MOOD CHECK-IN
  • Home
  • Order
    • Physical
    • Digital
  • Blog
  • Resources

Happiness and Productivity

9/26/2018

0 Comments

 
A satisfied employee is a productive employee, right? Wrong: a happy one is.

In 2009 a group of researchers at the University of Warwick did an experiment aimed at proving a link between happiness and productivity. By artificially increasing some subjects’ happiness levels with a comedy video, the Warwick researchers were able to improve those subjects’ performance on a subsequent math test. The researchers repeated this process over several days: they showed some subjects either a comedy video or a bland video before the test. Each time, the “happier,” comedy-video group scored better on the test. In fact, the happier subjects did 12% better on the exam.

The Warwick researchers had found a “striking statistical link...between well-being and productivity.” But they did not explain why this link exists. A few years earlier, in 2005, researchers at Cornell University concluded that happiness increases motivation, which, in turn, boosts productivity. In other words, a happier, more motivated person is more likely to prioritize “responsible work behavior.” This mechanism of action - happiness to motivation to work - helps explain why happier people are more productive.

Depression kills productivity by reducing happiness and sapping motivation. But, even when we are depressed, we can do things to boost our happiness enough to be productive. Just like the Warwick researchers, we can make ourselves happy enough to do what needs to be done.

Here are some strategies I use to improve my mood, motivation and, ultimately, my productivity:
  • I get treatment: Acknowledging that I needed the help and seeking it out drastically increased my overall mood and productivity. I suffer from a mood disorder that led to my being hospitalized last spring. Since then, intensive therapy has helped me develop skills to make myself happier and increase my productivity. Close medication monitoring has also ensured that my mood remains stable enough for therapeutic strategies to be effective.  

  • I try to find my passions: Having a reason to wake up in the morning is great. But really loving what you do opens up a whole world of flow. Recently, I have been making a conscious effort to find things that make me truly happy. I make an effort to ask myself, “What would I do if money didn’t matter?” This blog is living proof that the mindful pursuit of happiness can be surprisingly effective.

  • Most importantly, I monitor my mood by journaling: I note my mood in the morning and the evening. Being consistent about tracking my happiness level has allowed me to discover what makes me feel better and worse. Using this information, I make concrete life changes to increase my overall happiness and productivity. Journaling has been so effective for me that I have developed the Mood and Productivity Journal to help you reap the same meaningful benefits of mood tracking.

Research tells us that happiness and productivity go hand-in-hand. Maximizing productivity means more than just being satisfied with your job: it means being a happy person. The Mood and Productivity Journal is made for people who understand that being mindful about happiness prepares you to rise to life’s most difficult challenges. Order your copy today or sign up for the mailing list and get a free digital lite version and experience the difference a better mood can make.    
0 Comments

National Suicide Prevention Month

9/15/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Either directly or indirectly, suicide touches us all. It costs Americans $69 billion in medical expenses and lost productivity annually. In the United States, suicide rates have spiked by more than 30% in half the states over the last two decades. Globally, it is the second leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 29.  There are 25 suicide attempts for every completed suicide and a person dies from suicide every 40 seconds.

It is also telling that men are 3.5 times more likely than women to die by suicide. Even children aren’t immune: between 1999 and 2015, over 1300 American children between the ages of 5 and 12 took their own lives.

Suicide transcends race, gender, ethnicity, culture, and religion. Suicide is such a societal crisis that this month was named National Suicide Prevention Month.

It is more likely than not that you have known someone who has contemplated suicide. Signs of strong suicidal ideation can be hard to spot. But, when you see those signs, it is crucial that you take them seriously. You can be an ally to someone struggling with depression by helping that person get the professional help she needs.  

If you are struggling with mental health issues, you need to know that you are not alone and that there are people out there who can help. If you are actively suicidal, get emergency help now. I’ve been there and it isn’t pleasant, but getting help when I most needed it is why I’m here today.  

It’s easy to isolate yourself and ruminate over your negative thoughts and emotions. Isolation can lead to hopelessness and a sense that you are beyond help. But making that one human connection - whether through friends, family, a hotline, or even a supportive online forum - can break this destructive thought process by drawing you back into reality and the realization that you are not alone.  

People who kill themselves are not selfish cowards. This misconception drives me crazy. People who commit suicide are people who are people who are simply overwhelmed by their emotional pain. They are not revenge-seekers or attention-greedy narcissists. They are people who just couldn’t take it anymore.  As someone who has lived with active and passive suicidal ideation, I can say, firsthand, that the thought of ending your life is not driven by superficial reasons like egotism or self-indulgence.

I am not naive enough to think we can eradicate suicide. But awareness and support can  reduce the number of people who end their lives and devastate their loved ones. So, during the month of September, and beyond, I am urging us all to stay vigilant, stay well, and understand that suicide impacts every one of us.  

Editor: Peter P. Khalil
0 Comments

My Top Five Productivity Hacks

9/10/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
I’ve written a lot about productivity, including posts on how to be productive while depressed and using an hourglass for productivity. I like thinking up ways to be productive because productivity is essential to happiness, which is essential to productivity, and so on.


We have finite mental resources, like time, talent, and opportunity, and maximizing our potential with what we have to work with is challenging. So let’s make this short. Here are five things I do to maximize my productivity with my minimal resources:

  • Working out. I sacrifice at least three hours of time, per week, doing top rope climbing, strength training, or swimming. Exercise keeps my mind is clear and refreshed while re-energizing my body. Workout time is also to practice mindfulness which can improve productivity.

  • Creating reasonable to-do lists: I make a daily list with no more than five tasks for the day. Everything on the list is something that can be accomplished in one day. If I have a big project, I break it up into bite-sized assignments I can spread over multiple days.

  • Going off the grid: When I need to hunker down, I put the phone in do-not-disturb mode and close all extraneous browser tabs. To focus solely on my work, I try to get as close as possible to my mental vision of living in a cabin in the rural Montana woods.

  • Minimizing paper:  A lot of productivity gurus push the benefits of writing down your thoughts and ideas. I’ve attempted this exercise and what I ended up with was a garbled mess of random notes, thoughts, ideas, and a lot of paper. If you feel the need to preserve that unforgettable, killer idea, use voice memos or send a text to yourself. Don’t bother jotting it in that ratty, little Moleskine in your back pocket. The technology exists for a reason - use it.

  • Keeping the inbox clean. I have no outstanding emails in my inbox. Everything has either been snoozed, archived, or answered.  Letting emails languish is procrastination. And, not every email requires a response: let go of the guilt of not replying when you have nothing to say.  

Only you control your productivity. Being mindful of your resources will ensure that you harness all your potential with the time and talent you have.

Looking for more ways to boost your productivity while managing your happiness? Check out the new Mood and Productivity Journal, created for people who understand that mood and productivity are deeply connected.
0 Comments

Handling Distraction

9/4/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
We have all been there. You finally have that block of time you need to start on your project - suddenly you hear a knock at the door, a buzz from your phone or your mind just starts wandering. With all the stimuli that we are exposed to everyday, it is very easy to become distracted and unproductive. Here are some ways you can fight the urges we get when distraction rears its ugly head:

  1. Re-evaluate your space: Look at your work area. Is it covered in papers, cables, and Legos (like mine is right now)? Do you have distracting things on your desk, like unpaid bills or other mail that you’ve been neglecting? Your workspace could be hindering your ability to focus. Clear your desk of everything but the bare essentials. Weekly, I like to put everything on my desk into a box. As I need an item, I take it out of the box and put back it on my desk. At the end of the week, everything left in the box gets filed or thrown out.  A clean desk will calm your senses and help you focus your mind.
  2. Minimize digital distractions: This one is my arch nemesis. Phone-checking, web-surfing, Google News, and social media constantly leads to procrastination. How do I combat these distractions? Fortunately, there’s an app - well, many apps - for that. If an app isn’t your thing, you might consider minimizing screen time altogether. Occasionally “lose” your phone or put it out of reach. Close your e-mail and any unnecessary browser tabs. I promise you won’t miss anything.
  3. Protect your time from other people:  You can’t avoid everyone. There will always be drop-ins, e-mails, texts, slack messages, and phone calls. Whether you are working from home or at the office, ask for your space. At our home, we use do not disturb signs as an effective form of communicating the need for focused attention. Letting people know that you need some time alone to focus can be surprisingly effective.
  4. Practice mindfulness and meditation: When your mind starts to wander,  practice some meditation and mindfulness. There are good phone apps available for guided meditation. The basic principle is simple: stop, take a deep breath, and use your senses to notice everything around you.  You can’t fix the past, nor can you predict the future, but you do have control over what happens now.
  5. Find healthy, time-limited distractions: Sometimes I just have to embrace my distracted mind.   When I can’t shake off it off, I might read a chapter of a book or take a quick walk. Avoid rabbit-hole activities like social media or firing up Netflix. These can quickly eat up your whole day. Don’t use your time to come up with new projects. Doing this will just lead to “productive” procrastination. Keep in mind that taking a break for a few minutes now might prevent you from wasting hours later on.

Distraction happens. But it is what we do after we’ve lost our focus that matters. By being proactive, you can turn the tide of distraction and reclaim your time.  So put up your “do not disturb” sign, put down your phone, and get to work.

If you want more ways to increase your productivity and bring focus to your day, order the Mood and Productivity Journal. This journal is for those who understand better productivity leads to a better mood and a better mood leads to better productivity.

Editor: Peter P. Khalil

0 Comments

    about the author

    My name is Dana Johnson and I am the creator of the Mood Check-In blog.

    I am also the developer of the Mood and Productivity Journal - a journal for those who understand that better mood leads to better productivity.

    ​As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Archives

    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018

      get on the Mailing List

    Subscribe to Newsletter
CUSTOM JOURNALS, LLC
​​© COPYRIGHT 2018. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • Order
    • Physical
    • Digital
  • Blog
  • Resources