Don’t you just love the feeling of actually accomplishing things in your day? I don’t know about you, but I certainly do.
Don’t get me wrong! Everyone loves a chill, lazy day here and there. But, the reality is that things gotta get done. That’s where the “P” word comes into play: productivity!
Woohoo! Finding productive things to do here and there can shrink your to-do list by a lot! I mean…. A LOT!
You’ll be surprised how much you can get done in a small amount of time if you’re efficient.
I know you’re probably thinking, “Ugh! But, I just want to rest.” We all do.
Just think of it this way. If you can check something off your list in an hour, that’s less you have to do later down the road.
What does that mean for you? It’s more #resttime in the future.
Let’s be honest. We all have chunks of time here or there that we could fill with at least one productive activity.
That’s what I’m here to help you with. You might be wondering what on earth can be done in only 60 minutes.
Ummm… a lot! You’ll be surprised. If you get your booty moving, you can even do these productive things in LESS than an hour.
Yes ma’am you heard right!
So, I’m going to give you a lengthy list of 33 productive things to do that will only take an hour.
No matter what you’ve got going on, chances are there’s room for improvement when it comes to the productivity train.
That’s what we are going to conquer together!
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Alright! Enough yappin’, let’s get to the productivity list!
1. Do the Dishes
There’s no reason to procrastinate on this one. No one wants nasty, smelly dishes laying around for hours. In less than an hour, you can have those bad boys washed, dried, and put away neatly!
2. Do Some Loads of Laundry
C’mon! This one is common sense. Instead of leaving a pile of laundry for the weekend, doing them load by load throughout the week can make you feel less stressed and more efficient.
3. Cook Lunch/Dinner
Don’t wonder what you’re going to have for lunch and dinner. Actually get up and make it. Nowadays, there are so many healthy meals that only take 15-20 minutes to make. Life literally couldn’t get any simpler!
4. Meal Prep for the Week
If you’re the type that doesn’t want to worry about cooking during the week, take an hour during the weekend to meal prep so that all your worries will be taken care of ahead of time.
5. Clean the Bathroom(s)
This one is a must. Don’t leave your bathroom a nasty, smelly mess. Take 30 minutes to wipe the counters and mirrors, change the trash cans, clean the toilet, and get all the hair off the floor.
6. Vacuum the house
On the same note as #5, it only takes less than an hour to vacuum the carpets. Voila! You’ll have a clean and tidy home in no time.
7. Organize the fridge
It’s so hard to see what you’ve got to munch on when you can’t see anything. Take everything out of your fridge and organize each level by food category.
8. Wash your bed sheets
Every 1-2 weeks, make sure to wash those bed sheets so that you can feel refreshed and clean when hopping into bed.
9. Do a Workout Session
There is no excuse for this one. In an hour, you can do a MONSTER workout that will get you going on your fitness journey. Whether it’s boxing, jogging, or weights, an hour of exercising can go a long way.
10. Plan Your Week Ahead of Time
Plan, plan, plan! Sit down, look at what you’ve got going on for the next week, and plan to attack the upcoming days with efficiency.
11. Read a Book of Choice
Any type of reading is always a productive and intellectual thing to do for the mind. So, pick a book you’ve been wanting to read and get going!
12. Watch the News to Stay Updated
I can’t tell you how many people hate watching the news. That’s a huge no no! It doesn’t matter how much you hate politics or blah blah blah!
You need to stay informed on what is going on around you, even if that means turning on the news for 20 minutes.
13. Review your Monthly Finances
To make sure you are staying on budget, sit down and organize receipts and finances for the month.
14. Volunteer your time locally
I’ve always loved volunteering at my local hospital. It’s an amazing way to serve my community. No matter how much time you have, giving your time to others is always a selfless, productive, and beneficial thing to do.
As a plus, it’ll feel good to know you’re helping others out!
15. Listen to an Informative Podcast
Similar to reading, podcasts are an awesome way to become educated and informed about a million different things. So, listening to an episode of your favorite podcast is never a bad idea!
16. Go for a walk outside
Nature is the best medicine. Whenever you are feeling stressed, bored, or overwhelmed, go for a walk outside to recuperate and reset your mind.
17. Go get the week’s groceries
Now, I personally love grocery shopping. But, I know I’m in the minority when it comes to that.
If you have going shopping, take an hour to go ONE time in the week and get everything you need.
That way you never have to step foot in a supermarket for the next 7 days 😉.
18. Clean a Major appliance
Big appliances can become monsters if they aren’t cleaned once in a while. So, take 30 minutes to clean that oven or microwave or whatever it may be.
19. Clean out your closet
Ooof! Deep down you know you need to do this ASAP! If you put your mind to it, you can declutter and organize that messy closet in under an hour for sure. You can do it!
20. Declutter your makeup/skincare area
Lots of people have makeup and skincare that are either expire or they just don’t use. All it takes is 30 minutes to go through all of those products and organize your vanity area.
21. Bake some healthy muffins
Everyone loves to snack around here and there, right? Instead of junking on chips or candy, bake some healthy muffins to munch on throughout the week. Yummy!
22. Grab lunch/dinner with a family member
I don’t know about you, but spending time with my family is my absolute favorite thing to do. Maintaining healthy social connections is always a productive thing to do.
So, call up your mom, dad, or sibling and take them out for a nice lunch or dinner. Coffee always works too 😉!
23. Go to a Zumba or Yoga Class
Yoga and Zumba classes are usually just an hour long, but they’ll kick your booty. There is no better way to spend an hour than getting healthy and active.
As a bonus, these classes are a way to meet new people and do fun workouts.
24. Organize the pantry
Isn’t it just the worst thing when you can’t find the Lucky Charms cereal?! Yeah, well that wouldn’t be a problem if the pantry were organized. Trust me! We all go through it.
With the hustle and bustle during the week, we get so used to just chucking things around the pantry. Take an hour to organize the shelves in a way that’ll allow you to reach for things easily.
25. Get into gardening
You’ll be surprised how peaceful and healthy gardening can be. Whether you’re growing basil or full out vegetables, take an hour to water your plants and take care of the nature around you.
26. Clean out and organize your email inbox
I can’t stand when I see a “2,000” number next to someone’s inbox! AHHHH! Sit down, open your phone, and just delete/unsubscribe to email chains you no longer want to be a part of.
There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a clear, organized email inbox. Thank me later!
27. Do a jigsaw puzzle
A puzzle is a great way to get the mind going and pass the time, especially if you’re bored. Instead of watching Netflix all day, grab a jigsaw puzzle and get thinking.
28. Learn new words in another language
I’m a huge believer in learning multiple languages. Learning new words and phrases in a foreign language is one of the best things you can do with an extra hour.
Whether it’s French or Spanish or Russian or Mandarin, go for it! It’s never too late to start exploring the world through words.
29. Work on Your side Hustle
Why on earth would you not want to make extra money in an hour? I mean….DUH! There are plenty of side hustles out there that you can do throughout the week to make some side cash.
When you’ve got an hour to spare, go get that extra moolah! For easy side hustle ideas from home, check out this article: 5 Realistic Side Hustle Ideas To Make An Extra $1,000/Month
30. Have lunch/dinner with a friend
It’s so easy to lose touch with the friends that make us smile. Call up your gal-pal and go grab some lunch, dinner, or even just coffee to catch up. Socializing can be productive too 😉!
31. Schedule any doctor’s or dentist’s appointments
Ugh! Sometimes, scheduling all those yearly appointments can become a drag. You can check those off the list in literally 10 minutes by sitting down and calling the offices for an appointment. Just do it and get it over with!
32. Practice Some Self-Care
Yes, self-care can be productive! Your days will not be efficient if your mind isn’t at ease. So, take a bath. Do a face mask. Paint your nails. Whatever floats your boat.
But, taking care of yourself should always come first.
Whether you have 24 hours or 30 minutes, there are loads of self-care activities that you can do for yourself.
For some self-care ideas, check out this article: 10 Winter Self-Care Ideas for the Hard Worker
33. Experiment With new Cooking Dishes
Instead of cooking the same old recipes as usual, unleash your inner chef by experimenting with new and delicious recipes.
Folks, there you go! Those are 33 productive things to do if you’ve got an extra hour.
Whether it’s chores around the house, maintaining healthy relationships, or indulging in some self-care, these are all productive activities that will benefit you, your loved ones, and your mental health.
In the end, that’s all that matters.
So, what are you still doing sitting down?
Get up. Get moving. Get productive. That’s how you’ll conquer the new year and becoming an efficiency machine!
Feel free to leave any questions or comments below.
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