Launch a Calmer, More Productive Workday
Begin Your Day on the Right Foot
The way you begin your workday sets the tone for the rest of the day, not only at work but also at home. A few simpje measures taken at the start of the day can make all the difference to how it ends. We've compiled the following tips to help you get off to the right-and healthy-start.
Limit your work-starting routine t0 15 minutes. That is, don't spend more than 15 minutes getting coffee,settling in, reading e-mails, checking messages, or looking at newspapers. You are often at your freshest and most productive at the beginning of the day. A prolonged moming routine takes the positive edge off you and makes your afiemoon more stressful. Better that you jump into the important work quickly, and read the nonessential e-mails after you've covered lots of ground.
Write two to-do lists. The first should contain everything that you need to get done soon. It should be a comprehensive list of short-. medium-, and long-term projects and work, and you should constantly adjust it. The second to-do list should be what you can reasonably expect to get done today, and today only. Make the tasks as specific as possible ( i.e., conduct online research for ostrich meat market) and assign a time you plan to devote to it (20 minutes ). Print the list out on brightly colored paper; this keeps it from getting lost on your desk. By prioritizing your work and slicing it down to small, achievable pieces, you greatly increase the chances that you will be satisfied with your day's accomplishments.
Plan Ahead
Schedule some social time come in the midmoming. Most likely, you.work -with 'people whom you like and know rather intimately. In fact, camaraderie(同志情谊) is what makes many jobs great. So build into each moring a ritual in which you can spend a few moments of social time with colleagues. Make it 'short, at an appropriate time, and don't let a day go by without getting to it. Avoid phone calls if you can; they can unexpectedly turn into big time-eaters.
Keep essentials nearby. If you have storage space for private stuff where you work, stock up on the following: .
● A case of low-fat granola bars ( the perfect snack or substitute breakfast)
● A case of bottled water ( keeps you away from the soda machine)
● Supplements, including a multivitamin, B-complex, C and E vitamins, and Echinacea (good for when cold season hits or you forget to take vitamins at home)
● A box of tissues ( always handy)
● At least five family photos ( which always lift the spirits)
● A snack pack ( an array of nutritious snacks)
Make sure you have the right equipment for a healthy day in the office. lf you're deskbound, that means:
● Headphones for the telephone so you're not leaning your neck to one side when you talk on the phone.
● An antiglare filter on your computer screen to reduce vision problems. One study on filter screens found they improved the quality of the screen image and significantly reduced the percentage of people with tired eyes,fatigue, itchy or watery eyes, dry eyes, and headaches.
●A wrist rest for your computer so that you keep your wrists elevated, thus avoiding pressure on the nerves that go through your wrist, which can cause carpal tunnel syndrome.
If you are in sales or service, you are likely to be on your feet much of the day. Comfortable, supportive shoes are just a start. Good socks and underwear, a steady supply of breath mints, and braces or other support for your back, knees, or any other problematic joints are also important. Finally, establish a safe place to keep your keys, cell phone, and other pocket stuff. Full pockets can affect your posture and movement.
Pr Fatigue
Set your watch or computer alarm to go off every hour. This will be your signal throughout the day to take a break, . get up and stretch, walk. aroruid the building, etc.
Sit up straight. One common cause of fatigue, carpal tunnel syndrome, and back pain is our tendency to slump while we're typing or sitting. Every time your alarm beeps or your phone rings: consider it a reminder to straighten that' back, throw backthose shoulders, and lift up that neck.
Spend a few 'moments sparking your creativity. Here's a good way if you have'a computer. Each moming, pick a random word or name. It could be "Eduardo," or "shad roe," 'or "aquamarine". Spend five minutes explorin g the word on the'Intemet. (Is there an' "aquamarine.com" Web site? Yes, it's all about a modem fish farm .) Don't have a computer? Then pick up a dictionary, open it to a random page, and look. for interesting words. Creative exercises like these blow the night's cobwebs from your mind a nd set' your brain up to embrace new information-even in a job you've been doing for years.
Record your message for the day. Effective use of voice mail "can eliminate many inefficiencies concerning business communications", says Marilyn Chalupa, a business educatian and office administration professor at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Her advice: Change your message each day, and make it specific and useful.
Adjust Your Work Habits
Plug in your cell phone as soon as you get to work. That way, it's fully charged and ready to go regardless of what happens the rest of your day.
Start your day with a cup of hot cocoa while you tackle your most creative work. Research finds that one cup of cocoa a day for five days can increase blood flow in the brain, hands, and legs, and helps regulate blood pressure. Choose a brand that isn't loaded with sugar or hydrogenated oil, such as Ghirardelli's.
Find a compliment you've received from a co-worker, boss, or via e-mail, print it out, and tape it inside your top drawer. Whenever you're feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or useless, open the drawer and take a peek to remind you of what others think of your abilities.
Keep fresh flowers or plants at work. A study from Texas A&M University found that live plants increased creative thinking.
Block off 30 minutes on your calendar at the end of the day. This might seem like a strange thing to do when you're ending your day, but this is your time to begin your transition from work to home. During this last half hour of your day, you'II finish answering any e-mail, update your to-do list for the next day, and clean off your desk.
Why does the author suggest limiting your work-starting routine to 15 minutes?