We’re not all lucky enough to be morning people, so the start of the day can really be a struggle. Often it’s easy to let this characteristic override your day and have your productivity slip when you get to work.
So here are a few tips on getting yourself in gear for a good work day.
Wake up earlier: Ok, easier said than done, I know, but even an extra 10 minutes stretching in bed before actually making a move can make the world of difference.
Organise the night before: Avoid rushing around in the morning, making lunch, packing your bag and trying to find those bloody keys by getting prepared the night before. All this will equal less stress and more time to unwind in the morning.
Avoid burnout: Too much work can often mean not enough work. What I mean by this is, piling on your workload and giving yourself too much to do at once can be counter-productive and get you nowhere. Give yourself short bursts of work to do while incorporating short breaks and see how your to-do list shrinks.
Start off small: Getting small and menial tasks out of the way at the beginning of your day will take away distractions later on. It’s also a very effective way of easing into the day without facing a daunting task first thing in the morning.
Assign yourself tasks: Block out your day with AM and PM tasks, even assign them timeslots if that is possible in your line of work. Organisation of work is underrated; it can mean the difference between no work and all work being completed throughout the work day.
Work out: If you work in an office environment, becoming sluggish at your desk is often unavoidable. Going for short walks between tasks or at lunch time is a great way to re-energise and keep yourself going.
Tips for employers
Adjust start times: If your staff are often tardy or take a lifetime to get going in the morning, consider adjusting start times. If the work day starts at 9am, ask staff to get to work by 8:45am. This way they can spend 15 minutes getting themselves set-up for the day before getting on with tasks. Increased productivity should occur and less time will be wasted at the start of the day.
Encourage frequent breaks: The thought of taking a 15 minute break every 90 minutes might sound ridiculous, but it’s actually a very effective way of increasing productivity by avoiding burnout.
By Terri Cluckie
