While the cold harsh reality of the workweek is inching closer, there is hope. With a few tweaks in your routine and a dose of self-care, you can improve your productivity at work. Here are four tips that will help you focus on what matters most:
Prepare for Monday Night
Sunday afternoon is a powerful time of reflection and planning. If you want to start your week with a bang, take the time to reflect on the previous week and prioritize what matters most. Consider all priorities as well as non-priorities. If they don’t matter, let them go. It’s hard to be productive if you’re anxious, stressed or overwhelmed. Spend Sunday afternoon focusing on those activities that help you feel good, healthy and confident going into the workweek. Avoid spending too much time on social media or watching TV. Instead, do something that makes you feel good about yourself and creates a sense of calm before the storm.
Use an app
With convenient apps available for just about everything, it’s only natural that one would be available for staying on task. One app that can really help you stay on top of your game is Forest. It allows you to plant a tree that will grow into a massive forest if you stay on task for a certain period of time. If you get distracted, you can shake your phone and start over. For something less serious, try the A Clockwork Brain app which gives you a series of animals to follow with their own movements to keep your eyes off your phone.
Play games
Don’t let it be said that employees who goof off are not productive. The truth is that playing games is great for your productivity at work. That is the findings of a recent study by researchers at Stanford University.
Lifehack, a popular lifestyle blog, suggests the following game which will help make work more enjoyable and productive: Klondike.
Klondike Solitaire helps you focus on your work tasks by playing games that keep your memory and attention sharp. Solitaire is great for learning how to effectively manage projects while avoiding distractions. And unlike other video games, it doesn’t require you to use quick thinking and speedy fingers to win.
For more than 5 years, Solitaire has actually been used by educators and medical professionals to treat patients suffering from attention deficit disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, mild post-traumatic stress disorder and even depression. Studies have shown that people suffering from these disorders benefit greatly from playing the free game.
Start by creating a solid morning routine. When you wake up, make sure you have time to eat breakfast, get ready for the day, and go through all the other things that can help you start your day feeling energized. It’s also important to consider the type of physical activity that could be beneficial for your mental health.
You should also schedule time each week to engage in fun activities. If you are unable to schedule out time each week, you should schedule out time each month to allow yourself to do whatever it is that makes you happy. Think about everything that relaxes and energizes you and creates time for those activities in your life.