Simply put, I feel the most productive after my morning routine.

Over the years, I have curated a mindful list that I follow before fully starting my day. I have had to tweak it on occasion, but it always starts with doing something enjoyable.

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First it was Crochet

I used to start my day with an hour spent simply with my current WIP. Over time, that became 2, 3, and eventually all the hours. I couldn’t motivate myself to put it down! The vast expanse from peaceful to high stress was too much. If I were that happy, why stop and work?

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Then it was Nothing

I knew that I needed to be productive, so I stopped crocheting until the evening. Well, that led to extreme burnout instead. I was so stressed because I never managed to find time to relax and actually crochet.

I am notorious for staying hyper-focused on a project until completion. So, mid-project, I figured it was okay to keep going and skip personal time. That hyper-focus is partially at fault for not stopping crochet to work in the first place.

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Then there was Balance

Finally, I believe I have the right balance. I don’t crochet every day, but I do find time to relax. A lot of it has to do with the WordPress writing prompts (like this one). There is also my gratitude jar. Every day, I write a new gratitude and drop it in my vintage glass milk jug.

I actively listen to music. It helps when I need to pause during my work to just breathe. It is already there and sets the tone for peace. I take a breath and dig back in as needed.

In the last 3 weeks, I started playing an FPS on Steam. I collect my accumulated goods that are waiting for attention. I shoot a few things and log out to start my day.

Of course, I have 2 mantras and daily goals. There are some kind things to remind myself. It is all accumulated into my “Daily Mindfulness” list that I save in Excel. This ranges from telling myself that “today is a great day to have a great day,” to doing something kind for others.

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Everyone has that thing that promotes productivity. Do your productivity enhancers promote mindfulness too? I’d love to hear how you boost yourself!

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