but you get the point. Shower, eat breakfast, talk to your partner, to your dog, or kids… then check your phone!
Drink a glass of water
Having kids makes it harder to take care of yourself and I often find myself dehydrated at the end of the day because I literally don’t have time to drink water. Now, every morning, as soon as I get to the kitchen I make the point to pour a full glass of water for myself. I can’t even tell you how important it is to stay hydrated!!
Cold shower
If you are anything like me, you know a cold shower is totally out of the picture. Science says it’s very good for you, but it really doesn’t matter what science says, it’s miserable. So, if you can take cold showers great for your, your body, the environment, AND your pocket. If not, I would try a few seconds at the end and build up from there (30 seconds being your goal). If I am honest, during the winter I can barely take two seconds, but I am working on it and I would like to think I am getting better… ? maybe?
Exercise/ Stretch
Anything active. Obviously, this list is not in order you might want to exercise before your shower… Go for run, a bike ride, yoga class… anything! I have personally started doing HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). It’s good for me, because I don’t like to exercise a lot and most work outs are 20 to 30 minutes (even some 10 minutes). So, my brain can tolerate the thought of 20 minutes while if I think of an hour I end up coming with a lot of excuses. But, whatever works for you! You will thank me later!
Write
When I was a little girl I used to write in my journal anything that troubled me and somehow after putting on the paper I felt relieved. But life gets busy and I stopped doing it. Now, I look back and realized how much it helped me back then. So, I started writing again. You are not writing for anyone other than you. It’s to clear your thoughts, sometimes to vent, to be funny, … anything you want. Just for a few minutes. Once you started you will realize how much you have to say!!
Hardest things first
If there is anything that scares you, you have been putting of, you don’t like doing… then do that ‘task’ first. Get it out of the way first thing in the morning. Just do it!
Take breaks from the screen (20-20-20)
What does this mean? For every 20 minutes you look at your screen, spend 20 seconds looking at something that is at least 20 feet away from you. It’s easy to forget, so just set up an alarm. Your eyes will thank you!
Stay organize
Having an organized and clean space will help you very much to be productive. I sometimes feel like I don’t have time to clean. But having an open nice space makes me happier and more productive almost automatically!
Learn
Never stop learning, it’s good for your brain, for your soul, for everything. Get out of your comfort zone and remain yourself what’s like to learn something new. It’s always so exciting!
Be present
Truly be present. If you are having breakfast, just have breakfast. You might be thinking, Ana, of course, when I have breakfast, I just have breakfast. What I mean, it’s just enjoy the food and be present in that moment. Don’t eat breakfast, or lunch for that matter, while checking emails, scrolling through instagram, watching reels… There is time for everything, just enjoy your food and be present. I am still working on being present more, especially for my girls and learn to put the phone away and don’t run to it every time it beeps.
Let me hear about you! What do you do be more productive? Have you found a little routine that helps you stay focused? Please, reach out! I would love to hear from you!
Thank you for reading,
Ana