Days off are a great time to relax, but if you’re like me, you might also want to get some work done.
There are several ways to stay productive during downtime.
1. Start the new hobby you’ve always wanted to try
Who says you can’t be productive during your free time? Extra time off is perfect for starting a new hobby, especially if you’ve had one in mind for a while. This is a great time to Google, take notes, and bookmark some excellent resources that’ll help you get started.
You can start some hobbies, such as photography, arts and crafts, right away with what you have at home if you’re feeling adventurous.
2. Organize your emails for a calm inbox
Although it may not sound appealing, taking the time to go through and organize your emails can reduce stress and make you more productive at work.
grouping similar emails together, like receipts and order tracking, is a good way to organize your inbox. Additionally, taking advantage of your email provider’s “promotions” and “social” folders can help keep your inbox organized by automatically sorting Facebook updates and newsletters.
Adding a set of priority folders to the top of your email’s folder bar is a good way to streamline your tasks and make them more manageable.
- Create a Priority 1 and Priority 2 folder at the top of your email bar
- Sort emails appropriately as they come in. Priority 1 for the high-priority items, and Priority 2 for tasks lower on the totem pole.
- During your workday, tackle all your Priority 1 emails first, then move on to your Priority 2 folder.
This system will help you keep your inbox clean and calm, and will also improve your productivity and prioritization skills during work hours.
3. Revamp your budget
The text is suggesting that during periods of downtime, it can be productive to revisit and revamp your budget in order to reduce stress.
As services become more and more common, we find ourselves subscribing to more and more of them. $15 here and $25 there may not seem like much, but it can really add up over time. You don’t want to be caught off guard by these charges when you’re already tight on money.
You can get an idea of your monthly expenses by going through your bank statements from the last month or two and writing down all of your recurring charges, like bills and subscriptions. Keep track of these expenses in a spreadsheet or planner, and subtract that amount from your monthly income.
Now is an excellent time to assess which of your current subscriptions you’d like to keep and which you’d like to cancel.
4. Plan some fun activities
If you’re looking for something to do with your extra time, why not plan a fun date night or family day-trip?
What days do you have free in the next few months that you could use for some fun?
If you want to add some entertainment to your calendar but don’t know where to start, here are some tips: -Gather some new ideas and see what fits with your lifestyle, family, budget, and calendar. -Take some time to research different options and find something that interests you. -Talk to friends and family to see if they have any recommendations. -Once you have a few ideas, start planning and scheduling them into your calendar.
It’s important to set aside time for activities you enjoy, so that you can have some stress-free time to relax.
5. Set your appointments
Although it isn’t as enjoyable, setting appointments for the next few months (or even the year) can ensure that you have the time to take care of necessary errands like visiting the doctor or dentist.
It would be even better if you took care of routine cleanings or getting a flu shot that you have been putting off. You can do this quickly during your downtime, and take the opportunity to schedule your next visits in person.
6. Take a course
There are many websites where you can learn new skills for free. Some examples are Coursera, Udemy, and Skillshare. All you need to do is sign up and you can start learning immediately.
There are many websites that offer free trials for their courses, and many of those courses are either discounted or free. This makes it easy and inexpensive to find a course that interests you.
If you want to take classes in person, you may want to check your local recreation center or community college for upcoming courses.
Courses can be extremely beneficial as they offer certification which can make your resume stand out and potentially help you progress in your career. Alternatively, you could learn a new skill just for the sake of it!
7. Discover the educational side of YouTube
YouTube can be used for more than just videos of cats and trends that are popular with millennials. In fact, it can be a great resource for educational videos and even free courses. You can find all sorts of interesting things on YouTube with a simple search, from TED Talks to videos about how to change the oil in your car.
I often listen to TED Talks or recorded productivity round-tables on YouTube while I’m working through my to-do list every day.
8. Documentaries: A productive thing to do while relaxing
Now is the perfect opportunity to curl up with a drink and some Netflix!
Documentaries are a fun and easy way to learn new information and interesting facts.
Documentaries are a great way to learn about new and interesting topics while relaxing in front of the TV—without feeling guilty.
9. Get in some exercise while waiting in line
While we are running errands or out and about, we are often faced with small periods of time where we are waiting in lines. These periods, while they are not often long enough to get a lot done, do allow time for the quick exercises below.
- Calf raises – stand on the balls of your feet while keeping your legs straight, then return to your normal standing position. Repeat while you’re in line—it’s that easy! The benefits of calf raises include strengthening your calves, improving your jumping ability, and of course, burning some calories.[1]
- Standing on one leg – Don’t worry: you don’t have to look ridiculous in line to do this one, either. Slightly raise one of your feet off the ground so you are standing on one leg. Alternate every five seconds as needed. Standing on one leg can help build muscles throughout your leg and improve balance.
You can stay active and productive by adding a bit of exercise to your downtime each day.
10. Find a new favorite podcast
When it comes to adding productivity to your free time, it might sound counter-intuitive to sit back and listen to something. However, enjoying a good podcast is a great way to do just that. Podcasts can help you learn about your industry, hobbies, and get you more involved in your community.
Podcasts can improve productivity as they are easy to listen to and can be inspiring.
11. Learn a new career skill
There are a few other ways to add a new skill set to your career toolkit, in addition to taking courses to boost your knowledge and improve your resume.
Finding a skill that will be useful in your chosen career is the first step.
Then, the real fun begins with these methods:
- Volunteer – While you’ll be hard-pressed to land a job using a skill you’re just starting to learn, often you can find volunteer opportunities that will let you learn within their organization. Learning in this environment is beneficial as it allows you to make a change in your community, looks great on a resume, and can even provide unique networking opportunities (but more on that later).
- Use a multimedia approach – Don’t be afraid to collect any and all resources pertaining to your new skill. In fact, reading books, articles, listening to podcasts, watching videos, and attending events centered around the skill are all great ways to develop the skill in a well-rounded manner. Of course, don’t forget to practice!
- Use your resources – If a friend or family member has your new desired skill, reach out! Chances are, they’d love a helping hand with their own projects and don’t mind teaching a few tricks along the way. A bonus to this method: Family and friends might give you a deeper or more unique insight into the skill, unlike a book, event, or course normally would.
No matter how little free time you have, you can still use your downtime to develop new skills. Whether you have five minutes to watch a video, an hour to read a book, or a few hours each week to volunteer, there’s an option for new skill development.
12. Network
Making connections with other people can help you in many different areas of your life, not just if you own your own business. Developing relationships can help you progress in your career, learn new abilities, find new interests, and create possibilities you may have never considered before.
The great thing about networking is that you can do it anywhere, not just at conferences or meetings. You can introduce yourself to people anywhere, like at a coffee shop or playground. You never know who you’ll meet and what opportunities they can provide for you.
You can still benefit from making new friends, even if it doesn’t help you get ahead professionally or teach you new skills. Social interaction is important, and it’s something that is often lacking in today’s world, where so many interactions happen online.
13. Set some goals to improve motivation
During downtime, it is highly motivational and productive to set goals. This is an opportune moment to think about what you want in life and establish some goals to help you achieve it.
The goals you set don’t have to revolve around your career. They can be places you want to live, vacations you want to take, or hobbies you want to try.
Although we typically view vacations, luxurious homes, and fun activities as “dreams,” creating a written plan with specific goals can turn these dreams into highly motivating targets.
The more motivated you are by your goals, the more likely you are to boost your productivity in order to achieve them.
14. Start a blog
If you know how to write, or even if you want to learn, starting a blog is a great way to spend your day off. You can use your skills to be productive and have fun at the same time.
The reason why is because it allows you to use and improve a desired creative skill, and can even provide extra income, all from using your keyboard.
The great thing about blogging is that you can write about anything your heart desires. You can blog about raising kids, fly-fishing, or the best restaurants in your city. It’s your blog, so anything goes!
The best way to learn how to write is by writing for your own blog. Writing for a blog also gives you the chance to connect with other writers and create a community of readers.
Working on a blog can be a great way to improve your content marketing skills, which can help you with your career. Maintaining a blog can show potential employers that you are committed to writing and marketing, and can give you an advantage over other candidates when it comes to promotions.
15. Build your brand
Not just businesses anymore, today it seems that everyone has a Facebook, LinkedIn, and/or Twitter account.
What this has to do with branding is everything!
It’s important to develop your own personal brand so that you don’t get lost in a sea of digital profile pictures.
The way others perceive you is your personal brand. This includes how you are seen in person and online. You don’t have to have a website, blog, or business to have a brand, but there are some things you should consider.
16.Donate Unused Belongings
Do you have any clothes that you don’t wear anymore? Or a shelf full of books that you only read once?
You may have items taking up space in your home that could be of value to someone else. If you have some free time, consider filling a box with items to donate to your local Goodwill or shelter.
17. Write in a Gratitude Journal
I was wrong. I read about the benefits of writing in a gratitude journal for years before I finally decided to give it a try. I was skeptical that it would make that much of a difference, but I was wrong.
I was once skeptical about practicing gratitude, but after I tried it myself, I was converted! I was amazed at how simply writing a few things you’re grateful for can put you in such a great mood.
18. Indulge in a Guilty Pleasure
We all have things that we enjoy even though we know they’re not good for us. Most of the time it seems like there’s something more worthwhile we could be doing, but it’s okay to indulge every now and then.
19. Create a Capsule Wardrobe
I spent years with a closet full of clothes I rarely ever wore. I had a few staple pieces I wore all the time. When I read about the idea of a capsule wardrobe, I was hooked!
Here’s how you can create your own capsule wardrobe!
20. Organize Your Paper Clutter
I used to keep all my important papers in boxes and take them with me every time I moved to a new apartment.
After reading an article on going paperless, the individual spent the day scanning documents and converting them to digital files so that they could shred the originals.
I feel so much more free now that I don’t have any paper clutter in my home. It’s so much easier to find things now that I can just search for keywords instead of having to dig through boxes!
Final Thoughts
There are so many more productive things you can do with your time instead of aimlessly scrolling through Instagram or watching Netflix. Even though those activities might feel good in the moment, I’m sure we all do them enough already!
I compiled a list of productive things you can do during your downtime. If you’re interested in being productive during your free time, take a look at this list.
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