Changing your daily routine: How to feel better and be more productive

It’s easy to get stuck in a daily routine. Routines provide a sense of comfort and familiarity, particularly if you have a busy schedule. However, sticking to the same routine every day can also lead to boredom, fatigue and a lack of motivation. That stagnation — the feeling of being stuck in a rut — can negatively impact productivity and mental health.

It’s important to disrupt your schedule if you feel stagnant in your daily routine. Making small changes to your routine can help you feel more engaged and energized. It can also help you discover new interests, hobbies and experiences. Even simple changes to your routine can create a happier, more fulfilling life.

Prioritize sleep

Sleep is critically important for overall health and well-being. Today, one in three adults doesn’t get enough sleep each night. Sufficient sleep can help improve vigilance, attention span and mood. Just as easily, a lack of sleep can impair your cognition and cause fatigue. Ongoing sleep deprivation can lead to obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

Healthy adults should try to get at least seven hours each night. To maximize your sleep, it’s important to minimize nighttime distractions and implement a routine that includes limiting screen time before bed. Blue light emitted by devices can interfere with melatonin production, your body’s sleep hormone. Try to avoid screens for at least one hour before bed.

It’s also important to create a sleep-friendly environment. Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark and at a comfortable temperature. Wear earplugs or a mask if necessary to limit light and noise. Using a smartwatch connected to a sleep-oriented app is another way to prioritize sleep. The best smartwatches have built-in functions that track metrics like heart rate and sleep patterns.

Eat a balanced breakfast

There’s a reason why breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eating a balanced breakfast is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It provides your body with the necessary energy and nutrients to start the day the right way.

Be sure to include a variety of nutritious foods like whole grains, fruits, low-fat milk and yogurt. Breakfast foods help to improve concentration, boost metabolism and reduce hunger. By contrast, skipping breakfast can lead to low energy levels and lingering hunger throughout the day.

Meditate

Regular meditation offers a variety of health benefits. Adding meditation to your daily routine can help you reduce stress, high blood pressure and depression. It can also help improve mental clarity, concentration and overall well-being.

There are many ways to introduce meditation into your daily schedule. If you have the time, attending classes can be beneficial. In-person or remote courses are ideal for participants who are new to meditation. 

You can also meditate by using a smartwatch in coordination with mindfulness apps, like Verizon’s new +Play offerings. These packages often include deals on meditation apps like Calm. Applications provide a variety of different guided meditations based on individual needs and preferences. 

Schedule regular workouts

Exercise is another way to boost your normal routine. Different forms of exercise provide a wide range of mental and physical health benefits. Even low-impact exercise can help improve brain functionality, manage weight and strengthen muscle.

Committing to a scheduled workout can be difficult. Set specific goals that help you stay engaged with your new exercise routine. Whether it’s a weight loss goal or a distance you want to run, goals help reinforce your dedication to any new routine.

Using a smartwatch can also help you stay committed to a workout. Most smartwatches allow you to measure vitals and track workout progress. Without disrupting your workout, a smartwatch can provide detailed updates on your goals. This can be a great way to track progress and stay motivated over time.

Get face time with loved ones

Regular face-to-face communication is also important daily. Personal communication helps to improve social connections, increase empathy and boost emotional intelligence. Even brief communication with others can positively impact mental health.

Face-to-face communication means speaking with someone in a shared location. Phone calls and texting are beneficial, but they do not provide the same benefits. For example, phone calls do not allow one person to read the body language of another person during a conversation.

When face-to-face communication isn’t possible, many people use virtual meeting technology. Virtual meeting spaces and video chat programs allow people to communicate remotely. These platforms allow you to see and hear the other person, which can help you feel more connected. They rely on high-speed internet, often at 5G speeds, to connect your device with someone else’s.

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Reading is one of the easiest ways to disrupt your daily routine. Even if you only read for a few minutes a day, the act of reading offers powerful benefits. Reading can improve mental health, reduce stress and lead to better cognitive function.

There’s no shortage of ways to access a good book. Local libraries allow you to check out and return books for free. Bookstores sell all sorts of popular titles, no matter what you’re interested in reading.

Using a tablet is another popular way to read. Tablets can often download an entire book in seconds. You can even delete a book after you’ve finished reading it to make room for your next novel. Through the internet, you can access thousands of books and choose the best one for you.

Get organized

Your living and working space have a large effect on your mental health. A clean space supports physical health and improves productivity. By contrast, a cluttered home or office can decrease well-being.

Organization can feel like an overwhelming task. For best results, organize one room or space at a time. Consider a smart home system that automatically reminds you about chores and appointments. It’s also important to implement time management strategies. Effective time management might include using a planner, setting reminders and prioritizing tasks.

Upgrade your living space

Upgrading your living space creates comfort and confidence. Even a simple upgrade to your home can positively impact your mental and emotional well-being. A home that is comfortable, aesthetically pleasing and functional can help you feel more relaxed and productive.

Many different types of upgrades can meaningfully improve your home. Consider adding a home office to your house. This space is reserved specifically for business, a place where you can work productively without interruption. Adding a home office can also help you mentally separate your day between work and family life.

Adding a game room to your house can help support a healthy work-life balance. Your game room might include a pool table, video game console or board games. Having a space for entertainment can help relieve stress and promote relaxation.

Upgrading your home might also mean adding a home gym. Setting up a home gym can save you time and money otherwise spent on a gym membership. Create and preserve a home workout space where you add dumbbells, yoga mats or any other workout equipment you need. A designated space can also help you maintain a consistent workout routine.

When it comes down to it, your daily routine can benefit from intentional switch-ups that amplify your energy and increase your wellness. Need some tools? You can use a number of apps and devices to nurture your mind, body and spirit, making it that much easier to get excited about (and get started on) reinvigorating your routine.