It’s hard to focus on your work when you’re under stress. Your mind is racing, your heart is pounding, and you can’t seem to stop worrying about whatever it is that’s stressing you out.
But stress doesn’t have to be a productivity killer. You need to learn how to better manage your stress to stay productive. And here are some tips.
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1. Take Breaks
When we’re stressed, our brains can become overloaded and it becomes harder to focus.
Working non-stop will only make you feel more stressed and less productive. So when you’re feeling stressed, it’s important to take breaks. Get up and walk around, stretch, or do something else to physically release the tension from your body.
You can go outside for a few minutes to get some fresh air, or listen to calming music to help you relax.
Taking a break gives your brain a chance to rest and recharge. Once you’ve had a good time relaxing, you’ll be able to get back to work with fresh energy and focus.
2. Make a to-do List and Prioritize Your Tasks
Making a list of everything you need to do and then rank them in order of importance. It will help you get organized and figure out what’s most important.
That way, you can focus on the most important tasks first and not waste time on things that aren’t as urgent. Meanwhile, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment as you see your progress.
3. Set Small Goals
Trying to do too much at once will only make you feel overwhelmed and stressed. Break down your tasks into smaller goals that you can realistically achieve. And you won’t feel so overwhelmed and you’ll be more likely to stay on track.
4. Do More Work When During Your Peak Hours
We all have times of day when we feel more productive and energetic than others. If you can, try to schedule your most important tasks during these times. This way, you’ll be more likely to get them done quickly and efficiently.
Not sure when your peak hours are? Keep track of how you feel at different times throughout the day for a few days. You should be able to identify patterns and figure out when you’re most productive.
5. Make Digital App Tools Work for You
There are a lot of digital App tools out there that can help you stay productive, even when you’re feeling stressed. Here are a few of our favorites:
RescueTime: This app tracks how you spend your time online and gives you insights into where you’re wasting time. It can also help you block distracting websites so you can stay focused on what you’re supposed to be doing.
Evernote: Evernote is a great way to organize your thoughts and ideas. You can use it to write down everything you need to do, and then easily access your notes from any device.
Todoist: Todoist is a task management app that helps you keep track of everything you need to do. It’s great for organizing your thoughts and making sure you don’t forget anything important.
Salesforce: Salesforce is a CRM (customer relationship management) tool that helps businesses keep track of their customers and sales leads. If you’re in sales or customer service, this can be a valuable tool for staying productive and organized.
Trello: Trello keeps track of projects and tasks. With Trello, you can create boards for different projects, and then add cards for each task. You can also assign tasks to specific people, set due dates, and add comments. Trello makes it easy to see what needs to be done, and who is responsible for doing it.
Google Docs: Google Docs is a great way to create and share documents with others. With Google Docs, you can easily collaborate on projects with colleagues or clients. Plus, all of your documents are stored in the cloud, so you can access them from anywhere.
Notion: Notion is an all-in-one workspace that can help you be more productive. With Notion, you can create notes, to-dos, and even databases. You can also collaborate with others in real-time, and access your Notion account from any device.
Slack: Slack is a good way to communicate with colleagues. With Slack, you can easily send messages, files, and even make video calls. Plus, you can create different channels for different projects, so you can stay organized and on top of your work.
These are just a few of the many apps that can help you be productive at work. So take some time to explore and find the ones that work best for you.
6. Get Enough Sleep
One of the most important things you can do to stay productive under stress is to get enough sleep. When you’re well-rested, you’re better able to think clearly and handle whatever challenges come your way. Have seven to eight hours of sleep each night.
7. Exercise
As known to all, exercise is a great way to relieve stress. It helps by releasing endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects. Exercise also takes your mind off of whatever is causing your stress, and gives you a chance to clear your head.
If you’re feeling stressed, try going for a walk, taking a yoga class, or going for a run 3km in the morning or evening to help you refreshed.
8. Deep Breathing
Deep breathing is another simple yet effective way to manage stress. When we’re stressed, our breathing becomes shallower and faster. This can exacerbate feelings of anxiety and make us feel even more stressed.
Deep breathing helps to slow down our breathing and relax our bodies. It’s a great way to quickly reduce stress at the moment.
9. Talk to Someone
Sometimes, the best way to deal with stress is to talk to someone about it. Talking openly about what’s causing your stress can help you to feel more in control and less alone.
If you don’t feel comfortable talking to someone you know, there are plenty of helplines and support groups available. Sometimes, it can be helpful to talk to someone who’s impartial and won’t judge you.
10. Set Some Boundaries
One of the best ways to reduce stress is to set some boundaries. If you’re constantly available and working all the time, it’s likely that you’re going to feel stressed.
Try to set some limits on how much work you’re going to do each day. Once you reach your limit, stop working and take some time for yourself. This will help you to avoid burnout and stay productive in the long run.
11. Take Time for Yourself
It’s important to remember that you can’t be productive all the time. Sometimes, you need to take a step back and take care of yourself. This might mean taking a break from work, spending time with friends or family, or doing something you enjoy.
Making time for yourself will help you to relax and recharge. Once you’ve taken some time for yourself, you’ll be able to get back to work feeling refreshed and ready to go.
