6 psychologist's tips on how to organize a working day

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The working day is often very fast and very unproductive. Psychologist and author of The Best Place to Work. The Art of Designing Great Business Space”Ron Friedman shared ways to intelligently organize your working day.

Of course, there are plenty of helpful tips to improve your productivity, from to-do lists to dedicated time management apps and meditation exercises. And all this seems to work for a while, until we are again drawn into the routine.

However, there is also another solution. Stop thinking of your day as one long to-do list. Better to think about how your brain works during the day, and then try to distribute your tasks according to this.

1. Treasure the first three hours

The first three hours of a working day is the most valuable and productive time.

Instead of checking emails and voice mails or following requests from colleagues, devote these hours to what matters most to you and your work.

We usually have about three hours when we are really focused. At this time, it is easier for us to generate ideas and plan our activities. If we waste those first hours on other people's tasks, we will lose the most valuable time for ourselves.

According to research by Alison A. Benedettia, James M. Diefendorffa, Allison S. Gabrielb, Megan M. Chandlerc. The Effects of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Sources of Motivation on Well-being Depend on Time of Day: The Moderating Effects of Workday Accumulation. In the middle of the day, our cognitive activity usually declines. Because of this, in the afternoon, the same task can seem much more tedious to us. So don't put off difficult tasks until later.

2. Think like a chef

What is the right way to start your day? According to Friedman, this strategy is best mastered in the culinary environment. The French even have a special term: mise en place - "everything in its place."

“See how chefs work,” says Friedman. - They do not rush to cook, barely crossing the threshold of the kitchen. Instead, they think carefully about the cooking process. First, they determine all the necessary steps, select working tools, prepare the ingredients in the right amount, and lay out everything on the table. In short, they plan first, and only then act."

Spending a few minutes in the morning scheduling your tasks can help you focus more easily throughout the day.

3. Give your brain and body a rest

During work, not only our brain gets tired. From the point of view of physiology, several cycles pass in our body in 90-120 minutes. Then the body needs a break. As you continue to work non-stop, you will notice that your productivity drops.

Always pay attention to your body's signals: if you start to fidget, yawn, get distracted, or feel hungry, it's probably time to get up from the table for a few minutes. By ignoring these signals, you are depleting your energy reserves.

Instead of controlling time, consider controlling your energy and focus.

4. Manage Afternoon Fatigue

Everyone knows this feeling: lunch is long over, until the end of the working day, a few more hours, and you are completely exhausted. This decline in energy, usually at three o'clock in the afternoon, coincides with our daily biorhythms. During this time, the body releases the hormone melatonin, the body temperature drops, and we feel sleepy. If you don't have a 20 minute nap (which would be ideal), there are other options.

Plan for less strenuous work, tasks that require less concentration and willpower during this time. For example, a meeting that is not particularly important or a task that does not require great precision.

An afternoon drop in energy is also good for focusing on creative activities. Our creativity is best revealed when we are tired. Schedule a creative assignment for three o'clock in the afternoon and you will find that a little fatigue is only beneficial.

Planning is, of course, key here. Don't let fatigue take over your day. By scheduling time ahead of time, you can benefit from even the afternoon dips.

5. Determine the end of the day for yourself

We often allow work to invade our privacy: we check email at dinner, before bed, even at night. The technical devices we use at work and at home are addictive.

Turning off various devices will have a positive effect on your condition, as well as on the ability to concentrate for the next day, but often it seems impossible to stop using the technique even for several hours. There is an exit. In order not to go to work mail in the evenings, Friedman uses different devices for work and play. “I don't have email on my tablet. I use it only for entertainment, but the phone is already my working tool,”says the psychologist.

6. Plan time for fun

Play video games more. According to Friedman, it helps improve cognitive function. The longer we play, the more the game gets harder. At work, it is often the other way around.

Charging is also a great option. According to scientists Juriena D. de Vries, Brigitte J. C. Claessens, Madelon L. M. van Hooff, Sabine A. E. Geurts, Seth N. J. van den Bossche, Michiel A. J. Kompier. Disentangling Longitudinal Relations Between Physical Activity, Work-related Fatigue, and Task Demands., an increase in physical activity leads to a decrease in fatigue. But the paradox does not disappear: tired employees who would benefit the most from exercise remain less active.

So you better get out of your chair and do something to amuse yourself. Let this serve as a reminder to challenge yourself at work and not stop there.