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What should I do today?
If you just typed that question into your search bar, we have a few ideas depending on your mood.
Sometimes, we want to fill our days with productive tasks to make our future selves smile. On other days, we have limited energy and want to get through the day.
We're exploring things to do on days when you're feeling super motivated—to things to do when you're feeling completely drained of all energy.
We'll cover tasks associated with relaxation, productivity, organization, managing money, and much more.
Let's figure out what you want to do today—starting now.
What Should I Do Today? How to Determine What to Do According to Your Mood
Some days, you ask yourself this question because you have a surplus of energy and want to spend it well. You might ask this question other days because you feel unmotivated, tired, bored, or completely burned out.
On days when you need rest, trying to push through and complete projects or tasks that you don't have the correct energy to complete efficiently is useless. Conversely, when you wake up on a day off with unrivaled energy to do some work, should you "go to work" to get ahead on your upcoming week? Maybe...
Depending on your energy levels, motivation, and mental state, we created a few lists of ideas.
What Should I Do When Feeling Tired or Unmotivated
If you're feeling tired, unmotivated, or completely burned out, maybe today is the day you do...nothing. Any truly productive person needs a day of complete rest once in a while. Sleep and deep rest have huge effects on our bodies and brains.
What Should I Do Today? Use Today to Rest + Recharge
If you're feeling too tired to think of something to do, consider first that it might be time for an impromptu day of rest.
- Take the Day Off: Call in a mental health day at work.
- Take Yourself to a Comfort Zone: Watch your favorite comfort television show.
- Audit Your Rest: Check-in on the 7 Types of Rest Every Person Needs. Where do you fall on each of these types of rest?
- Eat: Order your favorite food to be delivered.
- Practice Mindfulness: Engage in mindfulness techniques to stay present and reduce stress.
- Get Enough Sleep: Conduct your day in preparation to (finally) get great sleep.
- Negative Emotions: Address unresolved issues and negative emotions through therapy, self-help, or meditation.
- Start a Gratitude Journal: Use it to make a list of your favorite things.
- Make a Playlist of Your Favorite Songs
- Watch the Sunrise or Sunset: If you can, watch them both!
- Try a Crossword Puzzle: If that feels too daunting, try some Sudoku or Wordle.
Use Today to Work on Wellness
- Healthy Habits: Establish a routine with regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and adequate sleep.
- Hygiene and Self-Care: Prioritize self-care activities like grooming, skincare, and relaxation.
- Wellness Check-Ups: Schedule regular health check-ups and screenings to ensure your well-being.
- Floss Your Teeth: Be honest, you haven't done it in awhile, have you?
What Should I Do When Feeling Motivated and Productive
Perhaps you've been in a slump lately—feeling unmotivated and just blegh—but today is different! Today, you feel like you can achieve anything.
Are you ready to reorganize your life, desk, and maybe even your entire career today? You must be sleeping well and woke up motivated to organize, set goals, and gain clarity in your career and personal life.
Here are a few ideas to get you started on using your peak energy wisely:
- Set Clear Goals: Define what you want to achieve today, both short-term and long-term.
- Prioritize Tasks: Create a to-do list and prioritize tasks based on their urgency and importance.
- Morning Routine: Start your day with a healthy routine including exercise, meditation, or reading.
- Eat a Balanced Breakfast: Fuel your body with nutritious food to boost your energy and focus.
- Work on High-Impact Tasks: Tackle tasks that will have the most significant positive impact on your goals.
- Time Blocking: Allocate specific time blocks for different tasks to stay focused and organized.
- Clear Your Inbox: Respond to important emails and clear out any clutter from your inbox.
- Learn Something New: Dedicate time to learning a new skill, language, or subject.
- Declutter Your Workspace: A tidy workspace can enhance your productivity and creativity.
- Set Limits on Distractions: Minimize interruptions by silencing notifications and setting specific periods for checking messages.
- Review and Reflect: Take a few moments to review your progress and adjust your plan if necessary.
- Read or Listen to Educational Material: Expand your knowledge by reading articles, books, or listening to podcasts.
- Networking: Connect with colleagues, mentors, or peers to exchange ideas and insights.
- Brainstorming: Set aside time to brainstorm ideas, solutions, or strategies for ongoing projects.
- Update Your Calendar: Ensure your calendar is up-to-date with appointments, deadlines, and important dates.
- Meal Planning: Plan your meals for the day or week to save time and make healthier choices.
- Practice Mindfulness: Take a few minutes to practice mindfulness or deep breathing to reduce stress.
- Review Finances: Take a look at your budget, expenses, and savings to stay on top of your financial goals.
- Help Others: Offer assistance or advice to a colleague, friend, or family member.
- Review Your Goals: Evaluate your progress towards your larger goals and make any necessary adjustments.
- Declutter: Go through your belongings and remove unnecessary items.
- Organize Each Room: Tackle one room at a time and organize belongings in a logical and efficient manner.
- Create Storage Systems: Invest in storage solutions like shelves, containers, and drawers to organize items.
- Deep Clean: Give your living space a thorough cleaning, including floors, windows, and surfaces.
- Donate or Sell Items: For items in good condition that you no longer need, consider donating or selling them.
- Minimalist Approach: Embrace a minimalist mindset by keeping only items that add value to your life.
- Digital Declutter: Organize your digital files, delete unnecessary apps, and organize your computer desktop.
- Unsubscribe and Unfollow: Clean up your email inbox and social media by unsubscribing from unnecessary newsletters and unfollowing accounts that don't bring value.
- Backup and Organize Data: Ensure important digital files are backed up and organized in a systematic way.
- Budgeting: Review your financial situation, create a budget, and track your spending.
- Savings and Investments: Plan for your financial future by setting up savings accounts and considering investments.
What to Do When Feeling Creative and Energized
Is there any better feeling than waking up ready to go? If you wake up with enough energy to conquer the world, use this energy wisely—but leave some extra for tomorrow!
We used the last section to explore ideas to further your professional life while feeling motivated and energized. In this section, we're talking about the days when you have creative energy overflowing from every pore of your body.
On these kinds of days, it's great to use this energy to get creative, create happiness fuel, and get back to the projects that might be for you—and only you.
What Should I Do Today? Use Today to Be Creative
- Creative Time: Spend time on a creative hobby or project to stimulate your imagination.
- Home Organization: Spend time organizing a specific area of your home that needs attention.
- Write: Whether it's journaling, writing a blog post, or working on a creative writing project, writing can be very fulfilling.
- Physical Activity: Incorporate exercise into your day to boost your mood and energy levels.
- Color: That's right! Get yourself a coloring book and a fresh box of Crayola crayons—and go wild.
- Reconnect With Your Inner Child: Remember the Friends episode where Phoebe runs in the park like a kid? Try exactly that.
- Ditch DoorDash: Make something out of the items in your fridge.
- Be a Tourist: Be a tourist in your neighborhood. Visit that local museum or tourist trap that you've been meaning to visit for years.
- Try a DIY Project: You can try an endless supply of DIY projects. Here are a few ideas for inspiration.
What to Do When Feeling Social and Personable
You wake up feeling chipper and ready to mingle with your fellow people. Did you know that huge studies have found that one of the most important keys to happiness is our relationships with others? Let's lean into that.
If you're feeling super personable and social today, there are plenty of ways to connect with your best friends, family members, coworkers, or potential networking contacts! Let's get social!
- Have a Picnic: Invite all of your best friends.
- Play Tennis at the Local Park: You might also learn how to play pickleball because everyone is doing it.
- Go for a Bike Ride: Clean the cobwebs off your bike and go for a ride with your partner or your roommate.
- Attend a Local Sports Event: Support your local team—even if you know nothing about the sport.
- Nurture Relationships: Dedicate time to spend with loved ones and maintain meaningful connections.
- Set Boundaries: Creating authentic relationships also means setting real boundaries to preserve your energy and your personal life. Communicate your needs and set healthy boundaries in relationships to reduce stress.
What to Do When Feeling Stuck or Bored
When you're feeling stuck or bored, you might be suffering from under-challenged burnout. This type of boredom burnout manifests very differently than many of us perceive burnout.
We might envision workplace (or life!) burnout attacking someone who is overworked and constantly pulled in a dozen different directions. Underchallenged burnout occurs when someone is nonplussed by their work. As a result, they check out—and a feeling of profound lethargy comes with that abandonment.
If you're feeling like you don't want to work today or that you don't want to do anything, we have some ideas to hopefully re-energize you!
What Should I Do Today? Try Something New
- Continuous Learning: Dedicate time to learning new skills, reading books, or taking online courses.
- Personal Growth: Reflect on your personal growth journey and set intentions for self-improvement.
- Cook a New Recipe: Challenge yourself with a dish you've never cooked before.
- Take a Dance Class: Whether it's salsa, hip-hop, or ballroom, dancing can be a fun way to get moving.
- Paint or Draw: Experiment with different art mediums and express your creativity on paper or canvas.
- Try a New Sport: From rock climbing to kayaking, there are countless adventurous sports to explore.
- Volunteer: Offer your time to a cause you care about and make a positive impact in your community.
- Learn a Musical Instrument: Pick up a guitar, piano, or any instrument that intrigues you.
- Write a Short Story or Poem: Let your imagination run wild and create your own piece of literature.
- Attend a Live Performance: Whether it's a play, concert, or comedy show, live performances are captivating.
- Practice Meditation: Explore mindfulness and relaxation through meditation and deep breathing.
- Go Camping: Experience the great outdoors and disconnect from technology for a while.
- Visit a Museum or Art Gallery: Immerse yourself in culture and gain new perspectives.
- Try a New Workout: Experiment with yoga, Pilates, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), or another fitness routine.
- Learn a New Language: Open the door to new cultures and broaden your communication skills.
- Travel Solo: Embark on an adventure alone to discover independence and self-discovery.
- Experiment with Photography: Capture moments and scenes through the lens of a camera.
- Take a Cooking Class: Hone your culinary skills under the guidance of a professional chef.
- Explore Nature Trails: Go hiking, biking, or simply take a leisurely walk in a natural setting.
- Learn to Knit or Crochet: Create customized cozy accessories or decorations.
- Attend a Workshop: Participate in a workshop on a topic that intrigues you, whether writing, coding, or something else.
- Visit a Farmers Market: Discover fresh, local produce and artisanal goods.
- Try Virtual Reality (VR): Dive into the immersive world of VR for a unique experience.
- Go Horseback Riding: Connect with nature and animals by trying horseback riding.
- Stargaze: Spend a night under the stars and learn about constellations and astronomy.
- Try a New Cuisine: Explore international flavors by dining at a restaurant serving cuisine from a different culture.
- Learn Basic Coding: Gain insight into programming and create simple applications.
