Are you struggling with keeping up with all the tasks? And also trying to take care of your space and yourself? Is your to-do list full of time-consuming tasks?
What if I told you that there are a lot of tasks that can be done in 1 minute and will supercharge your productivity?
You’d say that it is not possible. But, after reading a lot of self-help and time management books, I found out that it is indeed possible.
And if you do all of the 15 tasks, it will take you only 15 minutes, but you will have achieved a lot more than that.
Don’t underestimate what is possible in one minute. Here’s the list:
Desk declutter
I mean, duuuh! How are you supposed to concentrate on a cluttered desk that is full of papers, junk, and random stuff?
You can’t! You need to have a clean, empty space in order for your mind to be concentrated enough to do any kind of work or study.
So, invest one minute of your time, and get everything out of your face in their designated positions!
If they don’t have a designated space, then put them in a corner and deal with them later. Keep only what is important and what you are currently working on.
Everything else is out of sight, out of mind! It will take you one minute to do this, but will supercharge your productivity immediately!
Deep Breathing Exercise
Most of the time, I used to skip this one because who has time for breathing exercises?
But taking one minute to close your eyes and focus on your breathing can help you refocus and reset!
Tip: Do it in the midst of the day to retain focus and clarity.
It has so many benefits, such as reducing stress and promoting mindfulness.
It is one minute, but it will make a huge difference in your performance and also your mental health. Don’t skip this one.
One new idea
Now, this is my favorite one.
Grab one sheet of paper and a pen (or your phone) and write down ideas.
But what if you don’t have any ideas to write about? That’s the point of this exercise!
By just sitting down and concentrating on thinking of ideas, you will eventually come up with something. And it may be something that you haven’t thought of before or a solution to a problem you’re facing now.
You’re also exercising your brain and your thinking process. And who knows? Maybe you’ll come up with a big idea that will change your life! And it will take only one minute of your time!
Strech, Yoga Pose or movement
Do I need to explain this one?
Everyone knows how important exercise is for your energy levels. But not everyone has time for it or likes doing it. It’s fine.
Even one minute of exercise, like a set of jumping squats, can bring massive benefits.
Or you could do some yoga poses or stretching. Any movement is beneficial, and your body will thank you.
You can find online a lot of stretching poses, so no excuses!
A new word
Are you currently learning a new language?
You may also be overwhelmed by learning all the vocabulary, grammar, and syntax rules.
But taking a minute to learn one new word every day can help you in the learning process. Just one word per day is 365 words every year.Only by learning for 1 minute.
Tip: Use this one minute to not only learn one word but also revisit older words in order to keep them memorised. Use any flashcard online app to make it easier.
Even if you are not currently learning a new language, you could also study words in your own language.
Calendar Glance
Use this time to take a look at your calendar.
Check your appointments, tasks, chores, etc.
Check off what you have already done and what else needs to be done. Take note of your progress and how your day is turning out. In one minute, you will feel inspired and motivated to keep going and working.
Is your time today used in the way you planned? Are there any changes or adjustments you need to make? Did you forget anything important?
Drink one glass of water
I know you are tired of everyone telling you to drink water. But don’t underestimate how important it is.
Dehydration plays a major role in your energy levels and helps flush out toxins from your body.
If you are like me, and always forget to drink it, I would highly suggest you to buy a water bottle specifically for that purpose and carry it out with you at all times.
I have invest on this bottle, because it sends me reminders on my phone to drink water and I can accurately calculate my water intake. It is a bit pricey, but it deserves the investment 100%/
Listen to a good-feeling song
What is better to create a nice mood than listening to a good, positive song?
Take one minute out of your day and listen to an uplifting song. It will instantly boost your mood and reduce stress.
Actually, it is scientefically proven that it will increase your dopamine levels, which results in a more positive emotional state.
All of these benefits, for only one minute of your time!
Goal Setting
This is similar to point 6, about taking a glance at your calendar but from a different perspective.
Take a minute to write down your goals and reflect your progress. Review what you have already accomplished and decide on your next moves according to your goals.
This is helpful because, as busy human beings, we can easily lose track of our day and end up being busy but not actually achieving anything important.
For optimal results, keep track of daily, weekly, and monthly goals.
Send a text message
Spread the love and positivity! Send a positive message to a loved one or someone you haven’t talked to in a while!
Give them encouragement or remind them that you are there for them. Get connected with them and show them that you care.
This is so important because we are so busy that it is easy to forget to communicate. Even though we have so many means of communication, we don’t really take advantage of them.
So, just take one minute and send someone some love and encouragement.
Email Declutter (unsubscribe from unwanted newsletters)
You do know how easy it is to clutter your email with promotions, unwanted newsletters, spam, etc.
And, when you check it, you feel overwhelmed with all this information and don’t know where to start.
There is only one simple solution. Take a minute to unsubscribe from an unwanted newsletter and mass delete all their previous emails. One newsletter every day will eventually clear out your email inbox.
This process has become immensely relaxing and satisfying for me, and I still have 20K+ emails to go through.
Remember, take it one step at a time. You don’t have to do it all at once.
Plan Tomorrows outfit
What better way to take off the stress and be excited for tomorrow?
Take a minute, check the weather, and plan tomorrow’s outfit. Make sure that it is something that you are excited to wear in order to feel good about yourself.
Especially if you are interested in fashion, this is the most fun process!
Quick Skin Care Routine
Even if you have a 10-stop skincare routine or no routine at all, you shouldn’t skip this one.
It can only take one minute to apply sunscreen or moisturizer to your face. Or apply hand cream to your hands. Anything that can help you in the long run and smells good.
You need to take care of your body too.
Express Gratitude
Even if you don’t journal, you shouldn’t skip the gratitude exercise.
Take a minute to write down one thing that you are grateful for. It can be anything from your loved ones to your favorite mug of coffee. You never run out of things to be grateful for.
This really helps to put everything into perspective and focus on the positive aspects of your life. It will boost your mood and promote a more optimistic way of thinking.
Expense tracking
The last one on the list is really important too. Take a minute of your time and check your expenses.
What you have spent, what you are saving on, what is your income. It’s one of the ways that will keep you accountable, and you won’t incur any unnecessary expenses.
You can write them down on a piece of paper or download an app to track them for you.
If you want to financially organise your life, you can’t skip this one.
Final thoughts
I promised you 15 1-minute tasks to keep you productive and accomplished. These tasks included drinking water, decluttering, journaling, and moving your body.
Create a daily routine for just 15 minutes of your day, and you will have all of these accomplished.
Some of you may think that some of these tasks take longer than a minute, but they can all be done under one minute. It is possible.
Leave a comment if you do anything else that I haven’t put on the list!
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