Does the thought of coming into your office make you crazy?
I once met a woman who told me she felt like gathering up all her papers, piles & files, books, even the computer … throwing it all out the window into one big pile … then pouring gasoline over it …
(imagine this description like it’s a game of charades – I was treated to the visual motions as she described it)
… then finally, lighting a match to it and watch it all burn down into a pile of ash.
I’d say she was feeling a bit frustrated. Agree?
Have you ever felt this way?
There could be any number of reasons why you may feel a bit – shall we say – ‘out of sorts.’
For example, you could be feeling like …
1. there’s too much to do and not enough time to get it done
2. you’re exhausted and you don’t even know where to begin
3. you just need a bit of help
4. you are indeed insane
Don’t worry. You’re probably not number 4.
Before you go completely off the wall and start chucking stuff out the window, here are 7 easy tips to get sanity back in your day.
Ready?
1. Get some sleep. This may sound silly but it really makes a difference. When you’re well-rested and feeling refreshed, everything just seems more manageable. You’re not nearly as productive as you think you are when you deny yourself this basic necessity of life. So go to bed!
2. Get up earlier. There’s nothing quite like the quiet of the early hours of the day (hey, I’m a night owl by genetics – and I’ve come to love this time of day). So much stuff gets done when there are little to no distractions and interruptions.
3. Schedule yourself some time. There’s that nasty word – ‘schedule.’ But really, if you don’t block off small chunks of time in your day to get some of those things done that need to be done, when WILL they get done? Make appointments with yourself – and keep them!
4. Write stuff down. Quit trying to keep everything in your head. All that does is create anxiety. “What did I forget to do?” “Darn, I forgot to …” “Oh no, I’ve missed …” Come up with one central place to put stuff in writing so that you don’t forget. Then, the only thing you have to remember is where that list is.
5. Say NO. Quit trying to be superhuman. You have limited time, energy, and resources – you cannot do it all!!! No matter what the motivational gurus tell you. So say NO once in a while – and not just to others, but say NO to yourself too. It’s time to let some stuff go. Do it. You’ll feel so much better. Trust me on this one.
6. Single task. Multitasking is sooooo 90’s. It’s time to get with the current times. Doing more than one task at a time increases the time to get that task done by as much as 40%. You aren’t saving anything by simultaneously checking email while having a conversation while flipping back and forth between several tasks. Not only does this increase the time it takes to get it all done, but you also risk making mistakes and it’s dropping your IQ by 10 points – true story.
7. Walk away at the end of the day. When it’s time to go home simply walk away. Your poor brain needs a rest. Don’t worry, the work will be there waiting patiently for you upon your return. And the walls of the company will not come tumbling down. And the sun will continue to rise in the east and set in the west. And the earth will not be knocked off its axis. I promise.
There. Those aren’t so difficult to do, are they?
Go easy on yourself. Just pick one or two to start with. Before you know it, you’ll be feeling a lot saner and you won’t need to worry about how to explain the broken window and mysterious pile of ash on the front sidewalk.
Get some sanity back in your day … get more done.
Now, get on with your day!
