5 Tips to Staying Focused and productive
Following Queen’s Birthday Weekend, there’s a distinct shortage of public holidays for a while; there’s a long, wintry period all the way to Labour Weekend, which can feel like forever. So how do you keep yourself focused, fresh and productive through this time? I’ve put together a few of my top tips for staying sharp.
Stay open
As an entrepreneur, I am consciously looking for, and experiencing, inspiration, but for that to happen, one has to stay open. Go out of your way to mix and mingle, or put yourself in situations where you meet interesting people. Coming out of your day-to-day, and having conversations that aren’t in your normal sphere of reference, enables ideas to strike. Look for ways to go beyond your limited circle of family and friends, whether that be a professional networking group or engaging with more people that you see personally, such as at the gym. After all, there’s nothing more energising than a fresh idea, a new take on something or an exciting flicker of inspiration.
Connect
As well as connecting with other interesting and inspiring people in different walks of life, be sure to connect with the people around you. Take part in the team-building activities available at your workplace, or take the initiative to create some of your own. If you work alone, find a group of others that you can connect with. The social support we get from bonding with our peers is an important foundation to our wellness, so these networks are important.
Find brain reprieves
One of our team-building activities, and work wellness initiatives, is a kickboxing class every Monday that we take time out of the office to do. On top of that, I do another class regularly, and have two personal training sessions weekly too. As well as taking care of my physical aspect, I find that when I am doing this sort of training, my brain is free to do other things. I rarely think about the training that I’m doing and can think about problems we may be having and seek solutions. A massage every week, or fortnight, is much more than just an indulgence and affords the same sort of brain space.
Compart-mentalise your time
With technology being what it is nowadays, it’s possible for many of us to work virtually anytime and anywhere – but that doesn’t mean we should! You will have heard this before, but keeping my weekends for my family is a practice I swear by. With a wife and two young children, I’m committed to making sure that weekends are just about them. It’s important that I take this time to stay connected, and I feel far more ready to crank into the work week come Monday morning than if I’d continued slogging away in the meantime.
Take regular breaks
I don’t just mean the micro-moments throughout the day (or week!) here either – those points where you’re recommended to go out to stretch your legs or similar. I mean real breaks. Don’t wait for the calendar to provide the next holiday – make sure you book one yourself. I believe in the practice of regular holidays throughout the year, both business and family-focused ones. There’s something about removing yourself from daily life and experiencing international travel that refreshes and revitalises and, with it, brings new perspectives. Even when I am working while I’m away, it’s on my own terms; there’s a different vibe and often more ideas that come.
Richard Conway is founder & ceo of pure seo. pureseo.co.nz