Top 5 Tips for working smarter to improve performance and wellbeing

Let’s face it. There are only 24 hours in each day and although we’ve done some pretty amazing things as humans, stretching that number is not one of our innovative feats. We can, however, use these 24 hours for whatever activity we choose based on the type of life we want to live. For most of us, that means balancing some sort of income-generating work that is meaningful and a personal life that is fulfilling. To gain more in both areas, we need to do more. Or, do we?

Productivity doesn’t necessarily equal quality. If you have ever laughed at the old Lucile Ball television episode where Lucy and Ethel try to get a job in a candy factory only to be overwhelmed by a speeding conveyor belt of chocolates they were expected to wrap, you know that trying to do too much in too little time results in nothing but trouble. Yet, it does seem like some people are able to get so much more done in their life and still have time to go out on the weekends, play golf, see a movie, keep up with the latest TV drama, and go on vacation.

An article by Dr. Travis Bradberry posted on theladders.com cites a study by Stanford University that found that quality productivity per hour declines sharply when the workweek exceeds 50 hours, and drops off so much after 55 hours that there’s no point in working any more. So, all of those weeks of putting in 60-70 hours (or more) to go the extra mile are not really going anywhere other than exhaustion.

This study tells us that the people who we feel are getting more things done than us have just learned how to use their resources – time, in particular – differently. They are spending time in their income-generating job 30-55 hours per week and spending time in the other areas of their life the remainder of the week. Successful people in the workplace are using their time away from work responsibilities to recharge.

This season of changing colors in the leaves and cooler breezes with harvest festivals, hay rides, apple cider and other treats makes finding things to do on the weekends easy. Relaxing with friends over a farm-to-table gourmet dinner or getting outdoors for Fall sports are great ways to shift gears from work.

There are also several science-proven ways to recharge year-round regardless of where you live according Julia Malacoff of glassdoor.com in her blog “4 Unexpected Ways to Improve Your Work Performance.” She shares four activities that will help improve your quality of life at work and home:

1.     Exercise

Not only does physical exercise get your blood flowing, help with overall weight control, and improve sleep patterns, but a recent study out of Denmark published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science reports that a group of corporate workers’ productivity levels shot up after starting to exercise consistently. So, just like recess has been proven to help kids brains learn and retain information better in school, exercise when we are adults helps our brains out as well.

2.     Meditate

Meditation is for the mind what exercise is for the body and has the same outcomes on productivity. Taking a few minutes of quiet time for reflection, whether following a structured thought process or freeform pause, is helpful. A study of office-based middle-managers published in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addition found that participants who were struggling with a work-related issue found relief from that stress and reported improved job satisfaction when practicing meditation. Other terms for this practice depending on cultural backgrounds, belief systems and spiritual traditions include mindfulness and prayer.

3.     Get Creative

Just as ballet can be helpful to a football player, playing violin can be helpful to a surgeon. There is a reason we have a right and left side to our brains. It is important to feed both the creative and analytical sides. San Francisco State University organizational psychologist Kevin Eschleman and colleagues had a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology that suggests creative activity improves job performance.  “Creative pursuits away from work seem to have a direct effect on factors such as creative problem solving and helping others while on the job,” said Eschleman. Employers and co-workers, alike, can encourage everyone in the workplace to share their creative pursuits by bringing in personal artwork to decorate their offices, holding cake baking contests, talent shows, karaoke gatherings, or other activities.

4.     Get Enough Sleep

As adults, we still need seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Yes, there are nights when we can, and do,  get by on less. However, we can’t function very well if these short nights start to stack up. Both quality and quantity of sleep hours is important for brain function. Numerous studies cite this importance. One in particular in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine  says that a lack of sleep causes a lacking performance at work. Do yourself a favor and get enough sleep to reduce your stress and improve your health.

We’re adding one more to Malacoff's above list:

5.     Set and Reach Goals in All the Above

When you achieve small and big wins in any area of your life, the positivity and endorphins generated can’t help but transfer themselves to all other areas of your life, including work. A positive attitude goes a long way towards both quality and productivity. It also contributes to better relationships and overall wellbeing.

Time management seems to be the key to making all of these tips possible and managing time is tough. It takes discipline and help from others when we just have too much to do. Our bonus tip of the day is to start your day doing what you want to accomplish first. Before you dig into your emails from everyone else and answering all of their needs, send out your requests. Mark off a few of your to-dos. Then jump into response mode. You’ll feel much better for having accomplished something meaningful to your goals and know that you’ve moved forward no matter how crazy the remainder of your day gets.

Interested in learning more about how Balance Concierge can help you and your team manage time? Contact us to learn more at  877.502.2201 or Click Here.