At the outset, I should say we all need to relax at times and there’s nothing wrong with it. But let’s get real - in many instances when we’re not feeling productive, it’s because we don’t have enough small energy-boosting activities during the course of a typical day.
Find the activities that invigorate you and stack them into routines. I enjoy my morning routine and my late night routine as well. Identify those tiny things that give you a lift and maximize them! Sometimes you have to manufacture them. In the morning, I like doing my 20 minutes of meditation followed by 20 minutes on the treadmill. I’m currently on season 5 of Game of Thrones and I watch a little bit at a time on the treadmill - I love it and look forward to it (ie/ I hate exercise usually). I start the coffee maker and read my Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, and USA Today. I like a particular brand of oatmeal. I write my top 10 goals while listening to the same playlist. I enjoy cranking up the Ozzy’s Boneyard Sirius Satellite Channel in my bathroom during my shower but I usually change the station to 80’s on 8 while I shave - because I can’t rock out and shave. It throws me off my happy rhythm.
At nighttime, I have a coffee at about 6pm and that keeps me cranking until about midnight. I turn my electric blankie on so it’s just right for sliding into bed. I look forward to reading late at night. Of course, unexpected things come up and you must adapt. But most of the time, you can expect what’s coming up next in a typical day.
If you’re feeling pooped, do a few simple tasks to give you momentum. I like to have a lot of ideas going at one - that’s not to say I’m multi-tasking. I often flit from one thing to the other and I keep the juices flowing until I find myself getting big stuff done and then I try to just sail along with it. Pink Floyd’s double dvd set “Pulses” is my current favorite for getting stuff done. I put the live concert video on and get busy - works every time!
If you’re feeling lazy all the time, you need to revisit your role list and mission statements. My book, “Master Your Roles: The Time Management Skill You Need to Lead a Joyful & Productive Life” will guide you!