I have a confession to make. I love working. Opening my laptop at the office and typing hundreds of words gives me a high. It’s even more satisfying to know that my article helps you readers out there. But you know what’s my buzzkill? Complications in my day. But I’ve learned how to eliminate them and stay happy. Stick until the end to find out more.
1. Clock in early
Coming to work early is one good trick to simplify your day. Everything is peaceful and quiet. No blaring noise from traffic and no office noises like the telephone ringing and chatter. You can do a lot of your work effectively in the silence.
2. Start your day with a warm cup of drink
If your idea of a simple day is relaxed, drink tea. Choose coffee if being energized is your way of starting your day with simplicity. Doing nothing except enjoying your drink for a good 15 minutes is one way to set your mood for the day.
3. Clear away clutter
The cleaner and more organized your desk is, the better peace of mind you have while working. You’ll also save time looking for office supplies when you know they’re easily accessible. This doesn’t only apply to your work desk, browser tabs and irrelevant running programs on your desktop are distractions as well. Get them out of your sight.
4. Make a short to-do list
Keeping a short task list prevents you from procrastinating and being overwhelmed. Limit the list to the top-5 things that need to be done. This makes accomplishments easier to achieve. You’ll also feel better and proud of yourself by this simple method.
5. Use the Pomodoro technique
To make your day simple, take breaks and keep your energy up. Give your mind a balance of focus and wandering. The Pomodoro technique will help you and works like this:
- Work for 25 minutes.
- Take a 5-minute break.
- After 2 hours take a longer break of 15-30 minutes.
6. Limit meetings and communication
Office interaction can be a source of distraction. It is okay to talk with your colleagues about work-related stuff. But, if it’s about office gossip and drama, communication becomes counterintuitive. There are other more important tasks to do.
To save even more time, propose a 5-minute meeting a day ONLY with your officemates. Work is all about details, once the information is disseminated, the meeting is over. All unnecessary topics shall be discussed after work.
7. Don’t check your email
Another source of distraction is your emails. Reading long unimportant emails takes up a lot of your time. Emails may make you laugh and connect with friends but that complicates your workday. If you’re really tempted to check that envelope icon, do that later after work.
Read more: Need Time Off Tech? Here Are 10 Ways to Combat Technology Overuse
8. Learn how to say “no”
Colleagues sometimes pass on their individual office responsibilities to you. It may be because they’re lazy and take advantage of your kindness or they’re just in dire need of help. You must set your limits. Don’t put others before yourself. If you have work to be done, do yours first. Politely explain the situation to them.
9. Clock out early
If you aren’t in the right state to continue your day at the office, don’t hesitate to give yourself what you need. Leave early, relax, spend some time with yourself or your family.
10. Repeat a phrase every day
When the day is over, say a phrase to congratulate yourself and relax. Don’t brood about what you didn’t finish, but be proud of what you’ve accomplished. Look back to your to-do list, with every checkmark, say your phrase. That would be a great way to end your day! You can use phrases like, “Nice work self!” or “Well done [your name], keep up the good work!”
A simple workday is a blend of focus and relaxation. Stay on track on what needs to be done and take breaks to refresh your mind and body. Eliminate and stay away from distractions to avoid complications in your working hours. Do all of these every day as a ritual and you’re sure to have a healthy career life.
