7 Workflow Hacks to Ease Overwhelm and Enhance Stress-Free Productivity
In this article, we delve into seven powerful workflow hacks designed to level-up your productivity game. From embracing mindful breaks to mastering the art of delegation, these tips will help you to enhance your efficiency while also nurturing your wellbeing along the way.
1. Take Mindful Breaks
Being productive doesn't mean working non-stop. In fact, taking regular, short breaks can improve concentration levels, minimise stress and increase productivity. You may want to reconsider how you're spending your break times to make them more mindful. Instead of scrolling your phone, why not spend some time in nature, check in on a friend, or have a stretching session?
A short break can also provide the opportunity for you to focus on the present moment. Pay attention to how you're currently feeling, focusing on your breathing. If this isn't something you used to doing, you may feel a little silly trying it out the first few times but practising mindfulness during your workday can be a great way to reset your energy.
2. Timebox Your Tasks
Timeboxing can help you to stay on track with goals and ease overwhelm in the process. This means to assign specific durations AKA "boxes" to specific tasks. While timeboxing and time blocking can both be highly effective for productivity, they're not the same. Timeboxing means there is a maximum amount of time that can be spent on a task e.g. one hour - these are non-negotiable limits. Time blocking, on the other hand, means to organise your day by setting aside dedicated time slots to complete a task.
3. Turn Notifications Off
In a world full of distractions at our fingertips, it's easy to get caught up with our phones during the day. This is particularly true on days where you're prone to procrastination or are struggling to focus. But by continuously keeping tabs on your social life or perhaps doing a bit of online shopping throughout the workday, productivity levels can wane.
Instead of completely turning your phone off, you might find it helpful to utilise the "do not disturb" feature. This way, you'll be able to silence most of your notifications but enable those you still need in case of an emergency, such as phone calls, emails and text messages.
4. Stock up on Healthy Snacks
Looking after your body by mindfully snacking can improve focus, leading to increased stress-free productivity levels. While no food is inherently "bad", nutrient-dense options such as fruit and veg, seeds, nuts and yoghurt are all brilliant for feeding the brain. What these examples have in common is that they're packed with properties that have been proven to support brain health and optimal cognitive function.
Keeping hydrated can also boost productivity. This is because alongside all the other amazing benefits drinking water has, it can also improve alertness and increase energy levels.
5. One Task at a Time
Sometimes to-do lists can seem like they're never-ending. And, with balancing personal life as well, everything can quickly pile up. However, it is possible to take back control of the situation and improve workflow again by managing one task at a time.
You may want to try avoiding other projects that could be causing you to become distracted. It can be difficult to say "no" when there are exciting plans in the works but by doing so, you can put your all into what's most important.
6. Learn to Delegate
Reduce your stress levels by learning to delegate. If you've never done so before, you may initially find the process challenging. By playing to everyone's strengths and weaknesses, though, you can ensure you're choosing the appropriate members of your team to assist. In doing so, you can free up more time for yourself to prioritise other tasks and ease overwhelm.
Depending on your position, directly delegating your work may not be suitable. However, by effectively communicating with your manager that your workload is currently overwhelming you, they may be able to delegate on your behalf.
7. Pencil in Social Time
Planning social time outside of work can help you establish boundaries by giving you a reason to finish on time. If you know you have no social commitments or dedicated family time before or after work, then you could be more likely to get carried away by saying "yes" to working more.
By frequently working overtime and not taking breaks, you might think you're being more productive. However, you may want to assess the quality of the work you're actually producing during these times. You may also need to ask yourself how long you can maintain the quality of your work at this level. If you're consistently unable to fit in your work and find yourself becoming stressed, it's more likely that you need to reconsider your workload.
