Wouldn’t you just rather do less, reduce your task list, go visit the library for the day, cook an extravagant meal, just lay around and suntan at the park catching up on your favorite book, while life rushes by in the background. You’re thinking that you’re too busy for that.
You think that you’re more industrious, that you’re not lazy, you’re all about being as productive as possible. But what if you can be more productive once you relax more, this by learning how to strategically slack off, and not feel guilty about it.
Doing less can actually enable you to increase the quality of your work, along with getting more done. Doing so can increase productivity, this because the output isn’t usually at the same rate throughout the day.
The speed doesn’t always depend on the degree of difficulty of the work that’s being performed, but more on how the brain is functioning. Is it free from stress, relaxed, well-nourished, and raring to go.
Know When To Designate “Thinking” Time
What most will do is tackle their most difficult to-do tasks late morning, as that’s the maximum peak time for productivity, this because the alertness level and willpower are at its highest, and not yet depleted.
So optimize this time by isolating yourself in your office to do what needs to be done. Also don’t chain yourself to your desk during this time by walking around and taking a few breaks.
What’s key is to avoid as many of the distractions as possible, such as putting your phone calls, emails, Internet browsing, Facebook, all on hold, and just dedicating yourself to work.
Take More Breaks During The Day
It’s found that the most productive of professionals will take 15 minute breaks every 55 minutes during the day. During this time, they’ll do something they enjoy, such as watching videos, eating, drinking water, walking, all activities which increases focus.
Do something that will energize you. Go for a stroll outside or hop on the treadmill or bike for a few minutes, concentrating on the next task that you need to do.
Take abstract lunches away from the computer, which will decrease fatigue while increasing productivity during the “drab” periods of the afternoon. Eat as mindfully as possible, paying special attention to how healthy it is.
Do Different Work In The Afternoon
You can train your self-discipline, focus, and ability much like you can a muscle, especially once it begins to get fatigued as the day wears on. It’s found that the afternoon is the ideal time to schedule meetings and appointments.
Afternoons are also excellent for brainstorming, which forces you to think. The reason being that we are the most innovative and inventive when we’re fatigued.
So once you feel that you’re running out of steam, this is the opportune time to do something radical. There’s a reason why you’ll usually do your greatest imaginative work late at night, this when you’re too tired to focus.
Take Time To Relax
What taking more breaks does is it increases productivity, but there’s a stigma that one needs to work harder at all times. Instead, take more breaks which jolts your originality.
If possible, take a stroll outdoors to the nearby park, as experiencing nature is the cure. This can be sitting on a patch of grass surrounded by a few trees for just a few moments.
When we’re feeling down or sick, it’s known that viewing nature will instantly help us in healing quicker. Once we become distracted, the sight of nature is known to recapture our focus again.
When stressed, images on your computer of natural landscapes, or your dog, can slow down your heart rate, which relaxes your muscles, helping you calm down. The more natural light there is, especially in the afternoon, does is it delays the production of melatonin.
Planning The Day Ahead
What you firmly need to tell your brain before doing a certain task is that you’ll complete it entirely. Doing so can make a big difference when focusing and finishing.
Once you fail to complete a task, your mind tends to wander from what it’s currently doing, and will dwell on that unfinished task. Your subconscious mind wants to finish it, and will then “nag” you about it.
Know where you are in your work flow. It’s this mindfulness which will keep you focused, as that’s where the engagement comes from. Also make sure that you prepare a “to do” list for tomorrow, at the end of the current day.
Plan A Predictable Evening
Have a set routine schedule which gradually shifts your brain into sleep mode. Have tea, read, reduce inflammation, lubricate the brain, contribute towards your health and happiness.
Avoid technology after 9:00PM. Shut off your email, avoid social media, and your “work” smartphone. Surrender to light reading, organize your clothes for the next day, tidy up the house.
Then have a hot soothing bath, as what soaking in a hot tub does is it raises your body temperature. After the bath, allow your body to naturally cool down, which signals it that it’s time to sleep.
Get Adequate Sleep
Know exactly the length of sleep that you personally need for peak production the next day. The problem is that most think they’ve got more important things to do, placing priority on them.
So what are these priorities. Is it happiness, health, financial success, healthy children. Realize that you can’t fulfill any of these “priorities” if you don’t get enough sleep.
It’s known that the quality of sleep influences every area of your life when awake, affecting your work, intelligence, satisfaction, or athletic performance, etc. Just even small periods of sleep deprivation can lower your focus.