How To Be More Productive in January

The first week in January is all about healthy living and shedding the holiday weight. We join gyms, we go on diets, we avoid booze, we kick off our slippers and force ourselves into our, somewhat dusty, running trainers.  

After a week of enduring this lifestyle change, we feel good. We feel healthy. So, when the second week of January rolls over, it’s time to turn our attention to going back to work.

A large number of emails and a to-do list as long as your arm is what awaits you. With so much going on, it feels like you’re busy. Really busy. However, stop and think, how much am I actually getting done?

You want to get that to-do list checked off ASAP, so you work at breakneck speed, barely pausing for lunch. As much as you think squeezing everything into your schedule is productive, it’s not. We know, we said it.

When we’re moving so quickly, not pausing to think, we’re not registering what our mind and body need to work at their best. We’re talking food, water, fresh air, and social interaction. Our brain needs stimulation to be creative, to focus, to find solutions. To get stuff done. Here are five of our top tips to improve your productivity which you can do right now:

1. Delegate. Taking on the odd task that isn’t in your job description is normal if you have the time. However, having just got back from your time off, it’s vital that you stick to what you know. Have things on your to-do list that doesn’t belong there? Get rid of it – delegate tasks to the right people.
2. Prioritise. It seems obvious, but a lot of people skip this. Take into account deadlines, but also think about what your performance levels are like during the day. For example, if you know you get more work done in the morning, tackle the most challenging tasks then, so you’re more likely to stay focused.
3. Reconnect. Bragging about your new found health kick isn’t a bad thing to do. Went to the gym this morning and almost died on the treadmill? Great! We’re betting that many of your colleagues did the same thing. Talking amongst friends and catching up for five minutes, no matter the topic of conversation, will restart your brain and keep you alert.
4. Move. Instead of heading to the communal kitchen to make an instant coffee, treat yourself to one from the nearby coffee shop. Fresh air or just walking down the stairs to the ground floor cafe will give you energy. Sitting still for hours at a time will encourage your mind and your body to switch off.
5. Ask For Help. Scratching your head over a particularly tricky task? Instead of spending more time than necessary figuring out the problem on your own, ask your colleagues if they can recommend a solution.

Getting started is the hardest part, but to keep checking off that list, you need to keep up the momentum. These are some books that we’d recommend if you need that extra push to continue improving your performance during January:

• How To Get Sh*t Done: Why Women Need to Stop Doing Everything So They Can Achieve Anything by Erin Falconer.
• The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey
• Smarter Faster Better: The Transformative Power of Real Productivity by Charles Duhigg