How to be productive in the colder months

Autumn has officially started, and as we near the end of the year, here are some tips on how to be productive in the colder months.

We're over halfway through September, and autumn has officially started. With the change in seasons, the weather is turning colder, and the days are getting shorter.

It can be difficult to be productive during this time because we often feel more tired from lack of sunlight, want to stay inside in the warm, and a lot of people suffer from illnesses.

Going out to work or running errands when it's raining can be challenging. I know that when it's raining or cold outside, I'd much rather snuggle up on the sofa with a good book and hot drink, but tasks still need ticking off.

So, here are some tips to help you be productive in the colder months.

Listen to your body

Autumn and winter tend to bring around more colds and illnesses that are easily transferred to one another because of the colder weather. But if you're suffering, it can sometimes be easy to just power on and push through.

I've recently come back from holiday and have felt quite unwell; normally, I'd just want to carry on, and whilst I did have productivity guilt, I knew working in the state I was in wouldn't be smart.

So, if you're feeling under the weather, listen to your body. Don't carry on because things need doing; you'll undoubtedly make yourself worse and prolong the illness.

Give yourself time to rest and recuperate, and that way, you'll be more productive when you've recovered.

Hydrate, hydrate and hydrate

In the colder months, it's just as important to hydrate as it is in summer. But whilst you're drinking water, you can also drink a lot of hot drinks.

By hydrating with hot drinks in the last few months of the year, you'll help make yourself more productive. They'll warm up your body and bring you comfort at the same time, so that you're not sitting at your desk, freezing.

Bring a friend along

As you get older, you might find that you have less time to see your friends; things like housework, jobs, and children can all get in the way of having a spare moment.

One tip I've found to be quite helpful is to bring a friend along on an errand. Or invite them round for coffee, but still do your chores whilst they're there.

Everyone has chores and errands to run, so why not conquer them together? Plus, grocery shopping with friends makes it more fun, and by doing it together, it ensures you're ticking off your to-do list whilst making time for friends too.

Limit your time

If you've got a long list of chores that need doing, there's nothing worse than when they're dragged out and take a while. Therefore, one way of ensuring you're productive enough to get them done is to limit your time.

What I mean is set yourselves deadlines.

If you need to go into town to shop for a few things, give yourself an hour. When you're doing housework, don't spend all day on it, just an hour or two, depending on the task — if you do that little and often, it'll help reduce the time it takes.

By setting yourself deadlines, you'll be more efficient in completing the task at hand and be able to return home quicker to enjoy the rest of your day.

These tips are just things I've found to help me be more productive in the colder months. I hope they can help you, too, and if you've got any tips of your own, feel free to leave them in the comments below.

Until next time...