The habits that will help me make the most of the year

At the start of the new year, we all succumb to our deepest darkest desire to buy ten different planners and notebooks, hoping that this year we will finally be productive and keep organized.

Yes, it is that time of the year when companies try to convince you that their product is the best in the market because it will help you tackle all your tasks, events and boost your productivity. But the truth is that there is no such thing as the perfect organization method.

Creating a system that flawlessly works for everyone is impossible because we all have different ways of thinking, different time availability, different obligations… so trying to adjust your needs to fit into a specific system can actually be counterproductive. That's why this year, instead of aiming for the perfect system, establishing healthier and more prolific habits is going to be my priority for boosting my efficiency.

Here are some helpful things that I kept in mind while creating new habits for this new year, and that might prove to be useful for anyone trying to live a happier and more productive year.

Do not succumb to complexity.

I'm not going to lie, I'm a notebook fanatic  -  yes, the one that buys pretty notebooks even if I have nothing to write on them. That's how I know that the new year can be a struggle and rather overwhelming. But whether it's agendas, bullet journals, apps, calendars, or binders; you do not need five of them to keep organized.

Choosing one system that actually works for you is essential if you want to stick with things and not quit after a month because you are saturated. As I have learned the hard way, efficiency doesn't come from keeping 10 planners at a time, it comes from an organized and structured system.

But before you decide to stick with a plan, it's important to browse and assay different methods in order to understand what works and what doesn't. By doing that, you'll choose a system that is functional instead of choosing the one that your friend swears by but that stresses you out.

Research shows that human beings are more prone to stick with something if it's simple and doable. Therefore, simplicity is a major thing to keep in mind when setting goals, habits or projects. For instance, if your schedule is tight and you don't have much time, trying to keep a colorful bullet journal can be ineffective and you'll be more inclined to quit after some time. So for this new year, I have decided to be realistic and keep it simple when deciding which system I am going to use.

Speeding up does not equate with productivity.

Taking breaks may seem like a contradiction for getting something done, but it's actually one of the best things you can do to increase your productivity. Many studies prove that taking breaks allows the brain to recover faster and absorb more information than working for long periods of time.

Moreover, taking things slowly allows you to be more mindful and look at situations with perspective to better analyze your steps. In turn, you make fewer mistakes, which will save you time because you won't have to do things twice.

The hustle mindset is not the key to success, it only wears you out. Instead of being 70% productive during the whole day, try to be 100% productive during some parts of the day.

With taking things slow I also mean to stop multitasking - which is something that I used to do way too much. According to Earl Miller  -  a neuroscientist at MIT  - , "when people think they're multitasking, they're actually just switching from one task to another very rapidly. Every time they do, there's a cognitive cost". Consequently, multitasking isn't saving you time, it just means that you are doing both tasks incorrectly or not at your fullest potential.

Declutter your habits.

At the beginning of a new year, it's normal to be eager to take on new habits, but there is such a thing as too many habits. I used to always write down at least nine or ten new habits that I wanted to take on for the new year, but I never stuck with any of them.

Research shows that it takes 66 days to build a habit, and trying to form too many all at once has proven to be useless. Therefore, when choosing new habits you want to try out, develop the ones that are meaningful to you; if not, you'll end up burning out, overwhelmed and give them up after a while - which is what always happened to me.

My biggest piece of advice for this, is that you look back at the habits that have worked in the past, the ones that have made a positive impact on your life; and rule out the ones that were a waste of time.

Declutter your calendar.

Time is limited. There are only 24 hours in a day, so writing a to-do list with 50 things in it is counterproductive. Cluttering your calendar with too many tasks  -  that you will 100% not have time to do  -  will only make you feel unproductive because you didn't tick every single thing off; no matter how productive you've actually been.

Therefore, in order not to feel overwhelmed, this year I decided to only write things that I have time for, decide what and who is important, and what and who isn't. By taking on too many tasks, I was setting myself up for disaster, as my brain had a harder time discerning what is and what isn't relevant.

When prioritizing tasks and meetings, be more mindful while filling your calendar; and in turn, you will feel less saturated and overburdened. But before rearranging jobs, ask yourself about the outcome and whether you will feel happy or not by doing such tasks.

Establish structure to function efficiently.

Humans are creatures of habit; and while some thrive on chaos, most of us need structure to function efficiently. That's why designing a routine that works for you will boost your productivity and get rid of the tension of not knowing what's next. By establishing somewhat of a cycle, when you wake-up, you know exactly what your day looks like beforehand. You have the actionable steps you need to take to get everything done and all your goals planned out.

After a couple of weeks of having established somewhat of a routine and structure to my days, I have noticed that it has been easier to accurately determine what works for me and what doesn't, so making changes and adjustments to my day is way easier.

Active body leads to active mind.

It's no secret that exercise is essential for your physical and mental health. However, it can also boost productivity and help with problem-solving, as researchers from the University of Otago have found.

No matter what you do  -  go on a run, do some yoga, have a dance party, or go for a walk  -  the goal is to be active.

By moving and going outside, your mind will take a break, which will give you time to recover and destress, making you more productive in the end. In addition, you will have more energy, which means you will feel more awake at work - this worked so well for me that I even quit caffeine! Remember that being on top of your game will assure that you perform tasks to the best of your ability.

In 2020 I realized that we have too much noise and clutter in our minds, which is not useful nor healthy. That's why in 2021, decluttering is essential. Getting rid of things, events, tasks, or habits; saying goodbye to what isn't working and making room for more mindful experiences has made me a happier and more productive person.

By keeping things simple, taking more breaks, slowing down, establishing a routine and decluttering your mind; establishing long-term habits is much simpler. Moreover, instead of stressing over which planner to buy, it will give you perspective and the time to truly enjoy the things and people that bring you joy.