Productivity

The Productivity Guide - How to Be More Productive at Work

September 15, 2022
The Wellness Tribe

We've all experienced a bad day while working from home.

You begin your day on a positive note. However, the deadline for a large project is approaching, and you don't have time to complete it. So, instead of staying on track and getting an early start, you get distracted by anything but work.

The majority of your workday is spent on Twitter, Slack, and LinkedIn. We won't even talk about email. So those ambitions of completing the assignment before lunch become far away.

You aren't alone: office workers spend 28% of their time on unnecessary distractions. In addition to this, an average of five hours are spent each week visiting non-work-related websites.

As soon as you put those useless distractions aside, you're hit by midday hunger pangs, and all you want is food. As a result of wasting your whole morning, your mind explodes into a frenzy, and your anxious afternoon transforms into an evening full of stress.

Try to imagine what it would be like if you had a productive workday every day; imagine what it would be like if it became a habit.

At first, you will need to put in more time and effort. Our recommendations, however, may be helpful for long-term adjustments in your work routine with a bit of self-reflection and forward thinking.

Starting Your Day

The Productivity Guide - How to Be More Productive at Work
Photo by ian dooley on Unsplash

A day's work can be set in stone within its first hour. But, with a couple of mistakes, you will find it's already 11 a.m., having no idea where the first two hours of your day went.

Morning productivity is all about developing habits that will last. So if you're looking for something to do on Monday, instead of opening Facebook, open Google Docs instead.

A Few Things To Start With

Starting your day with a nutritious meal will set you up for success. Dietary choices affect your productivity at work, as they provide everything your mind body soul needs.

It is recommended to consume low-glycemic carbohydrate diets throughout the day to maintain consistent energy levels. For those of us who aren't nutritionists, this means lots of fruits and vegetables. In addition, an egg, banana, yogurt, or blueberry breakfast may improve memory and relieve stress.

You should resist the urge to look at your e-mail when you first arrive at your workstation. You might lose your most valuable thinking hours early in the morning if you start your day reading, responding, and sorting your inbox.

The constant checking of your email will also become a habit. Reading your email while you commute to work is an excellent idea if you don't drive to work. If you have any important to-do items to check in your email before heading out to work, allocate five to ten minutes for them.

Once you have inspected it briefly, please turn it off. You will notice the difference in your productivity.

"Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort." - Paul J. Meyer

The Little Things

Do you still want to open Gmail? You can achieve productivity goals most easily by developing "tiny habits." Tiny habits are simple, ongoing activities that create long-term behavioural changes.

For new behaviours to stick, consider the following factors:

1. Motivating factors that may assist in changing a habit.

2. Acts that make the new habit easy to form.

3. A stimulus that results in an action.

If you know that email is a huge distraction for you, schedule times to check it. Then, treat yourself to a snack break if you finish it in less than 15 minutes. Try this strategy for any habit you wish to create, such as reading or meditating, and you will have a perfect work life balance.

Setting Priorities

The Productivity Guide - How to Be More Productive at Work
Photo by Firmbee.com on Unsplash

It may not be ideal for everyone to have an organised to-do list, but we could all benefit from it. First, sort chores into priority levels and categorise them accordingly. Prioritising the simplest chores is tempting, but setting priority levels will remind you to focus on the bigger tasks first.

Identify Your Distractions

A diagnosis is essential to administering the correct treatment in medicine. In addition, it is essential to understand what precisely distracts you if you want to establish productive habits that last months, not days.

Using time tracking software or good old-fashioned pen and paper, keep track of how you spend your time for a week. Record when you encounter distractions and what they are during the process. 

Review your work time at the end of each week. Analyse patterns of cause and effect. For example, you may fall victim to reading the news while working. Then you scroll for 30 minutes on social media after checking your email.

The process of documenting your week may seem overwhelming to many people. They may claim that it will take a considerable amount of time. But don't ignore this one. You might have more work for one week, but you'll save hundreds of hours later.

A Remote Work Environment

Nowadays, more and more people work from home. Indeed, you're not distracted by co-workers at home, but that doesn't mean you're untouched by distractions. Homeworkers often become their own worst enemies when working from home.

Conclusion

Whenever possible, try to replicate your regular weekday on your off-days. A regular schedule of waking up, showering, and dressing as if you were going to work is important. Working from home doesn't mean staying at home all day.

Go to a coffee shop to avoid the temptation to clean the bathroom or organise your bookcases. Instead, commit to accomplishing more - preferably ahead of the weekly demands - when you work from home.

Workplace

Surviving (and Thriving) After a Bad Day in the Office

July 1, 2023
Nitesh Padghan

We've all experienced those days at work when everything seems to go wrong. The stress starts mounting, your workload appears insurmountable, and even the smallest workplace frictions feel amplified. 

During these challenging times, understanding how to navigate and transform these experiences can have a significant impact on your overall well-being and productivity. 

Drawing from years of expertise in corporate wellness, let's dive deeper into effective strategies that can turn your challenging workday around.

Understanding the Undercurrent

When you're caught in the whirlwind of a bad workday, it's essential to understand your emotional state. Emotional self-awareness—the ability to recognize and understand your own emotions—is a critical aspect of emotional intelligence. It allows you to pinpoint the stress triggers, thereby enabling you to navigate them more effectively.

During such challenging times, find a quiet, private space. Close your eyes and focus on your feelings without attempting to alter or judge them. Identify your emotional state and label it—this could range from feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or frustrated. Acknowledge the events or interactions that have led to these emotions. This process not only allows you to dissociate from immediate emotional distress but also helps in developing a comprehensive coping strategy.

"You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it." - Maya Angelou

The Power of Mindful Breaks

In the face of mounting stress, one might feel compelled to plow through the work without any breaks. However, this approach often leads to mental fatigue and diminished productivity. Short, regular breaks offer an opportunity for your mind to reset, reduce stress, and enhance mental agility.

Consider adopting the Pomodoro Technique—a time management method that encourages you to work in focused time blocks, typically 25 minutes, followed by a 5-minute break. During these breaks, engage in mindfulness activities such as meditation or deep-breathing exercises. 

Mindfulness helps ground you in the present moment, offering a respite from the anxieties tied to your work. Even simply enjoying a peaceful moment staring out the window or savoring your coffee can provide a calming effect.

Regain Control with the Eisenhower Box

When stress is peaking, it often stems from a feeling of losing control over your tasks. The Eisenhower Box—a productivity tool named after the 34th President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower—can help you regain this control. This method allows you to categorize your tasks into four quadrants: urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and neither urgent nor important.

By visually organizing your tasks, you can identify what needs your immediate attention, what can be scheduled for later, what can be delegated, and what can be eliminated. This approach not only helps in efficient time management but also provides a sense of control and accomplishment as you navigate your way through the workday.

The Power of Communication and Collaboration

In the chaotic throes of a demanding workday, it's crucial not to overlook the value of communication and collaboration. Strong communication fosters a supportive environment that can significantly lighten your emotional load and lead to more effective problem-solving.

Start by openly discussing your current challenges with your colleagues or superiors. Express your thoughts and feelings in a constructive manner, ensuring to focus on the situation, not the individuals involved. For instance, instead of saying "I can't meet this deadline because of all the other work I have," try expressing it as, "I'm concerned about juggling the current project with the upcoming deadline. Do you have any suggestions, or could we possibly redistribute some tasks?"

Remember, your colleagues might be unaware of your workload or the challenges you're facing. By communicating your situation, you not only relieve some of your stress but also open up opportunities for others to provide assistance or offer solutions. It can also stimulate a collective discussion about workload distribution, eventually leading to a more balanced and manageable workflow.

The Role of Self-Care in Workplace Wellness

While professional strategies are critical in managing a tough workday, don't underestimate the importance of personal self-care practices in maintaining overall workplace wellness. Engaging in self-care activities is not indulgent; rather, it's a vital part of preserving your mental and physical health, particularly during challenging times.

Consider the various forms of self-care and how they could be integrated into your routine. This could involve physical activities, such as going for a walk, doing yoga, or hitting the gym. Physical exercise triggers the release of endorphins—often referred to as 'feel-good hormones'—which can help to alleviate stress and improve mood.

Nutrition and Mindfulness

Nutrition also plays an essential role in managing stress. Consuming a balanced diet fuels your body with the necessary nutrients it needs to cope with stress. Therefore, even during a hectic workday, make time to prepare and consume nutritious meals. Hydration is also important, as even mild dehydration can lead to feelings of fatigue and decreased cognitive functioning.

Mindfulness and relaxation activities can also significantly contribute to stress management. This might involve practices such as meditation, deep-breathing exercises, or progressive muscle relaxation. These activities promote a sense of calm, improve focus, and help in detaching from immediate stressors.

Lastly, make sure to prioritize rest and sleep. Lack of sleep can amplify feelings of stress and reduce your ability to cope with challenges. Ensure you're getting sufficient sleep each night to allow your body and mind to recover from the day's stresses.

Closing Thoughts

While bad days at work are inevitable, they don't have to dictate your overall work experience. By harnessing emotional self-awareness, taking mindful breaks, employing effective time management strategies, fostering open communication, and prioritizing self-care, you can transform a bad day into an opportunity for learning and personal growth.

Occupational Wellbeing

Beyond the Bottom Line: Empathetic Layoffs Guide for Companies

March 8, 2023
The Wellness Tribe Team

As the month of March 2023 draws to a close, the tech industry is currently experiencing a storm of layoffs, leaving a trail of job losses and uncertainty in its wake.

But the impact is not limited to Tech companies, as the shockwaves of these layoffs will be felt across the industry and beyond. It is in such times of crisis that the importance of empathy in conducting layoffs cannot be overstated. 

Companies that prioritize the well-being of their employees and conduct layoffs with compassion and respect can minimize the negative impacts of these difficult decisions, both on the affected employees and on the company's reputation. 

By embracing the gentle art of farewells and adopting empathetic layoff practices, companies can navigate this challenging time while providing much-needed support to those who are leaving the organization.

The Negative Impacts of Unempathetic Layoffs

The Negative Impacts of Unempathetic Layoffs
Image by master1305 on Freepik

When companies conduct layoffs in an unempathetic manner, it can have a devastating impact on the employees who are losing their jobs, as well as those who remain. 

Unempathetic layoffs can cause psychological trauma, anxiety, and stress for the affected employees, who may feel betrayed and unsupported. The resulting sense of loss of identity and financial insecurity can lead to long-term negative effects on their mental and physical health.

Furthermore, unempathetic layoffs can also negatively impact the remaining employees. They may fear for their own job security and feel demoralized by the company's lack of compassion. The sudden loss of colleagues and friends can lead to a decrease in morale and productivity. 

These effects can also spread beyond the company, affecting the broader community and even the industry as a whole. Unempathetic layoffs can also severely damage the company's reputation, resulting in a loss of customer loyalty, a decline in brand trust, and decreased sales.

"Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself." - Mohsin Hamid.

The Importance of Empathy in Layoffs

At the heart of any successful layoff is empathy. But what exactly is empathy, and why is it so important during layoffs? Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. 

In the context of layoffs, empathy means acknowledging and addressing the emotional impact that losing a job can have on employees. This includes recognizing the stress, fear, and uncertainty that employees may experience and providing support to help them through the transition.

The benefits of empathetic layoffs are numerous. Firstly, it helps to maintain a positive company culture by demonstrating that employees are valued and respected, even in the face of difficult decisions. 

Empathy can also foster a sense of trust and loyalty between the company and its remaining employees, who may be worried about their own job security in the wake of layoffs. In addition, empathetic layoffs can help to protect the company's reputation and reduce the risk of negative press or backlash from the public.

Therefore, it is essential for companies to prioritize empathy when conducting layoffs. By doing so, they can not only minimize the negative impacts of the layoff but also create a more supportive and positive work environment in the long run.

Preparing for Empathetic Layoffs

Preparing for Empathetic Layoffs
Image by Drazen Zigic on Freepik

Layoffs are never easy, and preparing for them can be just as challenging. However, when done with empathy and care, companies can ease the transition for employees and help them navigate the job market during difficult times. Here are some important considerations for preparing for empathetic layoffs:

Communication with affected employees

Open and honest communication is key when preparing for layoffs. Employees should be informed about the impending layoffs as soon as possible and provided with clear and transparent reasons for the decision. Companies can also offer resources and support to help employees through the process, such as providing counseling services or financial advice.

Providing outplacement services

Outplacement services can be a valuable resource for laid-off employees, providing them with guidance and support as they search for new job opportunities. Companies can work with outplacement firms to provide services such as resume writing, interview preparation, and networking support.

Assisting with job searches

In addition to outplacement services, companies can assist with job searches by providing references, making introductions, and even hosting job fairs. Companies can also provide training and education opportunities for employees to help them acquire new skills and become more competitive in the job market.

By preparing for empathetic layoffs, companies can help their employees navigate the transition with as much support and care as possible. With open communication, resources and support, and a commitment to helping employees find new opportunities, companies can make a difficult situation a little bit easier for everyone involved.

Conducting Empathetic Layoffs

Choosing the right time and place

When it comes to conducting layoffs with empathy, the timing and location of the announcement can make a big difference. Ideally, companies should choose a time that allows affected employees to process the news without having to leave work immediately. 

Additionally, the location of the announcement should be private and conducive to a calm and respectful discussion.

Providing a clear explanation for the layoff

Transparency is key when conducting empathetic layoffs. It's essential to provide a clear explanation for the decision to lay off employees, along with any relevant details about severance packages, outplacement services, and other forms of support. This can help to alleviate confusion and uncertainty among the affected employees.

Being honest and transparent

Honesty is the best policy, even in the context of layoffs. Being upfront about the situation and the reasons behind the decision can help to establish trust and demonstrate empathy towards the employees. This can go a long way towards minimizing the negative impact of the layoff on the employees' well-being and morale.

Supporting Employees After Layoffs

Following the layoff, companies should maintain open lines of communication with the affected employees. This can include providing them with access to career coaching, resume building, and other job search resources. 

Additionally, companies can organize alumni groups or other networking opportunities to help former employees stay connected with the organization and with each other.

Providing support for remaining employees

It's important not to overlook the impact that layoffs can have on the remaining employees. To help employees cope with the stress and uncertainty that often accompany layoffs, companies must provide them with training and support to take on new responsibilities, as well as emotional support via corporate wellness programs. 

This can include counseling, team-building activities, or other initiatives designed to boost morale and promote a sense of camaraderie among the remaining employees.

Addressing negative impacts on the company's reputation

Finally, companies should take steps to address any negative impacts on the company's reputation that may have resulted from the layoffs. This can involve communicating openly and transparently with customers, partners, and other stakeholders about the reasons behind the decision and the steps being taken to support the affected employees. 

Companies can also consider public relations initiatives or other outreach efforts to help repair any damage that may have been done to the company's image.

Conclusion

While no one wants to conduct layoffs, they can be necessary in certain situations. By following the guidelines outlined in this guide, companies can minimize the harm caused by layoffs and demonstrate their commitment to treating their employees with respect and compassion. 

It's also important to remember that layoffs are just one aspect of a company's broader culture and employee relations and that companies can take steps to prevent or mitigate the need for layoffs in the first place by prioritizing employee engagement, satisfaction, and growth.

As a corporate wellness company, The Wellness Tribe is committed to supporting the well-being of both employees and companies. If your organization is facing the difficult process of layoffs, we want to help. 

Our team of experienced wellness professionals can provide support, resources, and guidance to help employees navigate this challenging time with resilience and grace. 

Whether you need counseling services, stress-management tools, or team-building activities, we have the expertise and experience to help you and your employees thrive. 

Reach out to us today to learn more about how The Wellness Tribe can support your organization and its employees during this tough time.

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This month we are focusing on food and how it affects your mental health. Join us as we bring in the most relevant interesting content from across the wellness segment.

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