Having a daily schedule is a great way to stay on track. This way you know exactly what to do and how much time to devote to it. You can also make sure that you take breaks throughout the day. In addition, you should be able to set limits on your time and say no to things that don’t need to be done.
Create a schedule for the day
Using a schedule to plan your day can help you get more done. It will also reduce stress and improve your overall productivity. A schedule can be a simple digital calendar or a handwritten list.
One of the first things to do is identify your most productive times of the day. Research has shown that peak energy hours vary from person to person. If you have a full schedule, consider cutting out unnecessary meetings and other extraneous activities.
Using a time blocking method, create a 15-minute time slot to plan for the day. You can use a daily planner or Google Calendar to block off this time.
The next step is to identify what is your most important task of the day. The most important thing is usually something that you can complete within a few hours, preferably in the early morning.
Turn off notifications
Managing push notifications can be overwhelming. This can result in losing focus, making mistakes, and a general feeling of not being on top of things. It is important to find a way to limit communication.
Most devices allow you to disable and customize push notifications. These can be helpful features. You can also decide which websites and applications will send you a notification. There are many different ways to do this. In the Chrome browser, you can choose to whitelist or block specific websites. There are also apps that can stop certain applications from sending you a push notification.
You can even designate a week to be a no-notification week. This will help you to better prioritize and complete your most important tasks. You can also set a time each day to be a “heads down” time, when you will not be able to receive any notifications.
Get outside for 10 minutes a day
Getting outside for 10 minutes a day is a great way to boost your energy level and psyche. In fact, a recent survey suggests that spending at least 29 minutes in nature is likely to improve your productivity by as much as 45%. Similarly, a little sun can also go a long way. If you live in an area that is particularly cold or rainy, your best bet may be to head outdoors when the sun is out.
While you’re at it, make sure to wear sunscreen and a hat. You’re more likely to be squinting at your computer screen than you are in the sun. You’ll also want to make a point of taking frequent breaks to get your blood pumping.
Say no to helping others
Taking on too much responsibility can lead to high stress, lack of productivity and rushed work. Saying no to helping others is a way to maintain a healthy work-life balance. You will need to set and enforce boundaries and understand what you can and can’t do.
Whether you’re at work or home, you need to know when to say no. Using the right words and body language can make a big difference in how your co-workers feel about your decision.
If you can’t say no, try asking for a different solution. You may be able to direct your co-workers to someone else who can help. However, you don’t want to use an alternative to avoid saying no.
You should also assess the potential benefits of the new task, as well as how the added responsibility will affect your existing responsibilities. Consider your current workload, emotional and physical bandwidth, and the personal impact of the commitment.
Make self-affirming statements
Whether you are looking to improve your personal life or your professional career, making self-affirming statements are an effective way to boost your mood and boost your confidence. These affirmations can also help you avoid negative thinking about work and increase your decision making ability.
A recent study found that a simple self-affirming exercise can raise the achievement of minority students. Researchers discovered that writing statements that affirmed a value had a positive effect on stress levels, as well as improving mental health.
The best way to make your affirmations stick is to make them part of a daily routine. Try writing your statements in a journal. This way, you can see your handwriting change as you write them. The MRI evidence suggests that neural pathways are enhanced when you perform self-affirmation tasks.
