7 Tips on How to Be Productive When You’re Tired

Life can be hectic and sometimes you simply don’t get enough sleep. Being tired is awful enough already, but on top of it, you still have things you have to take care of. That’s not the ideal equation, since no one is at their best when they are running on too little sleep. Being tired affects your memory, attention span, and decision-making skills, meaning you definitely won’t do your best work when you haven’t slept enough. The question is, how can you be productive when you’re tired? There must be some way, right?

While you can’t snap your fingers and suddenly have all the energy you need, there are a few tricks you can use to feel a bit better and get things done. There are a lot of different productivity tips to try. Keep reading to learn how you can turn a sleepy day into a productive one.

1. Write everything down

It’s easy to forget what you should get done and where you should be when you’re not at your best. Write clear and detailed to-do lists for yourself so that you can stay on track. Don’t try to get too much done on the days when you don’t have much energy. There will be another day. If you try to do everything you have to do when you can barely focus on the task at hand, you’re not going to get anywhere.

Make sure you write down clear and actionable tasks. If you have to write a report, instead of writing “report” on your to-do list, break it down into smaller tasks. “Plan the report”, “write a draft”, “edit the draft” are much easier to tackle.

2. Focus on what is really important

There are a thousand different things you think you should do, but you simply don’t have the time (or the energy), to do all of them. And that’s just fine. What really matters, is that you do the most important things that you absolutely have to do or that will benefit you the most.

Prioritize your tasks so that you know what to focus on and what to put on the back burner. Is there something that absolutely has to get done today? Would it be possible to move some things around?

If you’re really tired, you might only be able to do the things that you absolutely have to do. Don’t stress about it, sometimes that’s simply the reality. You can’t be at your best all the time. Keep in mind that you might also need extra time to get things done since your mind is much slower and it’s harder to focus when you’re tired.

3. Shut out all the distractions

When you’re tired, it’s already hard to concentrate. You really can’t afford to have any unnecessary distractions stealing your focus. That’s why you have to make sure that when you’re trying to get something done, you don’t have the TV on and your phone is turned off. The less there is in your mind while you’re trying to work or get something on your to-do list done, the better.

Related article: Have Done Nothing Productive All Day? Here’s How to Fix It

4. Get the easy things done

Since you’re not at your best when you’re sleep-deprived (or tired for some other reason), it might be best to just focus on the easy tasks. If you don’t have anything that you absolutely have to get done today, but you still don’t want to waste the whole day just because your neighbors kept you up last night, pick a few easy tasks to complete today.

Were you supposed to back up all your pictures or clean the kitchen window, but you haven’t gotten around to it yet? Now is your chance.

5. Take power naps

Power naps can be really helpful if you are at home. While you maybe don’t have time to go to sleep for two hours, you can still benefit from getting at least some sleep. Even 15 or 20 minutes can help you gain some energy and be better off for the rest of the day.

Do you feel like you can’t fall asleep that fast or are you afraid that you won’t wake up in 20 minutes? Don’t worry. First of all, it’s ok if you don’t fall completely asleep. Lying down with your eyes closed and going somewhere deep in your mind can be really refreshing too.

The important thing is that you let go of all your worries and what you should get done. Go somewhere far in your memories. Imagine what it was like to go to the beach with your family that one time when you were 10 years old and then just see where your mind takes you.

If you know you fall asleep a bit too easily and you can’t afford to be sleeping for two hours straight, I have an easy solution for you. Play a random Youtube video on your phone and then close your eyes. The noise will likely keep you from falling into a deep sleep and suddenly starting new videos or loud ads will likely startle you awake after about 15 minutes. Just make sure you don’t choose a video that you are actually interested in because then you forget to rest.

6. Drink water

Sometimes you are tired partly because you are simply dehydrated. Drink a lot of water to get your brain working. This can help even if you know the reason you are tired is that you have slept way too little. While drinking water obviously doesn’t equal sleep, it can make you feel a little bit sharper nonetheless.

Keep a water bottle next to you all day and make sure to drink some regularly. It’s bound to make you feel at least a little bit better.

7. Drink coffee or smoothies

You can try to fight tiredness with the obvious coffee cup (or two). This can keep you alert even if you have a hard time keeping your eyes open at first. There’s a reason people swear by their morning coffee.

But in case coffee doesn’t work for you, I recommend you try smoothies. They are healthy and delicious and they contain exactly what your body and mind need. Add some fruit, berries, a liquid of your choice, skip the sugar and you’re good to go.

Fruit and berries make sure your blood sugar stays stable for hours, which also means that you’ll have steady energy for a long time. If you eat something sugary, you’ll maybe have a little bit of extra energy for a while, but you’ll crash in an hour or two and will just end up feeling worse than in the beginning. That’s why you have to choose the healthier (and often more delicious) option.

+ Make sure to have healthy habits

While no one chooses to be tired and sometimes it’s simply unavoidable, it’s important to keep in mind that sleep is one if not the most valuable thing when you try to be productive. That’s why you have to strive to go to bed early and invest in your sleep. Maybe you could for example benefit from earplugs or a better blanket.

Healthy eating does wonders too. Greasy and sugary foods will only deplete your energy. Instead of eating creamy pasta and chocolate bars for a snack, eat balanced and healthy meals to ensure your energy levels are optimal all day long. This will make your life much easier.

You will also definitely be much more productive since you don’t have to experience a mid-afternoon slump or be beat by the time you get back home from work.

Conclusion

Do you often have to work when you’re tired? Have you come up with any other tricks that can help you to stay productive? Share them in the comments, I’d love to know!

Next, why not read some tips on how to stay productive when you are stressed!

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