It’s the beginning of a new year and it is a great time to look at the link between productivity and happiness.

What have you done today? What did you achieve yesterday? When you’re challenged do you stick your head in the sand, finding something to distract yourself like Facebook or a computer game or do you face it with a I can do it attitude?

Consider the following when deciding whether to do something productive or avoid it:
1. How do you feel? Take a few minutes, think about how you feel after doing something productive versus wasting hours watching cat videos or channel surfing. Which situation makes you feel more content and positive?

2. How are your organizational skills? If you are organized usually it is easier to accomplish your desired goals. Living a disorganized existence means you spend a lot of time trying to locate things. Productivity is reduced, think about those times you have spent hours looking for something.

3. Make a list of what you want to get done. A to-do list will quickly remind you of what you hope to complete. Plus when you cross off something you feel great.

4. Complete tasks in the morning when you’re rested. If you get started early you can see the signs of productivity by noon. You may be tired but having lunch will revive you for the afternoon (just don’t eat too many carbs) and you’ll feel accomplished.

5. Have a schedule and follow it. Schedule time for work and rest. All work and no play is not the way to live.

· At the end of the day you will have met your productivity goals and still have time to play. Your confidence likely increases from your higher productivity level. Your level of contentment has grown because you are finding balance between work and free time.

· If you’re procrastinating to get something done, set a time to just do it!

6. Develop routines and rituals to help you separate productive time from down time. It could be something as simple as changing what you have on or walking away from your computer.

· Simple behaviors can server as a powerful reminder that it’s time to work or play.

7. Pay attention to how you speak to yourself. Self-talk is powerful. When you complete a task do you say “great job” or “wow, look at you go” or do you say “What took you so long” or “its about time”?

· Make a note of what you say to yourself during moments you are avoiding doing things. Are you saying “I hate doing …..” or “I will avoid doing ……as long as I can”.

· What you say to yourself is powerful and sets the tone for how you will proceed. To increase productivity and happiness positive self-talk is a must.

Your choice to get things done plays into your level of happiness, considered how you feel when you have completed your tasks and you’re not thinking about them during your free time. Think about how it feels to have tasks on you’re mind during your play time…..

Make a list, get it done and then your free time is truly free.