This month, I’ve been running a 30-Day Weight Loss-athon. In putting together the daily posts, it’s struck me that many of the strategies I’m applying to weight loss also work for business productivity and time management. In fact, my favorite weight-loss strategy, ‘splurge strategically‘, involves saving your ‘naughty’ calories only for your favourite treats, and saying no to all the rest.
I think this strategy applies equally well to business productivity.
Um, how? you ask. Well, it works like this. Most of us need a certain amount of downtime in our workday – time to recharge the batteries, refresh the mind. No one puts in a full eight (or however many) hours of solid output. But sometimes we’re not strategic about this time. We let ourselves chat about nothing on the phone. Or linger too long on Facebook. Or do our work slowly and inefficiently. We steal poor-quality downtime for ourselves. Then, because our productivity has been less than ideal, we compensate by denying ourselves a proper lunch break, or refusing to stop when our bodies and minds cry out for a change of scenery, which only makes us more tired, distracted and vulnerable to time-wasting activities. Instead, we could be more strategic about our downtime. How?
First, identify the types of rest and recreation you especially enjoy for your downtime.
For me, good choices include:
- Doing the Sydney Morning Herald cryptic crossword
- Watching a clever comedy TV show
- Going to the gym
Each of these are fun (maybe not-so-much the gym), take my mind completely off work, and help me feel refreshed when I get back to work. Other ideas that could work for you are:
- Going for a walk
- Reading in a park or cafe
- Making yourself a healthy snack of cut-up fruit and vegetables to take back to your desk
Second, allow yourself to take these high-quality breaks when needed.
Listen to your mind and body when they tell you they need a break, and do something from your list – something that will rejuvenate you. Of course, you do have to distinguish the voice that’s looking out for your physical, mental and business health from the voice that just wants to play. If you think you can’t afford the time, ask yourself how productive you usually are when you feel this way. You soldier on. On to Angry Birds, right? The more you take good-quality rest breaks when you need them, the less you’ll find yourself sneaking the poor-quality downtime. Will you try this? Comment below to let me know your thoughts.
