As the toughest day of the week draws to a close, are you having trouble making progress on your to-do list? You don’t need to pack up for the day with a sense of failure. In the hours you have left, these tricks can help you get enough done to start Tuesday off with a sense of accomplishment instead of dread.
(Photo Credit: john.schultz/Flickr)
1. Trick yourself.
Sometimes, a feeling of having made progress is all you need to rekindle your motivation. So, go ahead: add an item to your list that will take 30 seconds to check off, use one looming deadline to inspire you to tackle another, or dive into something new by saying you’ll just give it five minutes … and then work as long as you can. It’s OK to fool yourself in a good cause.
2. Take lots of breaks.
Find yourself checking your social media feeds or reading the internet? Stop right now and take a real break, even for just a few minutes. Get a glass of water, use the restroom, do some stretches at your desk. Disengage, for real, and you’ll be able to connect with your work when you come back.
3. Use bribery.
One-hundred more words on this report, and you can have a late afternoon cup of coffee. One more phone call, and you can check your personal email. Rewards are terrific motivators.
4. Get physical.
Most of us spend far too much of our day sitting. It’s bad for our health and bad for our concentration. Take a walk around the block or do jumping jacks in an unused conference room – anything to get the blood pumping and your brain working again.
5. Work as a team.
If you follow any writers on Twitter, you’ve probably heard of the term “sprints” for projects unrelated to racing of any kind. With like-minded colleagues, plan work sprints toward the end of the day, and barrel through work as a team. When you have a big project deadline coming up, you can even reserve a meeting room and work in the same place. Not only will you get more done, but you’ll probably feel more connected to your co-workers while you’re doing it, which makes work less lonely and almost – almost – like a fun social event.
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