“Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall
behind you.”

 – Walt Whitman

Productivity Tip:

Bundle Your Temptations

Think of something you should do, but don’t really want to (exercise, sit down to start working, floss your teeth, whatever). Got it?

Now think of something you want to do. Watch a new T.V episode, drink a strong, hot coffee, talk to a friend – something pleasant.

Can these two things be done at the same time? If so, perfect: you’re ready to try temptation bundling!

With temptation bundling, you link things you want to do with things you should do. Getting to do the thing you want motivates you to do the thing you should. And it works.

In a well-known study, participants who got access to audiobooks only while at the gym worked out 51% more than a control group.

Maybe you get to watch Netflix while on the treadmill, or only get to drink your coffee after you sit down to start work. Whatever it is, temptation bundling is a neat trick for forming good habits.

Read more about it here or here – and then give it a try for yourself!

Wellness Tip:

“A place for everything and everything in its place.” Odds are, you’ve heard this advice (thanks, Mom). Odds are also that the clutter on your desk is a direct result of you ignoring it.

“Ensuring that each one of your belongings has its own spot is the only way to maintain a tidy and clutter-free home,” says organization guru, Marie Kondo. “Clutter has nothing to do with what or how much you own – it’s the failure to put things back where they belong.”

Giving every item a designated home is a simple rule – but one that works. And given that clutter and productivity have an unfruitful relationship, it’s one worth keeping in mind.

So consider this a friendly reminder to create a place for everything and put everything in its place. Your desk (and your to-do list) will thank you for it.

Routine Breakdown

Marie Kondo, Organizing Consultant, Author, and TV Host

Speaking of Marie Kondo, Netflix star and creator of the world-famous KonMari method of tidying up, wouldn’t we all love a peek inside her morning routine? Well, here it is. She:

• Wakes at 6am with her daughters. “When I get up, I open all the windows to let fresh air in and then burn incense,” says Kondo. “Starting my morning with these rituals keeps me on track.”
• Says a prayer of thanksgiving and renews her resolve to “do as much as she can” that day.
• Gets dressed, even if working from home. “Getting into work clothes sets me up to be productive. Wear something that makes you feel good and confident.”
• Writes out a to-do list for the day. “When I’m done with a task, I put a checkmark beside it. Seeing the checkmarks at the end of the day offers a sense of accomplishment.”

Why it works:

• Small rituals really can start us off to a better day. Research shows they have a causal impact on our thoughts and feelings.
• Setting an intention for the day is a powerful way to keep us on track for our goals. You can use the Focus and Affirmation sections of your Panda Planner daily to concretize your intentions.
• According to research, what we wear really does influence our behavior. Scientists call this “enclothed cognition”.
• Kondo is also right about ticking off tasks: the sense of accomplishment is motivating.

Kondo also shares her method for keeping a clear head:

“When I need to sort through my thoughts, I take a blank sheet of paper and write down everything on my mind,” she says. “I identify any tangled feelings, reasons for worry or anxiety, and clarify which issues I can and cannot control.”

This totally resonates with us (obviously – getting things out of your head and onto paper is one of the things Panda Planner is all about!)

Do you feel better after you write things down? Let us know your processes for tidying up your mind!