Who here, needs a reminder to show yourself some love? If this resonates, keep on reading! It is easy to get so busy during your day, that you barely have time to breathe or eat lunch. However, studies show that people who get up and take time for themselves throughout their day, actually accomplish much more than those who just sit and plow through whatever comes across their desk. The person who gets up regularly, has a clearer mind, they are more focused and they are able to sustain their energy levels much better throughout the day. Let’s take a look at a few ways you can show yourself some love and be very productive!
Take regular mental breaks. In order to maintain productivity, you must take a real break, and I mean more than grabbing a quick bite to eat at your desk. A real break means getting up away from the computer and your desk. Go for a walk outside, grab a cup of tea, read a blog post or a chapter in that great book you’re reading. Take a mental break! You can only maintain a focused line of thinking for so long, then your brain shuts off, your mind drifts and before you know it, you’re mumbling to yourself and making errors. Get up, take a nice deep breath and take a break. It will do wonders for you and whatever you’re working on!
Choose three tasks you want to complete. People often ask me, “So how do I set goals each day to maximize my work day?” My idea of maximizing my work day and yours may be quite different. We all have a definition of what “productivity” is. For me and the question I would have you ask yourself is, “How do I want to feel at the end of a work day?” Drained, but you accomplished all ten tasks on your to-do list? Or would you rather feel great about the three tasks you were able to accomplish and still have energy to greet your dog, your children, your spouse when you get home and not collapse on the couch? Productivity is defined as: the effectiveness of productive effort, especially in industry, as measured in terms of the rate of output per unit of input.
Yes, being productive is not just about getting stuff done, it is also about being effective. So, next time you try to wedge ten tasks into one day, ask yourself, what would be the best use of my time? What three tasks are top priority? Hey, if you get more done after those three tasks, then that is a bonus and that means more to celebrate!
Celebrate your accomplishments. Now when I say celebrate, I mean celebrate! Think about this for a moment. We spend our days, marketing ourselves in business, working hard to land another great client and then BAM –it happens. Exciting right!!?? What do we do though? Oh, that’s great and we quickly move on to the next goal or task.
Why do we do overlook our successes? What are the implications of this behaviour on our mindset long-term? It can have devastating effects, so we need to consciously make an effort to acknowledge and celebrate our successes and wins. Seriously, you worked your tail off to land that new client or get that promotion, so make sure you acknowledge that and celebrate!
As Jack Canfield, Success Coach, Author of Chicken Soup for your Soul says, you will stay motivated and you will be much more successful long-term, if you enjoy the fruits of your labour. Some people may argue that it’s their job to keep growing and doing better, getting new clients is what being in business is all about.
YES and if we let it happen and miss celebrating and acknowledging these successes along the way, we lose sight of the real reason we started our businesses or we go to work each day –our passion and love for what we do.
In conclusion, we are the sum of our habits. The more we can create and develop strong habits, the better we will feel and the more accomplished and effective we will be long-term. Oh and, be kind to yourself! If you have a day where you don’t get as much done as you wanted? Simply acknowledge it, step back and ask yourself, what did I learn? Tomorrow is another day. Stay positive, remember –you are human!
Heather Wilson, ATC
