When the Coffee Runs Out
Most employees working in corporate America or even in small business settings will admit that staying productive throughout your workday can be difficult. The inevitable urge to become demotivated as the week and the workday goes on can become draining and will often pull even the most hardworking employee under eventually. Fortunately, there are a few quick techniques that can prevent this from happening! There are certain things employees can do to break up the workday, be healthier, feel better, and stay motivated until quitting time rolls around.
First and foremost, staying productive throughout your workday actually begins the night before. Always be sure to get plenty of sleep the night before. That last episode may have seemed like a good idea at the time but will be regretted when you wake up feeling sluggish and unfocused. The average adult needs 7–8 hours of sleep per night, however, according to research done by Hult International Business school, most professionals average only 6 hours and 28 minutes. This may seem like an inconsequential gap, but prolonged periods of too little sleep can cause memory loss, distractedness, skin aging, lowered immune system, irritability, depression, and much more. You can’t expect to stay productive throughout your workday when your body has not even had adequate time to reboot from the day before.
Even being well-rested, sometimes the monotony and routine of staring at the same view all day can dampen your creativity, productivity, and your energy. Avoiding this is as simple as changing your scenery. If you feel stuck and unproductive, sometimes it can be helpful to get up and take mini breaks every now and then. Walk to the kitchen and get a snack, or chat with a co-worker who is also taking a break for a few minutes. If your office allows you to step outside for a few minutes throughout your day, stand in the sunshine for a few minutes just to get some fresh air. Often, you will return to your desk feeling awake and ready to dive back in.
To stay productive throughout the day, sometimes it helps to have something to look forward to after work. Small rewards like this can break up the monotony of going to work, going home, going to bed, and repeat. Sign up for an exercise class, plan to meet a friend for drinks, whatever you enjoy doing. The temptation to fall into an unproductive pattern throughout your workday will be greatly diminished if you have something to look forward to. In addition to this, knowing you have to leave the office in a timely manner at the end of the day will usually drive your productivity all throughout the day to ensure you complete everything you need to.
Credit: Posted by Josh Mangum at https://recruitingblogs.com/profiles/blogs/how-to-stay-productive-during-the-work-day
