5 Tips for Greater Work Success
While success is largely determined by talent, it also has a lot to do with how people apply their talent. A growing body of research is showing that routines and rituals can have a profound impact on productivity in the workplace. Here are five ways you can leverage this knowledge to boost your work success.
- Don't switch context. Experts estimate that people spend just a few minutes working on a task before being interrupted. While we can't always control these sorts of interruptions, many times, they are self-induced. Unfortunately, it can take many minutes for our brains to effectively resume a task after being interrupted. Much like a car, it takes much more fuel to get going than it does to maintain momentum. Keep your momentum going by staying on task. Don't check your email, read an article or engage in office conversation while engaged in a project.
- Achieve flow. Often called "being in the zone," flow refers to the mental state of operation in which a person is completely absorbed in an activity. When someone achieves flow, they tend to feel energized and focused, while experiencing enjoyment and full involvement in an activity. While many people believe they can only achieve a state of flow by chance, science suggests you can increase the likelihood of achieving flow by blocking out all distractions, focusing on the present, and going about a task with steady, deliberate movements that turn the activity into a sort of meditative practice.
- Create a startup ritual. Most of us begin the work day by drinking a hot cup of coffee. While this caffeine jolt can go a long way toward energizing your mind, it also serves as a trigger to let your mind know it's time to get busy. You can achieve similar responses by developing a strict ritual for every workday. It can be a brisk morning walk, some light stretching, a motivational tape or your favorite song. Whatever the case, try to create a consistent trigger that will prompt your brain to heighten its focus.
- Create a shutdown ritual. These days, many people suffer from work-related stress, because they can't stop thinking about career responsibilities even after the day ends. For many people, this can lead to anxiety, sleep deprivation and poor work-life balance. To be at your best while at work, you need to savor your downtime. By creating a consistent shutdown ritual, you can train your brain to let go of the work day and transition into other experiences. Again, this can be virtually anything, from cleaning your work area to engaging in brief meditation. Whatever the case, just make sure to keep it consistent, so your brain will start to associate the activities with the end of the workday.
- Get a standing desk. According to researchers at Texas A&M University's Health Science Center School of Public Health, standing desks can significantly improve productivity. Appearing in the journal IIE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors, the study showed that people experience enhanced engagement and cognitive performance when standing at work. Other research has shown that standing desks could improve long-term health, since prolonged sitting has been linked to a greater risk for early death, even for people who regularly exercise.
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