It’s natural for us to feel stressed from time to time, especially at work. However, if stress is affecting your mood or efficiency level, it’s time to take action. Although you may love what you do, your job can’t always be easy, and neither can maintaining motivation. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, like there’s just not enough time in the day, then keep reading.
Here are a few of our favorite ways to make the work day more productive, without increasing stress. Completing your daily workload without losing all of your energy by the time you go home is crucial; don’t you want to be your best self for family and friends, as well as work?
1. Prep for tomorrow, today
Eliminate a vast amount of stress by starting your day on the right foot. Doing this begins with ending your work day preparing for tomorrow, organizing for the next day, even if only for five minutes.
Put away files and other work items that won’t be relevant tomorrow. Same thing goes for your computer. Exit out of those browsers and documents related to completed tasks. Taking a few minutes to clear your desk and your desktop will reduce clutter and confusion, creating an organized space for you to start your next day. This technique will set you up for success every day, preventing you from feeling overwhelmed first thing in the morning.
Creating a to-do list to focus on the projects that are most important to you and meeting your goals. By tackling the high-priority and difficult items first, you’ll enjoy your day, rather than waiting to do the tasks that you find unpleasant right before leaving the office.
2. Take A Break!
Many professionals either skip their lunch altogether or eat lunch at their desk. If you are one of these people, then it is time for you to make a change. Regardless of how busy you are or how ergonomic your work chair may be, it is important to take a break and refresh yourself mentally.
As it turns out, skipping breaks can actually make you less productive. Short periods of rest and relaxation during the day allow you unwind and refresh, preparing you to meet the ongoing demands from all your work responsibilities, reducing stress levels and improving efficiency.
If finding time for a break is difficult, take two minutes a few times a day to stretch, breathe deep, or standup and walk away from your desk for a moment can make a world of difference.
3. Eliminate Interruptions
Doesn’t it seem like the very technology that is supposed to make our lives more convenient is also causing distraction? Every text alert or email notification can take our mind off of the task at hand. Couple this with the fact that you are busier than ever before, collaborating with more teams, consulting with more colleagues, and you find yourself in an environment that makes it hard to be efficient and stay focused.
Consider turning off non-essential alerts on your phone and designate set times every day to check on your social feeds. There are even apps that will block certain websites, if your company doesn’t already do so. Giving yourself set times to be “connected” will help you keep your head down when you need to focus on the work, while also giving you the chance to truly enjoy the time you spend scrolling!
These are just a few ways the SYNACT team powers through our day, in pursuit of delivering the most value to our customers. We’ve learned that prioritizing our own well-being first gives us the strength and focus we need to do our best. It’s our way of putting our own oxygen masks before assisting others.