It happens to all of us. You sleep past your alarm, rush into work, and then sit there for the whole morning staring at your email inbox, making (not actually that witty) comments on Facebook, and looking up things you “just have to know” on Wikipedia. Before you know it, it’s lunchtime and you haven’t even finished the first slide of that presentation you’ve got on deck for tomorrow.
I know, I know, it’s tempting at this point just to throw in the towel. But, there are actually some good ways to turn things around.
Turn That Unproductive Day Around
It’s highly likely that you’re procrastinating because you’ve got too much on your list and you’re feeling overwhelmed. Start by going back to your task list, evaluating what must be done pronto and what can wait. Choose just one or two tasks you can really focus on. Believe it or not, it actually makes sense to take a short break before you get going to refresh yourself. When you return to your desk, eliminate all distractions, whether that means turning off your internet or muting your phone. Then put on a timer for 45 minutes or so and just go.
Notice something? Many of these tips are aligned with things that just make good ergonomic sense. Such things include taking breaks, moving around and gently reconditioning your behavior. That’s because ergonomics is productivity. The more you pay attention to what your body and mind are telling you, the better you’ll get at implementing effective strategies that will help you salvage this slow day — and perhaps prevent something similar from happening in the future.
