Having a productive mindset has led me to accomplish some long-term and short-term goals. With that being said, it has made me a better person in the sense that I feel optimistic and energized to check something off on my daily to-do list. I am the type of person who does not enjoy free time and constantly thrives on being busy. Being busy, to me, helps me stay focused and keeps me on track with things I need to do. However, it is a matter of whether or not I feel like I'm being productive with these things that I need to do and when I get it all done. These are the four reasons why being productive is a good thing and how it changed my life.

1. The satisfaction of having something to do for that day or for a few days (routine).

I always find that the days that I'm not doing something are the days that I am at home watching TV and not being productive. Keeping your hands full with optimal amounts of relaxation is the key to success and keeps you focused. I usually start my day with eating breakfast, writing in my journal, going to the gym, doing some light cleaning, and then carrying on with the rest of my day.

2. It helps you accomplish your goals.

I always feel lazy whenever I procrastinate on a task and especially when I save it for last minute. Procrastinating will almost always hurt you and disasters can always happen. The best thing to do is to get it done right away so you can have time to do something else for later. Set an alarm to wake up an hour or so early or do a little bit each day. Then you can have more time to have some fun or relax with some friends.

3. The satisfaction of checking something off your list.

The most dreaded to do list is very intimidating to look at when you pile everything for last minute or end up having a busy day overall. Even accomplishing a few things off that list a day will make the process of doing everything go quicker rather than jam packing it for one. All in all, it is a satisfying feeling of being able to cross something off your list and separating it in increments at a time.

4. Being busy helps you fall asleep better at night (so you can relax later).

Have you ever had one of those nights where you couldn't go to sleep because you know you have a lot of things you need to get done? Once you finish whatever it is that you need to do for that day, it exhausts you to the point where you knock out like a baby. Less stress is better! Also, more sleep equals more time to relax and more time to find another activity to do.