Have you ever felt exhausted after a whole day of sitting down at work? Do you finish work with a sore back, tight shoulders, or sore hands?
I know I do. I get so involved in tasks that I forget to take a break. I skip my lunch because I’m really focused on getting back to that new client quickly and creating a good first impression. I jump from one completed task into the next because I feel like I’m on a role. It took me a long time to accept that by taking regular breaks in my day, I could actually get more done.
When you look at your to-do list, it may seem like the quickest way to get that quote out would be to do it right now. And the truth is, that IS the fastest way to get THAT quote out. But what about the next one? And the next one? And the next? What about the important meeting with your boss this afternoon?
The secret to a productive day is to look past the task you are doing right now. Play the long game. If you take regular breaks throughout your day, eat regularly, and move around a bit, you can significantly improve your productivity.
Research tells us that regularly taking a few minutes to be active throughout the day is just as effective as an hour of exercise in the evening. Wouldn’t you rather go for a short walk around the office every 30 minutes instead of spending an hour at the gym every night?
A couple of things that work for me:
- Walking when I’m on the phone,
- Going for a walk at lunch time,
- Walking to client meetings where possible,
- Taking the stairs instead of the elevator,
- If I’m at home, doing a set of 10 push-ups and 10 squats during my Pomodoro breaks.
If you want to be more productive (and healthier, too) have a think about how you can inject some activity into your day. It can be as simple as getting your coffee from the shop down the road instead of the one inside your office.
Happy Productivity!