How To Make The Most Of Shorter Days This Winter
By JD Esajian on November 10, 2016
The end of the year is always a tricky time to get work done. There is tendency for many to coast from just after Halloween until New Years. Between the change of season, Thanksgiving, fewer hours of daylight and Christmas approaching it can be difficult to focus on your business. During this stretch you can separate yourself from your competition or fall behind the pack and start the New Year in a hole. As difficult as it may be it is important to buckle down and still get your work done. Instead of working longer you should strive to work smarter. Get what you need to get done and move on to the next task. With daylight getting shorter you need to fight the urge to end your day earlier. Here are five ways you can get more work done and finish up the year on a high note.
- Start Your Day Earlier. There is nothing wrong with getting a good night’s sleep. However, you need to pick and choose you spots. If you want your day to be more efficient and effective you need to start it a little earlier. By getting up just a half hour to forty five minutes earlier you get a head start on your competition. By the time you are done with your first cup of coffee you are organized and ready to take on whatever you have lined up. For many people the morning is the best time of the day to work. There are fewer distractions and it is easier to focus. It is not uncommon to get more done between 6 & 7 AM than any other hour of your day. If you are not a morning person 6 AM may seem ridiculous but many of the most successful people in the world start their day well before 6 AM. Set your alarm just ten minutes earlier for a few weeks until you program your mind and body. It may take some getting used to but you will find that by starting your day a few minutes earlier you will get much more accomplished.
- Prepare The Night Before. Any good intentions you have may get thrown out the window when your alarm starts to ring. One of the ways to combat early morning complacency is by preparing as much as possible the night before. By doing this you eliminate any excuses you have and make working as easy as possible. Seemingly little things like preparing breakfast or lunch can slow your morning routine and cause things to come to a screeching halt. The same is the case with your wardrobe or what tasks you plan on accomplishing. Before you go to bed you should get all of these items taken care of so all you have to do is get up and go. It is always much easier doing these before going to bed than first thing in the morning. By doing them the night before you eliminate most of the common morning excuses.
- Get Enough Sleep. As a country we are just starting to realize the importance of sleep. Many health experts place sleep third behind diet and exercise in the order of what is most important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. You typically know your body better than anyone. As an adult you have a pretty good idea of the ideal amount of sleep required for you to function at your highest level. As difficult as this may be for some you need to develop a sleep patter than may require you to miss out on some activities or change your lifestyle. You don’t necessarily need to sleep eight hours every night but you probably can’t get by with less than five. If you are tired and groggy all day you will eventually make a mistake that you will regret.
- Include Exercise In Your Routine. Most people understand the importance of exercise without being told. Not only will exercise keep you around longer but it improves the quality of your everyday life. In the business sense exercise helps you be more efficient in your daily tasks. Instead of dragging through your morning just a few minutes of exercise will get your blood pumping and help kick start your day. You don’t need to work out for hours to realize the benefits of exercise. Something as minor as ten minutes of jumping jacks and pushups can be enough to make an impact. If you find a few free minutes take a short walk or bike ride to get your body moving. You will be surprised at just how much a little exercise helps get more work done.
- Positive Reinforcement. Regardless of what you do or who you work for there are always times when you don’t feel like working. One of the best ways to fight through these lulls is by giving yourself a small reward for your efforts. Something like putting your phone away for an hour until you finish up what you need to get done can be enough to push you through it. Your rewards should be in line with the task you are completing. The greater the project the stronger the reward. By giving yourself even a small reward it will motivate you to work just a little harder. It’s that little push that can help get you through your day.
With less than 60 days left in the year the home stretch is in full swing. Use these tips to get the most out of the days remaining and finish up the year strong.