There is a lot of noise and distraction as the country and the world is reopening. Many of us will continue working remotely while others will return to our offices. Leaders will have to balance this new norm with a physically divided team. Leaders who are successful recognize they cannot assume it is business as usual, especially as it relates to the health and wellbeing of their teams.
Many organizations saw greater productivity from sending their employees home. For the employee this seemed like a boon with no commute time and pajama bottoms as the uniform de rigueur. As it turns out, there is a price to pay for this newfound work environment. Employee burnout is on the rise as there is less balance in our always-on-culture. The lines between our personal and professional lives have blurred more than ever before. Consequently, it is important to set boundaries and work on the right things, to achieve better balance and be more productive; both for ourselves and for our teams.
Here are four tips that you can implement today, whether you are in the office or working remotely.
1. Focus on the Essentials
You cannot do everything. Identify the three things, that you are working on, that will deliver the greatest value. Eliminate time wasters or things that do not deliver the highest return on investment.
To do this, you must say “no” or at least “not now”. Easier said than done, right?
The most successful leaders are not those that do more but those that do less. They focus on the areas that will have the greatest impact to their role, their teams, and their organization. When you prioritize and set boundaries, productivity will follow.
Balance Tip: Create a “Not” To Do List. What should be at the top of that list? Do not say yes to everything. Keep this list handy to help you keep your focus on the essentials. When you gain clarity on the things that are not the best use of your time, it unlocks space to work on the high-value items.
2. Disengage from Distractions
You must declutter your physical and mental space and create a sanctuary where you can be productive. This may sound intuitive, but, when your work environment is disorganized, it is distracting and impacts your mental wellbeing and ultimately your productivity. Instead of working more hours to offset the overwhelming volume of work, slow down. Schedule do not disturb time, or time where you avoid distractions and take a much-needed mental break. You will be surprised by when you slow down, even for a few minutes, how productive you will be. Successful leaders seek healthy ways to declutter their minds by slowing down.
Balance Tip: Establish rituals by spending a few minutes every day reflecting, thinking strategically, and doing focused breathing. You can do this by taking a walk, moving to a different room or location, or doing a guided meditation. Finding a few quiet moments to disconnect from the things that clutter your mind will help you feel refreshed, gain a new perspective and be more productive.
3. Use your Energy to your Advantage
Our to do list looms over us and is a constant reminder of our failure to get everything done. Time is finite and is not a renewable resource. Yet we are time spendthrifts, working on things that drain our energy. Instead, when something seems overwhelming focus your effort in short bursts. For example, carve out 30-minute bursts to put forth your best effort to combat procrastination and projects that seem overwhelming. With this intense focus, you gain a sense of accomplishment that fuels your energy and leads to being more productive.
Balance Tip: Do an energy audit by charting your energy over a period of seven days. Identify the trends, or the times of the day when you have the most and the least energy. Use the times of greatest energy to get your hardest projects or those that you are procrastinating on completed.
4. Recharge your Batteries
Whether you are working from home or returning to your office, it is easy to burnout or feel overwhelmed with less of a delineation between our personal and professional lives. To counteract this, you must establish healthy boundaries to take care of you! Carve out time for family, personal growth, exercise, and sleep. Include hobbies or non-work-related activities that helps you recharge your batteries such as gardening, fishing, cooking, or reading. Without setting boundaries, these areas will suffer. To live a healthier, more fulfilled life, you need to make time for the things that give you energy and matter most.
Balance Tip: Start every day by writing down three things you will do that are in your sweet spot. Think of these as your passions or the things you enjoy doing. They fuel you and play to your strengths. Treat these as high-priority items and add them to your calendar. Working on your passions will keep your motivation high, especially during times when your energy is waning.
Start today and set work-life boundaries that will help you bring your life into balance, increase your energy, and achieve greater productivity.
Shelley Hammell, president and CEO of Sage Alliance, Inc. has partnered with Julie Jones an expert in fitness and wellness to offer Thrive; a one-of-a-kind approach to leadership and wellness through virtual and in-person workshops and corporate retreats. The Thrive suite of services are customizable to organization’s specific goals and the needs of their employees.
Shelley Hammell is a member of Forbes Coaches Council and founding partner of Thrive. She is a recognized expert in leadership performance and team optimization. Her extensive work as an executive coach and team facilitator, enables her to leverage proven strategies that work. Combined with over 20 years of practical business experience, building and leading global teams, Shelley knows what it takes to grow your top talent and deliver measurable results. Shelley is the author of You Think You’re Coaching, But You’re Not! and is passionate about inspiring leaders to help them transform into their best selves.
Contact Shelley for more information on coaching, leadership, team development and bringing the Thrive program into your organization.