Your Health and Stress-Free Productivity
Five Things You Should Know
Deanna Minich
We now live in a hectic and hyper-accelerated world. Things are moving at a fast pace. In fact, most of us find ourselves wishing a day had more than 24 hours.
With many of us torn between juggling family responsibilities, handling relationships, and a tight work schedule, stress is inevitable. It isn’t easy to squeeze time out of our busy schedule for outside interests. That is why you hear more than one in 4 Americans say they are super-stressed. This lifestyle is not healthy.
In our rush to get everything done, it is easy to forget that stress affects productivity. Stress can zap your concentration, make you irritable, depressed, cranky, and also harm both your personal and professional relationships. Over time, stress can double your risk of having a heart attack and makes the body susceptible to ailments (Habib Yaribeygi et al., 2017)
The good news is that there is still a way you can feel productive and unstoppable with a mind that is sharp like a military-grade laser without stressing yourself out. Here are five practical steps to help you stay productive, manage your health, and kick out stress.
Remove All Clutter.
It is true that the messier your workspace, the messier your thoughts. This is because you need to have little or no distractions around you to focus on the task at hand. Clutter overloads your senses, which automatically leads to stress. Remove all clutter. Keep your work environment clean and easy to maneuver.
To reduce digital clutter, always deal with your emails as soon as you can. Also, turn off all notifications that are unnecessary on your device. The last thing you need is a notification sound breaking into your train of thoughts at intervals.
Plan Ahead.
If you want to have a productive and stress-free working day, you should prepare beforehand. Set manageable goals each day. Once you know what to expect during the day, how to do it, when to do it, it gives you a sense of accomplishment and control.
The more control you have over your work, the less stressed you get. So, prepare a to-do list, add time to your tasks, and try to stick to it. Be realistic about your workload and deadlines. Start with the big tasks first, then move unto the smaller and easier tasks. If you don’t get the big tasks out of the way, it will only keep getting bigger in your mind, and you will keep procrastinating.
Make sure you add breaks in between and give yourself little rewards upon completion of each task. It could be a 10-minute break or a walk to the nearest coffee shop. These little rewards will always give you something to look forward to.
Learn to Say No.
We have all been at a place where we have too much to do, and someone asks you to do more. Then we feel like we should not say no to them, especially if they are important in the workplace.
However, it is better to be honest. Learn to say no when you are overwhelmed—it’s better than doing a poor job on the new task. In a healthy work environment, your boss, colleagues, and partners will understand if your plate is already full.
Learn to communicate effectively. Don’t just complain but suggest practical alternatives. If you feel persistently overwhelmed, learn to ask for help. Don’t allow stress to stand in the way of your health and happiness. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness in any way. Learn to shed the Superman/ Superwoman urge.
Treat Your Body Right.
Treat yourself right because you can only be productive when you are in good health. Eat right, engage in regular exercise, and get adequate rest. Doing these will reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. They will boost your immune system and keep you away from the hospital. Those who exercise regularly are less likely to develop diseases (Susan Cheng, 2013). Make out time for the gym or a walk.
Don’t rely on alcohol, caffeine, or drugs to cope with stress. They will lead to more problems for you. Try to have fun. It can be as simple as listening to your favorite music. Music fosters concentration and spices up your productivity.
Chill Out On No Work Days.
You don’t have to work all the time, and that’s okay. When you are not at work, take time to relax and recover from stressful times at work. While you are away, don’t bring work with you unless you are expecting important news. Do your best to have some fun at home.
Hang out with friends, read a book, have friends come over for dinner. The dinner does not have to be fancy. It can be an intimate evening of friendly conversation, food, and good vibes.
Shaking things up is always a good idea. If you want a little bit of adventure, go for a hike, visit art museums or go geocaching. The point is to feel renewed and energized.
Try to adopt these tips. Consequently, you will feel happier, conquer stress, and become more productive. But remember, no one is perfect. You are human, and your health matters a lot.
References
Habib Yaribeygi et al. (2017) The Impact of Stress on Body Function, EXCLI Journal, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Susan Cheng (2013) The Science of Exercise Beyond Weight loss, Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard University.
Deanna Minich is a functional medicine-trained clinician and researcher. She has an experience in medicine and willing to write and help people, also she is a part and a volunteer at Marijuana Detox. So, if you want to know the best how to detox your body and, feel free to contact her. Deanna is passionate about researching medical models to clinical medicine that combines physiology and psychology.