Stay motivated, avoid burnout, and spend your time doing what you love with this practical advice.
Protecting your mental health is the key to productivity
Caring for our collective mental health has become a vital priority in the workplace. I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all been experiencing some form of mental burnout over the past few years, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, social unrest, and continued economic and political uncertainty. Masu. And now, with the holidays coming up, things can get tough.
The pace of change in the business world continues to accelerate, and it may feel like you’ll never be able to keep up. It always seems like we have more things to do than we have time (and sometimes motivation). It only fuels feelings of burnout, increases your anxiety, increases your to-do list, and leads to more sleepless nights.
“With so much to do, it’s important for professionals in any industry to prioritize their health to manage work-life balance,” he says. Andrew McCaskill, Career Expert at LinkedIn.
I reached out to MacAskill to hear his top strategies for how we can all protect our mental health while getting work done during the holidays.
1. Protect your space
One of the most frustrating parts of the workday is the constant distractions. We all experience the feeling of not being able to do enough, whether it’s when your colleagues want to catch up or when you think you’ve caught up and something unexpected happens.
The answer, MacAskill says, is that it’s up to you to find and protect peace at work. This starts with creating an environment that facilitates deep work.
“Don’t be afraid to ask what you need to create this space for yourself and protect it,” McCaskill says, whether working remotely or simply having a quiet office space may be necessary. It points out that there is a possibility.
It’s also important to know when and where you feel most productive. Are you most creative in the morning, or does having a second (or third!) cup of coffee make you more productive in the afternoon?
“Everyone has a unique way of working out their day, and knowing how your day goes will help you make the most of every minute of your day,” says MacAskill. “By taking the time to identify your work preferences and being able to focus on specific tasks at the right time for you, you can make the most of your time at work.”
McCaskill says you should also take the additional step of blocking out time on your calendar to make space for autonomous work.
“Sometimes I think of this as turning off the sound and becoming ‘invisible’ so that I can fully immerse myself in the task at hand,” he says.
2. Hire an AI assistant
When ChatGPT became publicly available at the end of 2022, the world changed. Despite many dire reports about how this technology will displace human jobs; Workers and employers say they are excited about using AI in the workplace and improving productivity by offloading boring and repetitive tasks to AI..
The opportunity, McCaskill says, is to start thinking of AI as your own assistant. AI can take over some of the mundane aspects of work, such as tackling tedious and time-consuming tasks like drafting emails and sorting through to-do lists.
AI can also be used to initiate more complex tasks, such as coming up with creative ideas for brainstorming sessions or meeting agendas.
“That way, you’ll have more time to do impactful, creative work that you’ll probably enjoy more,” MacAskill says. “AI can also be used to enhance professional networks. Many workers say that if they had more free time thanks to AI, they would focus on that.”
3. Learn to say “no” more often.
Although it is unwise to adopt a policy of saying no; all When something new or unexpected happens at work, you may want to be more selective about the projects and tasks you take on.
“It’s okay to say ‘no,’ or at least ‘not right now,'” McCaskill said. “Saying no to things doesn’t reflect negatively on your skills or abilities. My manager often says, “This team can do it.” anythingbut it can’t be done all”
When deciding what to take on and what to skip or delegate, McCaskill suggests thinking about which tasks will have the biggest impact on the outcome and prioritizing them.
“From there, delegate. If you’re struggling with a decision, talk to your manager,” he says.
4. Create a “to-do” list
The truth is, no matter how productive you are, it’s impossible to check everything off your to-do list every day. But don’t think of it as a setback. That’s just reality, McCaskill says.
The key, he says, is to create a to-do list with the three most important things you need to do. absolutely Must be achieved at the top. Then, once you’ve identified them, list any additional tasks that will take time to complete.
“This way, you don’t use up your initial work time just checking off to-do items; instead, you can ensure that big projects or important tasks are completed before the end of the day. ” says McCaskill. “You’ll be less likely to accidentally procrastinate on your most important tasks, and you’ll feel more accomplished and productive at the end of the week.”
5. Take a timeout
It may seem counterintuitive, but McCaskill says the best way to stay motivated and get more done is to take a break every now and then.
“When you step away from work, you can actually:” more It gives your brain a fresh perspective and room to think more positively, which makes you more productive,” he says. “You’ll accomplish much more in two focused, recharged hours than eight long hours of work that will eventually burn you out.”
McCaskill suggests giving yourself permission to take a break, even if it’s only for a few minutes, and actively doing so. For example, try blocking out time by scheduling breaks in your calendar to avoid filling up all day meetings.
“Avoid checking email and other work tasks during this break,” says MacAskill.
6. Ask for help
McCaskill says taking care of yourself and prioritizing your mental health means you can bring out your best self, both at work and in your personal life. So if you’re having a hard time motivating yourself or feeling depressed coming to work each week, it may be time to have an open and honest conversation with your boss about how to improve your mental health at work. .
“Be open and honest about what’s not working, like shorter work days and weeks, respect for after-hours, and more mental health days off,” says MacAskill.
After all, we are all humans, not robots. It’s important to stay productive and avoid burnout, especially during this time of year when you’ll be spending more time with family and friends. If you want to be your best self in both your personal and professional lives, there’s no shame in making adjustments to protect your mental health and motivation during this busy season.
