3 Secrets to Revive Your Day

How many times per week do you feel overwhelmed with work? And do you spend most of your time worrying about the number of pending tasks even before starting to do anything?

Note: This article is by Emily Madill, who shares her experience of making her day.

Imagine how much lighter the day would be if unnecessary worries accompanying the completion of daily tasks were eliminated. There is a sense of simplicity and ease that comes when you slow down the pace of your day, allowing your mind to absorb your current workload away from fears and anxieties.

We may achieve results from our work regardless, but the way we deal with work—how we feel about our presence—is the most significant difference and determines the way we spend our day.

When we focus on the present moment, it becomes easier to take the best next step because it can be tested directly. It is the optimal way to move forward in life.

Slowing down in completing your to-do list may disappoint your expectations, as ultimately, the long list won't be completed on its own. However, the additional pressures stemming from anxiety, haste, or the urge to accomplish multiple tasks simultaneously may seem effective initially, but they won't actually propel us forward.

When you are busy with multiple tasks at once, you are more likely to overlook one of them, leading to unnecessary stress and tension.

Cleveland Clinic, a non-profit medical center that integrates clinical care, hospitals, research, and education, states, "Studies show that when our brain operates on different levels and switches between tasks—especially when these tasks are complex and require active attention—we become less efficient and more prone to making mistakes."

Adopting an individual focus on daily work is a kinder and more efficient way to accomplish more and feel satisfaction during work. In the end, none of us is likely to remember the amount of accumulated work during our life journey; rather, we will remember the quality of our work, our presence, and the moments we experienced throughout our life journey.

When I find myself overwhelmed or trying to focus on too many things at once, I look at the situation as a sign to slow down, take a step back, and be patient.

Secrets to Revive Your Day

These are the three strategies that help me take one step at a time and stay present in the moment when I work. If they resonate with you, give them a try:

1. Set a plan for the future

Staying organized is a useful way to eliminate anxiety before starting work. I strongly support the idea of dedicating time to creating a weekly plan to organize my days in advance. It involves choosing a day each week to commit to mapping out the week.

Planning is a wonderful way to get all the tasks and plans for this week out of your head and onto paper, as your mind won't need to search through a massive loop of tasks to remember what comes next. This happens because you have taken charge of it before the week begins; therefore, planning your week early also helps you identify if you need to organize your time and when you should add time for rest and entertainment. Planning for the future helps you gain a clear vision of what you may want to add or remove from your list even before you start. Then, when your week begins, you have an organizational structure in place. Instead of wondering what comes next, you have space to enjoy the task at hand.

2. Rearrange your thoughts

Create a helpful reminder to aid you in staying focused in the present moment and disconnecting from distractions. This strategy is connected to the previous one, which revolves around planning for the future.

When you enjoy your daily work at a slower pace, it becomes easier to feel the pleasure of being present. However, life often keeps us busy, and we get lost in the hustle and bustle of distractions that come throughout the day. Pre-planning to reset your scattered thoughts is a kind and clever suggestion you can offer yourself for the present and the future.

For example, the Japanese word “Ima,” which means "now," serves as a reminder of the present moment for me. This word holds personal significance, making it easy for me to bring back the feeling of being in the present or allowing myself to take a break when I start to feel tired or anxious throughout the day. This word helps me be present and focus on the task at hand. Therefore, choose a word or reminder that personally connects you to reality, making it easy for you to rely on it to help you manage moments of stress. Give yourself the ability to redirect your thoughts in the right direction throughout the day.

3. Allow pleasure in your life

If you don't feel pleasure as part of your life journey, now is the right time to start; allow yourself to enjoy everything you do.

Pleasure is not just about feeling joy or positive emotions; it's about allowing yourself to experience the present moments while fully being immersed in them. Connect with your presence during work, observe how you feel, and live in the present with every fiber of your being when you sense that negative thoughts and fears are starting to take over.

Let your deep breaths come out softly to help you enjoy your presence at work. Days and weeks will come and go, as well as the tasks we want to accomplish.