Note: This article is from engineer and entrepreneur Jason Gutierrez, who guides us on how to avoid losing our productivity.
There's nothing more frustrating than your day being disrupted right from the beginning. However, upon closer examination, I was able to pinpoint the exact reason for it—a fruitless meeting with my boss at work.
Experts say that the way you start your day often determines your productivity and energy for the rest of it, and my personal experience confirms this. If I begin my day by doing something positive, I often maintain this positivity all day. On the contrary, if I sit and listen to my colleagues' complaints, it becomes much easier to lose my motivation for work. It may sound exaggerated, but it has actually happened to me. Those few first minutes of your day can have a significant impact on the hours that follow.
The mistake I made this morning was allowing someone else to disrupt my active working hours. Personally, I am most productive at work between 7:30 AM and 11:30 AM. I allocate this time to work on my most important tasks. When someone else distracts me during these hours, my ability to efficiently complete my work is significantly diminished.
This morning was a prime example of that. I had started my day with enthusiasm and momentum, but our team leader called for a motivational meeting to boost our morale after the weekend break. It was supposed to be a short meeting for a quick pep talk; however, it ended up lasting nearly an hour. The outcome was completely counterproductive for me. Instead of diving into my task list, I sat at my desk, feeling distracted. It's quite astonishing how much a small portion of the day can affect the rest of it. Regardless, I believe it was a loss for my manager, not for me.
Don't Let Someone Else Dictate Your Day
The advice I'm trying to convey has two aspects:
1. Start Your Day with Positive Action
This leads to more positive actions throughout the day. I used to begin my day by checking my phone, scrolling through social media and emails, and catching up on the world. Now, I wake up, jot down a bit in my gratitude journal, stretch, have some tea, and then start my day. This has made me more productive.
Think of your day as building a snowman. You start with a handful of snow and gradually roll it into larger and larger balls. Any positive habit can help you start your day positively when it comes to mindfulness. It might not include brushing your teeth because you do that every day. Instead, try meditating for a few minutes, doing some push-ups, or making your bed.
2. Don't Let Unimportant Distractions Derail Your Work
You know yourself and when you are most productive better than anyone else. Do everything you can to allocate this time to yourself and your most important tasks. Postpone any meetings, emails, or other work that can wait until the afternoon when it's possible.
How to Get Back on Track When Your Day Gets Derailed?
What if you have urgent tasks that must be completed?
Here's what I did today to get back on track after my day went off course:
1. Take a Break
It may sound unusual, but when you feel exhausted and just want to doze off on the couch, let it happen. Allow your mind to wander and recharge for a while. The trick is to give yourself some uninterrupted time before summoning the willpower to get back on track. Personally, I like to allocate 15–20 minutes to indulge in entertaining activities before returning to work.
2. Focus on Small Accomplishments
Don't start with your most difficult and time-consuming task; it will surely derail the rest of your day. Remember that productivity, like building a snowman, needs gradual assembly when you've gone off track. The easiest way to do this is to find two quick and easy tasks to accomplish. You can start with something as simple as going to the bathroom, then maybe washing the dishes, or if you're in the office, tidy up your workspace a bit. Begin with some tasks that take no more than 5–10 minutes to complete. As a result, this will prepare you to tackle larger tasks again.
3. Follow Your To-Do List
As you begin to regain your productivity, you can return to your list of the most important tasks. Remember to avoid distractions, resist the urge to procrastinate, and take short, spaced breaks between your tasks. Also, keep in mind that one good habit leads to another, and don't make the mistake of allowing someone else to spoil your day.
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