Do you go to work every day with a can-do mentality? Life in the 21st century is difficult. Technology is forcing us to stay plugged in all day, every day. More often than not, the human body is rarely getting the rest it needs. Being pulled in a million directions from family to friends, classes, work, meetings and events is overwhelming. Forget trying to fit in a few minutes of casual relaxation and fun. When it feels like your life is spiraling out of control, your performance at work can suffer greatly. It is a domino effect. When your work performance suffers, your reputation suffers, your salary suffers and your social life seamlessly drains away.
Sometimes combating it feels hopeless, but there are ways to avoid burnout. If you begin to recognize what underlying problems are causing your emotional and physical distress, then you
can begin to take the preventative steps necessary to work towards a more productive you.
Harvard Business Review
Just Thinking You Slept Poorly Can Hurt Your Performance
Let’s begin with the topic of sleep. I certainly don’t feel like I get enough sleep, and chances are, you feel the same. Consequently, when human beings do not get the recommended 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night, their reasoning skills are impaired, their reaction time slows and they remember less. But is this matter of “not getting enough shut eye” all in our heads? According to Harvard Business Review, just thinking you slept poorly can hurt your job performance. Case studies from Colorado College show that participants led to believe that they had high-quality sleep significantly outscored control groups and adult norms on verbal fluency tests. Read more to see how the placebo effect worked and how you can convince yourself that you are well-rested.
Forbes
How to Take Control of Your Reputation at Work
Blame the person who took too long in line to order the cappuccino, blame the person in the car in front of you who didn’t go through the yellow light and blame your coworker for not submitting the proposal on time. When things go wrong, it is usually easier to blame anyone else but yourself. Reflect deeply and turn this mindset around. When in the office you are in control of your own actions and individual ideals. Nothing is anyone else’s “fault.” To help ensure that you are making the most of your day, always go to work prepared, be consistent, keep your promises, buy into yourself and stop complaining. If you follow these helpful suggestions, then you can begin to push past your own mental barriers and take claim of your professional life.
The Simple Dollar
Work-Life Balance: 14 Techniques for Improving it
After a long day in the office, it feels amazing to slip on your favorite pair of pajamas, cuddle up on the couch and let the day you just had slip deep into the back of your mind. Sometimes
though, when the stressors of life are at an all-time high, it can become ever-so-challenging to find those few minutes of necessary solitude and social satisfaction. Take a deep breath and relax. Just remember that while work may be your priority, your ultimate priority is you. Yes, you. Take the time you need to plan your day, set goals and establish a routine that promotes self-reflection and relaxation amid the craziness. Here are 14 key techniques for improving your work-life balance. Some favorites include taking breaks, writing a to-do list before you leave, keeping careful documentation of your tasks and having focused sessions at work.
The primary takeaway here is that you are in control of your mindset. Yes, not getting the recommended 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night can inhibit your overall productivity for the day. Sometimes though, the power of perseverance is all you need to overcome those seemingly impossible challenges. And when your reputation at work is suffering, stop blaming those around you. Everything will not always be in your control but you have the say-so over your own words and actions. Keep yourself as the priority and adjust your goals around your professional growth. Take a minute and consider what type of mindset you had when you walked into work this past week and how you left feeling each day. How did your mentality impact your productivity and well being in the office?
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Julia Pizzutti is an intern for WordWrite Communications. You can find her on Twitter @julzutti93.
