The term productivity is a rather boardroom buzzword that is on the lips of managers and business owners around the world. However, all too often, this results in employees being pushed to demonstrate productivity at the expense of their job satisfaction and even, in a majority of cases, their general mental health.
Supportive and encouraging employers are essential to a truly productive team, however, any mutually beneficial relationships require both take and give. Keeping that in mind, here is a series of effective and simple productivity tips that you can utilise to achieve maximum wellness in the workplace and discover the balance between professional performance and mental wellbeing.
- Take a Break When You Need It
Downtime should be non-negotiable when it comes to productivity. A number of studies conducted have even highlighted the importance of taking regular breaks, such as movement breaks, which are designed to reduce the risk of diabetes, heart diseases, depression and obesity. Spending a long time simply sitting at a desk can negatively affect your reasoning ability, your creativity and your motivation.
Therefore, do not feel the need to remain glued to your desk chair throughout the working day. In the long run, your body and mind will thank you for it. Whether you decide to go for a short walk to take in some fresh air, kick back with your favourite book or simply just indulge in some walking rest, every little bit helps. The key is to realise that working longer does not necessarily mean you are working better. You will be doing yourself a big favour by taking a small break every hour or two to recharge your mental batteries.
- Honest Communication is Key
Honest and open communication is an essential piece of the puzzle when it comes to protecting your mental wellbeing in the workplace. Naturally, this goes two ways, since employers who are understanding and upfront take the stress out of office dialogues. However, you can also decide to be the catalyst for this direct communication and stand by this approach when it matters most. In the face of unrealistic deadlines, mountainous workloads, or other genuine grievances surrounding your position, the greatest thing you can do is find a sincere and respectful way to voice your concerns and carve out a path towards a more productive and manageable working day.
- Never Multi-Task
Working is spreading through the working world about the dangers associated with multitasking and it is time to bust this widespread myth once and for all. The truth is, we only think we are multitasking. It is far more likely that we are actually just shifting our focus between one task and another, ultimately without making a huge amount of progress on either of the two outstanding jobs.
- Treat Yourself
Finally, no matter what line of work you are in, everyone deserves the occasional reward, and sometimes, it pays to be your own benefactor. Treats come in all different shapes and sizes, however, the important thing to keep in mind is that everyone is different and it is about finding what gives you the emotional spring in your step that helps you to get the job done. Whether that means indulging in a luxurious out-of-office lunch, stocking up on gourmet coffee products to see you through the day or an after-work shopping spree, don’t stop treating yourself. A personal reward for working at your best is the very least you deserve, and these small pick-me-ups could be the key to seeing the productivity boost you’re searching for.
In Summary..
In summary, the term productivity can result in employees being pushed to demonstrate productivity at the expense of their job satisfaction and even their general mental health. It is important to achieve maximum wellness in the workplace and find the balance between mental wellbeing and professional performance. You can use the tips provided above to do exactly that, they are easy to implement and incredibly effective.