Productivity at Work - Finish the Year Strong

Monday, September 27, 2010

Believe it or not, It’s back: The fall season. Holidays. Kids back in school. Last chance for 2010 revenue. It happens every year, and every year somehow feels worse than the one before--it’s 4th Quarter Stress.

Effects of stress are varied--and include loss of appetite and even apathy! However our bodies experiences stress, the result is the same: We become less happy and less productive.  

Stress is not all bad. We all experience stress-- and a certain level of job stress helps us stay on task and meet deadlines. A little stress can quickly become too much stress though--especially this time of year. Too much is counter-productive--and can affect  not only you, but your entire team.

Stress is contagious. If you are a manager, you owe it to your team to be a good role model and help them handle stress. If you are irritable and overwhelmed, they will experience a lack of motivation and may even mirror your symptoms. Overcoming 4th Quarter Stress can help you meet your goals, foster a productive team and happy employees. Sounds pretty good huh?

Handle 4th Quarter Stress Effectively. On a personal level, eating balanced meals, getting enough sleep (at least 7 hours), and avoiding nightly cocktails are three changes that will help your body become more resilient to stress.

In the workplace, there are specific changes you can make, too. We suggest helping your team implement these strategies to help end 2010 in a productive, positive light:

1. Schedule Wisely. Avoid scheduling things back-to-back or trying to fit too much into one day. All too often, we underestimate how long things will take. 
2. Leave for Work Earlier. Even 10-15 minutes can make the difference between frantically rushing to your desk and having time to ease into your day. Don’t add to your stress levels by cutting it close.
3. Take Breaks. Short breaks throughout the day help clear your mind. Even stepping away from your desk to eat a 15-minute lunch will help you feel recharged and more productive.
4. Prioritize. Make a list of your work and tackle it in order of importance. If you’ve been dreading a particular task, get it done as early as possible.  The rest of your day will be more pleasant as a result.
5. Delegate. You don’t have to do it all yourself. Let go of some of the control and you’ll (eventually) feel some relief. 

While simple, committing to these strategies will drastically improve your productivity and how you feel at the end of the day. Begin using stress to your advantage, instead of allowing yourself to be controlled by it--and enjoy the rest of 2010!

Our goal is to help you be as productive in the workplace as possible. Have your own thoughts on productivity? Drop us a line at moreproductive@4myoffice.com. We’d love to hear what you have to say--and it just might become our next newsletter topic.