By Monique Hassan
Another work week is here, time for excessive amounts of caffeine and a jungle of sticky notes. We all love the feeling of a productive day, that sense of accomplishment when we really made the most out of our time.
A common mindset is that greater productivity means working harder and for longer stints of time. Although this works for some people, this can lead to burnout and a decrease in focus.
Work Smarter Not Harder. Time is Valuable.
Here are 7 practical tips to make this week more productive.
- Start out the day right. Give yourself enough time to do at least 10 minutes of exercise in the morning. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is great for this. Slow down during morning prayers. Eat a healthy breakfast aimed at fueling you.
- Positive Affirmations. Look in the mirror and tell yourself “I am successful, I believe in myself”. Be your own cheerleader!
- Schedule the day. Set goals for the day and outline when you will achieve them. Take this opportunity to set weekly goals as well. Be realistic and don’t overload yourself.
- Give up Perfection. We are often our own worst critic. Aim to complete your goals and take satisfaction in that. It is great to have high standards, but don’t burden yourself with unattainable levels of perfection.
- Stay Organized. Your environment can impact how you feel. An organized and clean environment is more conducive towards a productive and focused day.
- Take a Break. Downtime helps you re-charge. You can also assess what you have accomplished and what else needs to be done.
- Review Your Performance. Look back over the day and smile at what you achieved, make mental notes for what you can improve.
Increased productivity serves to boost your sense of accomplishment and self-worth. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t achieve every goal you set for the day, do the best that you can and keep moving forward. Reward yourself for accomplishments and identify areas you have room for improvement. The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement.
The Prophet used to seek refuge in Allah from laziness in the following duaa: “O Allah, I take refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being over powered by men.” Sahih al-Bukhari 6369