It's natural to want to get things done. You may even feel an urge every minute of every day to meet your deadlines, commitments, and obligations. 

I call the force pushing us to keep working on our tasks and crossing things off our lists productivity pressure.

Unfortunately, the existence of productivity pressure makes it easy to put so much focus on crossing items off our to-do lists that we forget to take care of ourselves or nourish our relationships.

If you’ve put so much focus on your task list that it starts to toll on your quality of life – you are experiencing what I call a productivity pressure problem.

Here are a few tell-tale signs that you may have a productivity pressure problem. 

• You aren't getting enough sleep
• You are feeling burnout 
• It’s hard for you to find time to exercise 
• It’s hard for you to find time to eat well 
• You aren’t checking-in with friends and family as often as you would like
• It’s hard for you to find time to show up for the people you love

If any of the examples above sound familiar – it can feel frustrating and upsetting but don’t worry! Thankfully, there is a way to solve your productivity pressure problem! 

All you need is one new tiny practice.  

The fact that a tiny habit can address all of the challenges listed above may seem odd at first but science has proven that tiny, specific habits can make huge life changes!

Practicing gratitude and mindfulness is the new tiny practice you need to address your productivity pressure problem.

By integrating a gratitude and mindfulness tiny practice, you’ll still get a lot done and take care of your responsibilities – and you’ll be happier and healthier as you do it.

And don’t worry – this isn't a big time commitment. In fact, you can practice for as little as 30 seconds each day to enjoy the benefits.

Mindfulness and gratitude practices have been proven to have a positive impact on our mood, health, energy, and relationships – and can be completed in seconds.

Practicing gratitude means taking the time to appreciate the positive aspects of your life. It could be anything from appreciating the beauty of nature, to being thankful for the people in your life, to recognizing the little things that make your day better. Gratitude has been found to improve physical and psychological health, increase optimism, and even strengthen relationships. 

Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment and accepting the thoughts, feelings, and sensations that come up without judgment. Research has found that mindfulness practices can reduce stress, boost immunity, and improve mood. 

Taking the time to practice gratitude and mindfulness doesn’t mean you’re shirking your responsibilities. Instead, your mindfulness and gratitude practices will help you be happy, healthy and productive.

So, if you’ve been putting too much emphasis on your to-do list and have a productivity pressure problem, take this as a sign to add gratitude and mindfulness practices in your life. Doing so can have a positive effect on your mood, energy, health and relationships! Yay!

Ready to add more mindfulness and gratitude practices in your day-to-day life? I can help! Click here to learn more.