Making time for yourself and establishing a good routine of looking after yourself can actually be key in helping you to be more productive in the workplace. You know the old saying, “There are only so many hours in the day” is so true, so why not make the most of your time and achieve maximum output and results. Not so easy to do though when we are all working hard and sometimes it is really difficult to put ourselves first and prioritise our health and wellbeing.
Both employers and employees need self-care to be successful and is becoming increasingly acknowledged in companies. Companies need their workplaces to increase productivity, engagement which will increase business success.
Self-care is a very broad term and will mean different things to all of us. It can be exercise, going for a walk and getting fresh air, getting eight hours of quality sleep per night, a face mask, drinking water, eating healthy and the list goes on.
Here are some of the most important things I think that contribute to enhanced productivity:
1. Sleep and Sleep Hygiene
As I get older, I really value the amount of sleep I have and also the quality. If I have an interrupted night’s sleep, I wake up feeling like I have been run over by a bus and I know my day won’t tend to be as productive and my concentration span is far less. When I get a good night’s sleep by the end of the workday I really feel like I have achieved a lot and ticked a lot of boxes.
Sleep hygiene is also very important so try to avoid looking at your phone at least thirty minutes before bed.
Reading before bed is also a great destresser and you will find you get to sleep much quicker.
2. Drink plenty of water.
I have started the habit of drinking three litres of water per day and I can really feel a difference with not only it helping to lose weight but also my skin is clearer and hydrated. I find that I drink far less coffee and have also switched to tea.
3. Exercise.
Even if it is a walk at lunchtime, the exercise and fresh air will do you wonders. It gets the blood flowing and will actually contribute to a good night’s sleep. I have recently started to get back into exercising again and I can see the difference in my energy levels and getting things done much quicker.
4. Eat Healthy
Take time out on the weekends to prepare for the week ahead by cooking healthy meals to take to work. You will keep your nutritional intake on point during the week and will save you cooking time when you get home of a night. When I have meals planned, I always eat well during the week. It’s all in the planning!
5. Write a To Do List
Anyone that knows me well knows I am a big fan of lists! I write lists in the Notes section of my phone each day of things I need to do and want to achieve. These can be really small things that you can tick off or delete and is very satisfying to know you are getting things done.
6. Socialise
Spend quality time with family and friends. We are working to live so make time for social connections in your spare time.
7. Fresh air and sunshine
This is such a key one. I love walking on the weekends along the river. It clears my head, I get vitamin D and of course smashing those steps!
8. Smile!
Everything is always better when you do it with a smile. It’s infectious and will put you in a better mood.
You will need to work out which routines work for you and more importantly, what you enjoy doing. Once you establish a routine, self-care will benefit you physically, mentally, and emotionally and will increase your productivity!
MARIANNE SAVAS
Divisional Manager
As an ex-Accountant by trade, Marianne started her career in recruitment, initially working for Hays in their accounting support division. Over time, she worked her way up to Accounting Manager, looking after a growing team of consultants, specialising in the placement of temporary and permanent staff in commerce and industry within the accounting and office support areas.
