by Ciara Conlon
The word productivity on
the outset may appear like a word reserved for the business community, but the
reality is that productivity can be a benefit to each and every one of us. We
all need to get things done and if we can organise ourselves in such a way that
we get what we need to get done efficiently, quickly and with the least stress
possible it can improve our quality of life, our health and our wellbeing.
Stress
Modern life is full of
responsibilities, demands, hassles and frustrations. If you find yourself
regularly feeling overwhelmed or with too much to do, you are likely to suffer
from stress. Stress can make you feel angry, irritable, or withdrawn, different
people respond in different ways. Long term exposure to stress can be very
serious and people can suffer from reduced immune function, high blood
pressure, increased risk of heart attack and stokes and many more.
It is important to learn
how to manage and control your stress. Learning how to organize yourself better can help you to take control of your life and get things done. Here are some of
the things that I do when my life is demanding:
1. Clear
the Clutter
Decluttering involves clearing your life and
your space of all the unnecessary items in your life. It helps to clear the
mind and make way for greater things to come. Organizational Expert Barbara
Hemphill describes clutter as postponed decisions. A clean environment allows
you to feel more in control, fosters creativity and greater focus to name but a
few of the benefits.
2. Reassess
Goals
When you have too much to
do it is easy to get confused about what is highest priority. Redefining your
goals will help you with this. Whether you work for yourself, for an
organisation or simply need to organise your home life. Having goals or knowing
the goals of your organisation will help you to decide what you should be
working on. A question I often ask myself when I get side-tracked by different
ideas and projects is the following: “What one thing if completed this
week/month/year will make me the happiest?” This helps me to decide what I need
to work on next to make this happen.
3. Organize
and Schedule Work
“If you fail to plan you
plan to fail” Remember these words of Peter Drucker, what gets scheduled gets
done. If you don’t already do it, get yourself a diary or use an online
calendar such as Google Calendar. By scheduling your work and planning your
tasks you will feel more in control of your life and your work and you are much
more likely to get things done.
4. Exercise
and Healthy Eating
When Richard Branson was
asked at an interview what his number one productivity tip was he replied
“Workout”. Regular exercise improves the mood by
stimulating brain chemicals that leave you feeling happier and more relaxed.
Exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps your
cardiovascular system work more efficiently. Exercise can also decrease stress
hormones like cortisol.
To learn how healthy eating can help you be more
productive check out this article by Linda How
Productive is your Diet
Taking on board these
tips will help you to take control of your life, and stay healthy and stress
free.
Good Luck!
Ciara Conlon is a
personal productivity coach and author. You can read more from Ciara at her
blog Productivity and Positivity (Getting things done with a smile) or sign up
for her free eBook Clear the Clutter Find your Life.
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