We all know this feeling; your friend asks you to join a party you have a 60-hour work week, your dog got sick, and you have a ton of work to do at home then BAM it hits you! You're really feeling the ever-dreaded stress.
Sometimes we can't help but pile more and more stuff on our already overloaded plates; however, stress also makes us less productive. So, I found some quick and very helpful tips for any of you who really want to keep your sanity.
First and foremost, bring your work to a coffee shop. The caffeine will definitely give you a boost; however, that is not the reason why coffee shops are ideal for work. Studies have shown that moderate noise actually helps us concentrate, especially on creative tasks. Also, we are LESS likely to be distracted by anybody at home, pets, or various other noises when working from home.
Next on the list is to set your own deadlines. The reason why deadlines are very effective growing up in school is because they work. Given the fact that we have grown up with this method, creating small deadlines for yourself throughout today will force you to be more productive but make them realistic.
Another pointer that goes hand-in-hand with the previous one is to focus entirely on one task at a time. As much as we may think that we can multitask, and we all fall victim to it, we can't.
Face the truth that when we switch from one task to another, our brains are not able to catch up as quickly, interrupting brain functions. So, carry ahead and clear your desk. By focusing on one task at a time we feel more productive and more organized aka less stressed.
One of the easiest tips in the book and one of the best ways to eliminate stress is to exercise, primarily before work. The great thing about exercise or any aerobic activity is we actually think better for two hours after the fact because we have more glucose and oxygen reaching our brains.
In essence, following any of these tips will benefit your brain, your sanity, and your body in more ways than one. Next time you're feeling stressed, take a deep breath look over these steps and follow them through. You'll be surprised how quickly you will feel more productive.
