Maximizing Productivity and Well-being: 8 Strategies for Working Smarter, Not Harder
A kind of shift happens to most people when they become busy business owners. We tend to start putting our own health and happiness on the back burner and pouring all of our energy into the business. We’re guilty of doing this in the past, but we quickly realized the importance of prioritizing those things for the sake of our own sanity. Hustle culture is overrated, and we want more business owners to start working in smarter and healthier ways, consequently maximizing your productivity and well-being.
Here are our top strategies for working smarter, not harder this year and for years to come!
8 Ways to Work Smarter & Healthier
1. COMPLETE ONE TASK AT A TIME
Focus all of your energy and attention on one thing that will streamline your work. Don’t push yourself to multitask and do everything at once. Categorize and prioritize for increased productivity. We use Asana for our project and task management, and we outlined 3 strategies we use to streamline our tasks and projects over here.
2. TAKE MENTAL BREAKS
It’s impossible to be in the grind 100% of the time. Instead of sitting and staring at your computer all day, work the time in for some sort of physical activity. Trust us, your back and neck will thank you in the long run.
3. EAT A HEALTHY SNACK
Walk away from your desk for a mid-morning and afternoon snack, but skip the chips and try fruits and veggies instead. Take away the temptations and keep the junk food out of reach and out of sight (and, therefore, out of mind).
4. DRINK BLACK COFFEE OR GREEN TEA FOR ENERGY
We know it’s tempting to want to pop open a can of Red Bull, but try to avoid the refined and processed sugars that inevitably cause you to crash. Drinking black coffee or green tea will give you powerful, natural antioxidants that boost wellness and longevity.
5. PUT A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS OR SOY-BASED CANDLE IN YOUR OFFICE
Instead of filling your room with harsh chemicals, we recommend opting for a bouquet of fresh flowers. (Also doubles as a mood booster!) Try to avoid air fresheners, perfumes, and chemical cleaners that can ultimately lead to a mean headache.
6. STRIVE FOR 7-9 HOURS OF SLEEP
This is easier said than done, but one thing that will drastically improve your sleep schedule is avoiding using electronics in bed. They cut into your sleep and disrupt the natural chemical cycle of the brain. Try to turn them off at the end of the day to avoid distraction, or at least turn on Do Not Disturb.
7. RECHARGE YOUR SENSES
Try to find a way to use all of your senses throughout the day. This could be listening to music at a low volume (or taking a 5-minute dance break– our personal fav), lighting a lemon-scented soy candle, eating a healthy snack, playing with an interactive toy or snuggling a pet, or taking a walk around the block to do some neighborhood sightseeing.
8. THE 20-20-20 RULE
We do a LOT of staring at a screen for most of the day, so we like to practice the 20-20-20 rule to try and save our vision as much as we can. Every 20 minutes, take your eyes off of your computer and just blink! You’d be surprised how little we blink when we’re in the zone. Do this for at least 20 seconds before going back to working. Every hour or so, try to look at least 20 feet away. Lean back and close your eyes for a few moments or take a look outside of your window.
Now Get Your Work Week in Order
Practicing healthy work habits will make a huge difference in your overall productivity, but the other side to tackle is streamlining your work so you can increase your capacity. Inside the Incubator, we’ll teach you how to refine your offering into a High-Touch Signature Service so you can work less while making more, design and implement your dream work week, create a luxury client experience, prepare to scale with a team, and so much more.
We’d love to have a chat about your current work life! All you have to do is take about 10 minutes to fill out this short application, then DM us on Instagram to let us know you applied.
