Tips of the Trade: Some Help Keeping Focused in the New Year!

Tips of the Trade:

Some Help Keeping Focused in the New Year!

By: Tamara Braunstein
 

Parts three and four of my series on time-management highlight the need to create a balance between work and rest to optimize efficiency.

Focus

Keep your mind trained on results

Don’t worry about how much you still need to do, focus on your end goal and how each task will contribute toward end achievement.

It’s not shocking that taking a positive viewpoint toward your tasks is most beneficial to reducing stress levels. But a recent study found that staying focused in general can lead to a happier life!

Be fully present

Echoing the “Get Organized” section from part 1, it’s very important to be aware of upcoming meetings and events that may cut into scheduled work time, and plan accordingly.

Instead of viewing these as distractions, be engaged and participate. Don’t let an unfinished task distract you from paying attention – you’re not helping anyone (least of all yourself) by fretting over something that will still be there when you finish your meeting. Allowing yourself the time to take a break from thinking about a project and come back with a fresh mindset may even prove beneficial.

Take breaks

Breathe and Relax

When you start to feel overwhelmed or crunched for time, calm down. It may seem counterintuitive to stop working even for a minute if you’re in a rush, but take some deep breaths and relax your mind for a few minutes, or longer if you’ve just completed a major task. Set a timer to avoid worrying about the time.

Blink or Switch

Blink your eyes or do something else if you notice your eyes drying out or your mind starts to wander. If you have a desk job that involves staring at a computer screen for lengths of time throughout the day, this is especially important:

“Studies show that eye strain and other bothersome visual symptoms occur in 50 to 90 percent of computer workers … These problems can cause physical fatigue, decreased productivity and increased numbers of work errors.”

AND

“When working at a computer, people blink less frequently — about five times less than normal, according to studies.”

http://www.allaboutvision.com/cvs/irritated.htm

Stretch

Do you ever get home after a long day of work and feel exhausted, but all you did was sit at your desk? That’s because our bodies weren’t made to sit all day.

According to WebMD, stretching for just a few minutes at a time throughout your day can help to ward off pain and stiffness and boost energy. It could also help to avoid repetitive stress injuries, which are the “most common and costly” health problems in today’s workplace.