Earlier we have discussed the details of how to work smarter at office.
More executives are working out of home and in various remote locations and constantly getting more on their plates. When does one cross the boundaries between work and life? Daniel Wilson offers some tips today on what we need to do to ensure the management jobs are not leading us to end our lives, but allowing us a little breathing space in between! Over to Daniel on the 10 ways to work smarter and healthier!
Daniel Wilson’s 10 Ways to Work Smarter and Healthier at the Office
Many people fall into the trap of working themselves into the ground as, in their minds, it means they are working harder, being more productive and getting a lot more done.
However, this is not the case. Not at all.
Not only does overworking damage your own health both physically and mentally, but you are potentially damaging the business you work for. Just because you got that project out a lot quicker than anyone else would have, it doesn’t mean that its done well and that there aren’t more than a few mistakes.
In fact experts from the New Economics Foundation (NEF) have recognised that overworking damages your productivity; didn’t expect that one did you?
1.Working Smarter Doesn’t Mean Working Harder
Many subscribe to the idea that staying busy means you’re working hard and therefore more successfully. They couldn’t be more wrong.
Scurrying from task to task, constantly checking emails, running errands and making a hundred calls a day will just drain you resulting in a state of mindless productivity as you half-heartedly move from job to job. The Journal Hypertension even found that stress at work leads to an increase in blood pressure, where working just one extra hour a week results in a 14% chance of higher blood pressure.
So calm down, attempt task one at a time and leave you work at the office.
2.Work comfortably
You’ve been at your desk for a couple of hours but your back is beginning to ache, it’s all you can think about and you’re struggling to concentrate – sound familiar? Is it any surprise then that your office chair has an impact on the way you work in the office?
Did you know an ergonomic chair can benefit both your health and work? Why not take a look at this guide to great posture at work and discover how it could help you.
3.The Right Environment
Your office environment can have effects on the ways you work including your productivity. Often we think that silence makes for a more suitable work space, but this can be just as distracting as loud noises.
Don’t get us wrong, silence can be great for sharpening your focus or solving intense, detail orientated tasks. But for creativity and producing something rather other than a blank page, ambient noise can promote broader thinking and new ideas.
4.Exercise Improves Health and Work
The benefits of exercise are stretched far and wide in all aspects of our everyday lives including how your perform at work. A healthier lifestyle ultimately leads to increased productivity, smarter work management and higher quality products.
Not only does you physical health improve, but you gain more energy and sharpen your awareness. So make sure you are on top of your game and walk to work, or take a wonder in your lunch break.
5.Eat Healthily
As well as avoiding a sedentary lifestyle, you should also avoid eating too much fast food and unhealthy snacks.
Proper nutrition and healthy food can increase productivity by at least 20% so pack yourself some healthy snacks and avoid the vending machine.
6.To Do Lists
If you’re worried about getting everything done, or forgetting an important project; make lists in order to prioritise your workload. Why not try using the Todoist App to help you keep track of everything and add tasks that pop in to your head whilst on the go?
It even enables you to share projects and assign tasks, as well as collaborate with colleagues. Not only can you sync your task list on all devices but the App allows you full access even when you’re offline.
7.Take a Break
Sitting behind a blank screen won’t help you get anywhere. Instead give yourself 5 minutes and walk away from the desk; stepping away from the problem often allows you to come up with a solution much quicker.
8.Work in Blocks
According to Joel Runyon we should work from a series of stations. Referred to as ‘workstation popcorn’ the idea is to arrive at each workstation whether a cafe or workplace with a clear, thought out to-do list and a plan for what you will accomplish at each location before moving on to the next.
9.Adjust how you Measure Productivity
Measuring results rather than time can make a difference in how you approach work. Break down tasks into achievable sections and cross each one off as you complete it. It doesn’t matter if the larger project takes you a few days, feeling as though you have completed a task helps build momentum.
10.Say No
Don’t attempt to try and get everything done yourself. Learn to delegate, say no and focus on where you really excel.
Thank you Daniel for these tips! We hope all the managers are listening! It all starts with one small change at a time.
About Daniel Wilson
Daniel Wilson is a millennial freelance copywriter passionate about productivity, well-being and self improvement. You can catch him sharing and writing about productivity, entrepreneurship and time management on Medium and Twitter.
