4 Ways to put a Spring in your Step at work

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Winter is finally over. The days are getting longer. The trees are blossoming, bulbs are flowering and all around us birds sing hallelujah.

…Not quite accurate? Are you struggling to find the joys of spring at work? Feeling a bit flat or stagnant? Worn out already?

If so, read on for 4 practical ways to help you put a spring in your step at work:

1. Spring clean your to-do list

Last year may feel like a distant memory, but maybe you still have tasks hanging around. If you’ve been carrying a task (or tasks) from list to list to list that you never get round to doing, try this:

• Do it

If it genuinely needs to be done, make time to do it. If it’s a huge task then break it down – give yourself a small chunk that you can tick off.

• Dump it

Ask yourself if the task is still relevant? If it’s been on your list for this long and no major consequences have come from not doing it then it may be time to get rid.

• Delegate it

Is the reason you’re putting it off because it actually isn’t your task? Is there someone else who could do it? Should they? Could they do a better job of it? If so, pass it on.

For more tips on productivity, have a look at these to-do list tools.

2. SWOT up

The changing of a season is a great time to take stock and think about the lay of the land. Using a SWOT (Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats) analysis is both easy to use and hugely effective. This brilliant and simple tool can be used in a myriad of different situations. Last week, (and I kid you not) I used it in both a strategic planning meeting with one of my Directors, and then again at home – working out what to do for a meet up with friends. It will help you analyse a situation, a project or even yourself. If you’re looking for a strategic way to help you make a decision, this is a great starting point.

Some specific examples (with instructions) for different uses are:

• using swot to develop your personal brand
• using swot to build confidence

3. Figure out what’s important to you

Spring is all about growth and development, therefore it may be time to focus on your personal development. A great place to start is to consider what’s important to you, both in your work and home life. We all know what it’s like to get caught up in tasks, projects, side quests and meetings that don’t prioritise our goals or feed our dreams. These things are very good at filling our time and using up our valuable energy though. So how do you focus on the really important things?

There’s a wonderful metaphor about life from author Stephen Covey, using rocks, sand and a jar that can help you figure out what’s really important, and how to prioritise it. Take a look at the Fill the Jar framework here. Even if you’ve already done the exercise, allow yourself 15 minutes today and repeat it. It’s a powerful reminder of how much more effective we can be when we’re intentional about where we put our energy.

4. Work out when you need a break – then take one

Have you been working flat out since New Year? If so, you may not be working in a productive way. If we don’t take breaks, we end up breaking. There are a lot of suggestions online for how often you should take a break in order to reach maximum productivity. The most specific I’ve seen being ‘work for 52 minutes, break for 17.’ But if like most of us, you’re too busy to look into optimum work/break times let’s start with this: you need to take a break.

1. When you are working constantly, it is hard to stay fully engaged in a task for long periods of time. Clock when your concentration starts to drop – is it roughly always the same amount of time? Does it depend on the task?
2. Start building in breaks just before this drop-off point – even if you just go and make a cup of tea, walk round the block or go to the bathroom. Try to take 10 minutes if you can.
3. Take a lunch break. If you really can’t leave your laptop alone – then at least give your brain a break. Read an interesting blog while you eat, scroll through your media feeds, plug in headphones and catch up on Netflix. Letting your mind rest will make you far more capable for the rest of the day.
4. Book time off work far in advance. It’s not about going to the Bahamas to relax on a yacht, which is in all likelihood not an option this year. Staying at home for a break can be just as effective if you genuinely switch off. But if you don’t book holiday in advance, chances are by the time you realise you need a break you won’t be able to take it because of work commitments.
5. Check your batteries at home too – this article offers a tool to review your home and work energy levels.

We all know we’re more effective when we’re not stressed up to the hilt and utterly exhausted… so my final spring tip is to prescribe yourself some outdoor nature time. Even a short walk around the park at lunchtime or after you have finished work for the day will work wonders. With the longer days and warmer weather, get out there!

If you’d like to find out more about how we can help you and your organisations work more effectively and in more productive ways, call 074 3690 3103, or contact us online.

For training that helps you address your energy levels, goal setting and making the most of your time, take a look at the Time Management & Managing Multiple Priorities programme. Keen on joining the next public training? Register your interest in the programme to be first in line to book a place when any new public dates are set.