Feel-Good Productivity: 10 Tips to Get Stuff Done Without Feeling Miserable

Productivity can feel dry, boring and hard work. In this article I’m sharing 10 feel-good productivity tips to help you get stuff done without feeling miserable!

DOES BEING PRODUCTIVE FEEL LIKE A BATTLE?

If your life is busy and your To Do list long, it always helps to find ways to be more productive, efficient and organised. However, if we’re being honest, when we think of productivity, it often feels like a battle and probably one more thing to add to that To Do list!

Hustle harder. Work longer. Do more. But I don’t think that being productive has to feel exhausting. In fact, the best way to get stuff done is by focusing on feeling good while you do it.

When you’re tired, stressed, or overwhelmed, even the simplest tasks feel impossible. But when you’re in a good mood, feeling energised and motivated? Suddenly, everything feels easier. So, in this article I’m chatting about feel-good productivity—simple ways to boost your energy, reduce stress, and actually enjoy getting stuff done.

10 FEEL-GOOD PRODUCTIVITY TIPS YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY ENJOY!

Here are my favourite feel-good productivity tips to help you get stuff done and enjoy the process too. What would you like to achieve and how you can feel better whilst you do them?

1. Start Your Day with Something That Feels Good

Most of us start the day by rolling out of bed, grabbing our phone, and getting hit with emails, news, and notifications before we’ve even had a sip of tea of coffee. No wonder we feel frazzled! Instead, try starting your morning with something that actually makes you feel good.

• A quick stretch or a short walk.
• Listening to music or a podcast you love.
• A few minutes of reading something inspiring.
• A quiet cup of tea or coffee before the chaos begins.

When you begin the day feeling calm and positive, it sets the tone for everything else.

2. Make Your To Do List Shorter

We love writing long To Do lists, don’t we? The problem is, looking at a list with 27 things on it is overwhelming. Instead, try the rule of three—write down just three key things you want to get done today.

If you finish those? Great, you can add more. But keeping it short makes it feel achievable, which boosts motivation. And if you only complete those three? You’ve still had a productive day!

3. Work in Short Bursts (and Take Breaks!)

Forcing yourself to sit and work for hours without a break is a recipe for burnout. Instead, try working in short bursts—like the Pomodoro technique (25 minutes of focused work, followed by a 5-minute break).

• Set a timer and work for a short, focused sprint.
• When the timer goes off, get up, stretch, or grab a drink.
• Repeat as needed, taking a longer break every few rounds.

This keeps your energy levels up and stops that sluggish I’ve been staring at this screen for three hours feeling.

4. Make Tasks More Enjoyable

Some tasks are just mundane, repetitive and not very inspiring—there’s no way around it. But you can make them more enjoyable:

• Put on music or a podcast while you do housework.
• Reward yourself with a treat after finishing a tough task.
• Turn it into a game—see how much you can get done in 10 minutes.

The more fun you make it, the easier it feels.

5. Move Your Body to Boost Your Brain

Feeling sluggish? Productivity isn’t just about what you do—it’s also about how you feel. A bit of movement can work wonders for your focus and energy.

• Take a quick walk outside for fresh air.
• Stretch or do a few yoga poses.
• Put on your favourite song and have a mini dance break!

Moving your body gets the blood flowing, wakes you up, and helps you feel so much better.

6. Stop Trying to Multitask

Multitasking feels productive, but in reality? It just makes everything take longer. When you switch between tasks, your brain has to keep adjusting, which drains your energy.

Instead, try single-tasking—focus on one thing at a time. It’s faster, easier, and way less stressful.

7. Declutter Your Space (Just a Little Bit!)

You don’t need a Pinterest-perfect workspace, but if your desk is buried under piles of paper and half-empty coffee cups, it’s probably not helping your focus.

Spend five minutes tidying up—clear a small space, put things away, and light a candle or open a window. Decluttering boosts productivity because a fresher space = a fresher mind.

8. Give Yourself Something to Look Forward To

Productivity isn’t just about working—it’s about balance. If your whole day is just work, chores, and responsibilities, you’ll feel drained. So make sure you’ve got something fun planned, even if it’s small.

• A nice treat after a productive morning.
• Watching an episode of your favourite show.
• A coffee date with a friend later in the week.

Having something enjoyable on the horizon makes it easier to stay motivated.

9. Stop Waiting for Motivation—Just Start

Sometimes, we sit around waiting to feel motivated before we start something. But the secret is—action comes before motivation.

Instead of thinking, I’ll start when I feel like it, flip it around: I’ll start, and then I’ll feel like it. Once you get going, momentum kicks in, and it’s so much easier to keep going.

10. Be Kind to Yourself

Some days, you’ll be super productive. Other days, you’ll struggle to get anything done. And that’s okay! Beating yourself up doesn’t help—it just makes you feel worse.

Instead, focus on progress over perfection. Did you do something today, even if it wasn’t everything? Great! That’s still a step forward.

CONCLUSION

Being productive doesn’t mean working harder or doing more—it means working smarter and making sure you feel good in the process.

So, what’s one feel-good productivity tip you’re going to try today? Let me know in the comments at the end of this article!

MORE ON THIS TOPIC

Here are some other articles on productivity that you might enjoy:

• 10 Ways to Avoid Wearing Busy as a Badge of Honour
• 10 Things To Do When Procrastination Kicks In
• 10 Great Organisation Habits to Help You Stay Organised in Life
• 7 Productive Habits to Help You Get More Done Each Day
• 8 Ways to Create a Better Work-Life Balance

GET YOUR FREE PRINTABLE

One way to be more productive is to plan your day, the simple and strategic way. Pop your details in the box below to get your free workbook to help you do exactly that!