Productivity Tip:

Use Color Intentionally 

“I make a lot of simple choices in my life based on colour and how I want to feel,” says J.Nichole Smith, an expert on color psychology. “Being intentional with color is one fun and easy way to live more ‘joy first’ each day.”

Here are some ways she uses color:

• “If I’m feeling low energy and want a pick-me-up, I’ll purposefully wear something bright and cheerful like orange, yellow or pink.”
• “If I’m feeling stressed or in need of some calm, a nice light tint of blue, green or purple will do the trick.” 
• “If I’m teaching or working on my book, I’ll almost always wear turquoise or teal, which are good colours to support communication, collaboration, and focus.” 
• “We have a rainbow of bowls and plates, and if my kids are in a phase of particularly picky eating, I avoid the blue ones (which can deter appetite) and give them the orange dishes, which should help encourage their hunger.”

“Colour is such a powerful influence in our lives that most of us are never taught how to use it intentionally – I hope to be a part of changing that,” she says. Check out her morning routine below!

Routine Breakdown

J.Nichole Smith, Author, Branding & Color Psychology Expert, Host of Joy First Podcast

How a Color Psychologist Puts Joy First

J.Nichole Smith is all about putting joy first in her mornings! Here’s how she uses her routine to get in a positive mindset for the day.

The Routine:

• Avoids devices. “I use every ounce of energy to NOT look at my phone first thing (about 4 out 7 days I manage to avoid it).”
• Cuddle time with kids and pets. “If our 4- and 5-year-olds haven’t already climbed onto our bed and pinned us down, I let the dog out of her crate so she can burrow under the covers for our morning cuddle.”
• Mental planning. “I run through my three non-negotiables in my mind and start doing the mental math of how it’s going to work with life and plans that day.”
• Physical activity. She either heads to the gym to do 5k on the elliptical, does weights with a trainer, or walks the dog. “When I’m out of the habit of moving more, or I’m spending too much time sitting inside, my general happiness and positive outlook really suffer.”

Why it works:

• We know that cuddles and morning exercise are awesome for wellbeing. What about setting non-negotiables? Here’s what Smith says: “As someone who is not neurotypical, I don’t build habits easily, and I always struggle with adulting – so adopting a ‘rule of threes’ approach to decision-making has really helped me simplify and avoid overwhelm. Each week, I try to set three non-negotiables – which may be the same week after week, or may change depending on my goals, schedule and monthly cycle. Because I’m on a long-term weight loss journey, my current ones are: stay under 1600 calories, eat 120g of protein and drink 2 litres of water (sometimes I trade out water for step count or sleep goals if I need to adjust priorities).” 

She adds that this is the only ‘method’ that has worked for her long-term to stay focused and consistent, so she uses it both in life and in her business (including with her team). So here’s our question for you: What are your non-negotiables right now?