Everyone gets to that point at work when they're just too busy, too tired and too stressed. However, bear with us while we tell you why in fact you might not actually be too busy, too tired and too stressed.
Here is our guide to defining your real productivity levels, what's distracting you and how to reorganise your workday schedule.
Breathe it out with us and let us detox your stress levels. Don't claim to be too busy to read this blog, because you haven't had lunch yet or you've got three emails to send out.
Let us help you take control back of your daily tasks and workload, as well as escaping this trap of being constantly 'too busy' to get absolutely anything done right.
1. Everyone deep down likes to look busy
Whether it's because you don't want to get on with that dreaded task that's at the bottom of your to-do list or because you want your boss to see you 'giving it your all' and 'doing everything you can to impress', being busy - or looking busy - can be something you aspire too.
Everything in our day-to-day world focuses on speed and efficiency, we like fast food, fast news and fast communications, so why not do everything at 100mph at work too? Because you won't do it as well and you're stressing your self out by putting pressure on the speed at which you're completing tasks.
Your belief in 'speed is of the essence' is so deep-rooted that this ethos is a hard one to go against. If you're always rushed off you feet, it can come off as poor time management and a lack of organisational skills - not to mention your work will suffer as a result of quicker speed.
> Focus on what 'must' be done that day and do them well - speed comes naturally as a task becomes habit.
2. You have to do everything given to you
SAY NO. As a human race, particularly, if we're honest, because we're British, we feel the need to please people and not upset others by saying that small word, 'no'.
Sometimes it's easier to say yes and put another task on the pile, than just say 'I'm sorry, but right now I really can't take that on - could you ask someone else or ask me again tomorrow?'. Schedule overload is commonplace in most industries now, so time management and organisation is key - make a list of tasks that must take priority over the mundane ones.
3. 'You want to give this to Steven? No I'll do it - it's easier!'
It really isn't easier. Instead you're adding to that long list of other priorities. Whatever your opinion of Steven - or whoever else can do the task - you should let them do it. You can't do everything well if there is already so much on your plate.
Take the time to explain the task or the best method of going about it and teach Steven - then he can do it again in the future, if needed (which crosses one more thing off your list).
Often, it seems easier, faster and better for everyone if you do it yourself, but often that isn't the case. Don't fret about being dispensable, instead give someone else the opportunity to prove themselves - they'll appreciate you for it.
4. Avoiding everything makes you busy
You really don't want to prepare for that presentation, so you'll do something else and something else and then something else. Before you know it, you're too time-short to properly prepare for that presentation after all - and if it's a big task, it's important and should have the appropriate time and effort allocated to it. Always do the highest priority tasks first, the more important a job is, the more time and effort it should have assigned to it.
5. I MUST write those emails first...
In the digital world, it's easy to let social media notifications and unopened emails in an ever-filling inbox. Instead,practice time management in which you set up time to answer emails at set periods only. Don't leave that inbox open, it's a distraction and definitely turn off email notifications or you'll feel like you have to answer them as soon as they arrive.
Thrive says...
When it comes to scheduling your workday, make emails and social media notifications less of a priority and make those time-consuming tasks a must-do, rather than a 'maybe if I get the time'.
Find more like this via Office Life.
