No matter what day of the week it is, sometimes it’s hard to muster that get-up-and-go feeling you need to power through your day. Here are some suggestions to help you stay motivated and reach the end of your day feeling successful and accomplished:
Before you walk into work each day, give yourself a pep talk. It can be something as simple as a short and sweet mantra like: “I will have a good and productive day today.” Choose words that will put you in a positive state of mind and get you ready to embrace another day in the office.- Map out your priorities. Give yourself 5-10 minutes to focus on what your priorities should be that day and in the week. Allowing yourself time to think about the bigger picture rather than just the task at hand gives you an opportunity to move from project to project more efficiently and effectively, especially when your eye is on the prize.
- Hydrate appropriately. There’s nothing like that first, second or even third cup of coffee in the morning. But caffeine only goes so far, and your body needs H2O to keep it moving. According to the Diet Channel, in many cases, fatigue, headaches and back pain may be caused by dehydration. If you suffer from an afternoon nod off, try drinking more water at lunch and throughout the day.
- Research updates to your most active work resources. What tools do you use at work every day? There may be new tips and tricks available to help you do simple tasks faster and more shrewdly. For example, if you use Firefox to explore the Internet, one blogger recently wrote about “Seven Ways to Become More Productive with Firefox Tabs”. The advice and how-to guides are out there to help you – take advantage of them. A new trick for your trade may give you a little boost and help give you the feeling that you are doing something better at work than you did the day before.
- Determine what hours of the day you excel. Try to take on the projects that will require the most brain power when you feel your brain is working at its peak. While you may not always be in control of scheduling, just knowing when you are at your best can help get you prioritize the tasks within your control. Being aware of when you’re most productive can help you better prepare for the day ahead.
- Know when to take a break. You have been charging through your day and then at some point you start to feel frazzled and rushed to complete the next thing on your plate. If you rush, the quality of your work takes a hit. To avoid the burn out and rushed feeling, take a 10- or 30-minute break and use the time to do something that takes your mind away from whatever you are working on. You’ll find that the short escape will give you more energy, patience and a better perspective to take on the next project.
What keeps you feeling productive throughout your work day? Share your secrets and tips with us here.
