3 Practical Tips to Increase Productivity & Energy When the Stress is Just Gnawing Away at You.
Updated: Jul 17
Today I want to remind you that you are an amazing woman!
I know that you are an amazing woman because you are doing a lot for a lot of people.
Lately though, you may be feeling like your to-do lists are getting longer and longer, and maybe it's getting harder and harder to keep up, your obligations are endless and your expectations of yourself are getting harder and harder to match.
You're starting to question whether you can keep it up or not.
I'm want to say that its time to END THE BURNOUT & STOP THE MADNESS.
Because overwhelming stress and burnout are not the price paid for success. You can be as successful as you are, without all the cynicism, resentment, mood swings and brain fog. Here are some easy, practical tips to increasing your productivity when all you feel is overwhelming stress and exhaustion.
Tip #1 - Making more strategic decisions.
How can you get to making better decisions that help you to be more productive with your time at home or at work?
A good place to start is to get clear and focused. How?
Start with decluttering your work space. When we declutter our physical environment, we remove visual distractions and create a clean, organized space. This visual simplicity helps to calm the mind and reduce mental clutter, allowing us to concentrate better on the task at hand. A decluttered space also promotes a sense of order and control, which can alleviate feelings of overwhelm and increase mental clarity. Tip #2 - Prioritizing tasks means setting boundaries.
If you prioritize tasks then you get to manage and work on the things that have the most impact. I like to refer to this as "where can I get the biggest bang for my buck?" Or the Pareto Rule also known as "the 80/20 rule" - 20% of what I do will result in the 80% of what I want. In order to prioritize and identify what's important right now - you're going to have to set boundaries. Another rule of thumb - what you say yes to, you are saying no to something else.
Setting Boundaries creates a framework that protects your time and energy. Choosing to prioritize areas, tasks or responsibilities to those that align with the impact you are trying to have will allow you to prioritize tasks more effectively, avoid unnecessary distractions, and focus on what truly matters. Setting boundaries also helps prevent overwhelm and burnout by preventing the accumulation of excessive responsibilities or commitments.
Tip #3 - Take a break!
Don't underestimate the power of taking a break! "Concentration gets harder by the minute as your brain expends energy" (Learning Center, 2021). Stepping away from your work for short periods allows the mind to rest and recharge, its what the brain is meant to do. This leads to improved focus and mental clarity when returning to your tasks. "Breaks can improve our moods, overall well-being and performance capacity, says Charlotte Fritz, PhD, an associate professor in industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology at Portland State University in Oregon", (Weir, 2019). Breaks also help prevent burnout by reducing stress levels and preventing excessive fatigue. By engaging in activities that promote relaxation and stress relief during breaks, like stretching, deep breathing, or taking a walk, you can further enhance your well-being and overall productivity. In Conclusion, taking proactive steps to care for yourself is crucial for maintaining overall health and resilience.
Protecting your wellbeing is the equivalent in importance as taking a shower and brushing your teeth!
Find out how to manager your stress.
While external factors and support systems play a role, we, ourselves must also learn to prioritize self-care, and personally and practically manage stress. By the way, self-care is not a one size fits all so its important to identify what makes the situation better for you personally, this involves a tapping into yourself and identifying from within, identifying what is your personal joy and peace, then employ those into your daily do's. Effectively navigating our stressors is what will help us maintain our health and productivity. Join us Saturday July 29 at 10amPST for a 1 day Virtual Retreat! "Living Calmly Among the Chaos." A Retreat for Women Embracing Calm, Conquering Burnout, and Cultivating Clarity.
A stress management workshop & retreat.
Helping you get more effective, impactful and have fun while focusing on the things that matter most to you!
Sign up Today! 👉 https://www.jessicahealthandlifecoach.com/retreats
FREE TOOLKIT: Energy Reset for Stress Management @ https://www.jessicahealthandlifecoach.com/
References Learning Center. (2021, July 8). Taking breaks. https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/taking-breaks/ Weir, K. (2019). Give me a break. https://www.apa.org. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/01/break