With the increase in reliance on everything digital, it seems as though it is far easier to feel overwhelmed at work.
The pressure to get everything done can send you into a stress spiral that, unless managed carefully, can affect your working day and beyond. By implementing a few strategies, you should see an increase in your productivity but more importantly, the mental clarity should help you feel far more content.
1. Declutter your workspace
If your desk is a mess, how can you expect your workday to flow? Get rid of unnecessary distractions and clutter and even give it a polish…it will make a massive difference.
2. Acknowledge your Challenges
Although you most probably want to run out the door at the end of the day, by taking any leftover stress from the day home with you, you are not helping yourself (or your poor family). This is the time to get prepped for the day ahead.
Take 5-10 minutes to write down any specific challenges that you have faced that day - a study by UCLA psychologists revealed that by verbalizing your feelings — whether you speak to someone or write them down — will help ensure any associated negative emotions are much less intense. Also, by acknowledging your challenges, you can wake up with a fresh mind, motivated to tackle the day.
3. Plan ahead
Now that you’ve released your frustration, you’re in a position to plan the day ahead. Write down all your tasks for tomorrow in order of importance. This way, you start the next day with a clear understanding of what you need to achieve. Do remember to be realistic as distractions will always pop up…so, if you fall short , do not beat yourself up, just make sure to bump it to the top of tomorrow’s list.
4. Do Not multi-task
According to a study by the University of California Irvine, it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back to a task once have wandered away from it. So, when you set out to complete a task, be sure to free yourself from all distractions - no social media, email, calls etc. until the task is complete (or you’ve spent the allotted time to work on it). Use a timer in you have to and if you absolutely cannot be disturbed, let your colleagues know.
5. “Eat that frog”
“Eat that frog!” basically means you do your most important (and probably challenging) task first. If you are anything like me, you would rather get on with the easier stuff that you enjoy doing and spend the rest of the time procrastinating about the other work we really don't want to be tackling. My advice here is to suck it up! You’re going to have to do the more uninteresting task at some stage to get it out of the way rather than wasting time moaning about why you hate it so much.
By utilising these simple tips, you will be better organised, more productive and very likely happier individual. Win. Win.
