Photo by Corinne Kutz

It’s so tempting to just collapse on the couch after a long day at work. But what if you took that time to work on a side hustle, artistic project, home improvement, or something for your friends and family instead?

Channel the last remaining bit of energy you have after work towards something more productive with these five tips.

Wind down
Being productive doesn’t mean you have to invest more time into work. Give yourself a break to eat, socialize, and relax. Basically, anything that will help keep your mental health in check is time well spent. That way you’ll have plenty of energy to tackle the next thing on your to-do list.

Set realistic goals
Whether you make smaller goals or break down bigger goals, try to keep each task small so you’re more likely to do it. For example, if your goal is to write a novel in a week, you won’t even start because the goal seems so daunting. But if you try, say, a page a day, you’ll feel confident enough to start.

Enlist a buddy
A friend can provide moral support when you’re feeling overwhelmed and keep you on track when you’re tempted to slack off. Arrange a work date with a buddy so you have a commitment to keep, or email each other so you’re held accountable.

Keep your mind off work
Working after work hours actually hurts your productivity in the long run, so if you’re trying to do something else, avoid checking your email or anything else that might bring your mind back to work.

Reward yourself
You won’t be motivated to work endlessly with no reward in sight. So whether you give yourself an hour of TV time or an at-home spa sesh, give yourself something to look forward to.

xx, The FabFitFun Team