But don’t confuse busyness with productivity.Â
While busyness may be a source of stress, productivity lends itself to purpose … which can lead to a happier life.
In honor of Productivity Day, celebrated on June 20, here are four ways to build productivity – and ultimately happiness – into your life.
1. Make to-do lists. Biologically, scratching something off a to-do list sends a signal to your brain to release dopamine, a natural mood enhancer. Write out that list and finish what you set out to do.
2. Set goals. When you have long-term goals, you have something to look forward to – a reason to jump out of bed.
3. Remove clutter. Clutter brings you down. The typical American home has 300,000 items. Unneeded clutter can overstimulate your nervous system and refocus attention on things that don’t matter.
4. Exercise. When you move, you get more energy. With that extra energy, you can accomplish more of what you value.