Get All Access for $5/mo

4 Simple Steps to a More Productive Mindset You can achieve more when you've developed a productive daily routine.

By Jason Womack Edited by Dan Bova

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Shutterstock.com

Productivity is something we all strive for. Being the best we can be, showing up, being authentic and getting the most out of the time we have. But what happens when our day is affected by unforeseen external factors. Or we're off mentally? What happens when our routine is disrupted and our intentions to get things done are ruined?

With just a little forethought, here are four ways to set yourself up to achieve more and ultimately build a better mindset into your daily routine:

1. Always be ready.

Meetings get canceled. Friends run late. Plans have to be rescheduled on a whim. When time like this opens up in our schedule, we suddenly have time in our day we didn't have before. Instead of wasting this time being upset or feeling let down, use this time for good. See it as a gift instead of a waste. "Found" time can be used to do things like writing a "thank you" or "I noticed" card, sharing appreciation with someone you work with. You also could use that time to update your "to-do" list.You can even read a chapter of that book, or make some calls that you've been putting off.

Related: 3 Novel Hacks to Kickstart Your Productivity

When you let go of what you can't control and look at what you can control, you'll take a huge step in getting your day back on track.

2. Slow down.

Inhale. Exhale. But don't forget to inhale again.

Sometimes we get so caught up in what's happening in the moment we forget to breathe. When unanticipated situations crop up, stress is a natural reaction. Remembering to breathe deeply can calm the hectic moments and allow you to re-focus on where you want this day to go. This reflective pause helps us experience improved concentration and an increase in energy. Relaxed bodies also have greater self-confidence -- just what you need when things seem to be spinning out of control.

Pause. Reflect. Refocus.

3. Be present.

"Do this. Do that. Don't forget to get that..and don't forget the milk!"

The constant to do/reminder list running through our minds everyday keep us living in the future, while memories, good and bad, keep us living in the past. When we are constantly in the future or in the past we miss out on the beauty of the present. Have you ever had a conversation with someone who didn't seem to be taking in what you were saying? Maybe they were daydreaming or uninterested, but more times than not, they were thinking about something futuristically or remembering something that happened in the past, maybe even within the hour.

Related: 4 Productivity Tips That Changed My Life This Year

Regardless of what was keeping them from focusing on your conversation, I bet it didn't feel great to be on the receiving side of their absent mindedness. Don't be that person. Be present. Fully engage in whatever you are doing to assure your best work and quality productivity.

4. Rejuvenate.

If you want to experience the best, you have to be your best. And this means taking care of you. We have all had someone tell us we need to get enough sleep each night and that we should never skip breakfast right? But what about the 24 hours in between all that? In an effort to create a more productive mindset for ourselves, we must learn to check into ourselves throughout the day.

Do you need some caffeine? Do you need to get up and dance or do some jumping jacks to get the blood flowing? Do you need some fresh air? Getting to experience what your body is yearning for can make a real difference. Rejuvenating is not only good for your productivity, but is good for the soul.

Related: Become a Productivity Monster by Eliminating These 5 Time-Wasting Habits

Being productive means we are doing what we said we would do, in the time we promised. Check your routines and build a mindset to get more done, and you'll achieve more every day.

Jason Womack

Cofounder, www.GetMomentum.com

Jason W. Womack is the CEO of The Womack Company, an international training firm that helps busy professionals be more productive through coaching and consulting. He is co-founder of the Get Momentum Leadership Academy, author of Your Best Just Got Better (Wiley, 2012) and co-author with his wife, Jodi Womack, of Get Momentum: How To Start When You’re Stuck (Wiley, 2016). Since 2000 he has coached leaders across industries and trained them in the art of increasing their workplace productivity and achieving personal happiness.

 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

Melinda French Gates Announces Open Call for $250 Million Fund. Here's Who Can Apply.

The fund is part of French Gates's $1 billion philanthropic plan.

Business News

Has the Secret Identity of the Inventor of Bitcoin Been Revealed? A New Documentary Suggests It's Solved.

A new HBO documentary stirs controversy in its quest to expose Bitcoin's inventor.

Business News

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon Isn't Worried About AI Taking Over Jobs — Here's Why

Dimon said AI was part of the next wave of tech innovation.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

Daniel Lubetzky Took Kind Snacks From Idea to $5 Billion. Here's His Best Advice For Anyone Who Wants to Start a Business.

In an interview with Entrepreneur, Kind Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky tells aspiring business owners not to follow someone else's path to success — even his.