Time management

4 Ways to Make the Most of Your Morning

Evin

You could have a jumbled morning routine trying to get ready then a mad dash out the door with the hope traffic won’t be a problem. Sure, it gets the job done, but do you arrive at work feeling calm and recharged? It isn’t about taking two hours to do everything, it is about taking the right time to do what boosts your energy in the
morning and helps you feel equipped for the day ahead. Here are 4 ways to make the most of your morning. Pick and choose what you need in your mental and physical toolbox and include it in the first hours of your day.

1. Consistency

Try to wake up at the same time every day, and aim to give yourself enough time to get ready and prepare for the day ahead. This can help you feel more energized and focused throughout the morning. There are preparations and tasks you can do the night before to simplify your morning routine. Take a few minutes in the morning to review your schedule and plan out your day. This can help you stay focused and productive throughout the day, and ensure that you are making progress towards your goals. Try to minimize distractions in the morning, such as checking your phone or social media. This can help you stay focused and avoid getting sidetracked from your priorities.

2. Fuel yourself

Eating a healthy breakfast can help you feel more alert and focused throughout the morning. Try to choose foods that are high in protein and fiber, such as eggs, yogurt, or oatmeal, to help keep you feeling full and satisfied. And food isn’t the only fuel to consider. Starting your day with hydration is so logical it is amazing we don’t all do it. After eight hours of not drinking anything (while asleep), it makes sense to be a little parched. Of course, sometimes water isn’t all the fuel needed, so breakfast is good to make sure your brain is nourished for wherever the morning takes you.

3. So fresh and so clean

Whether it is a shower or just washing your face, water has a reviving effect and can help your day get started. Washing your face or showering can provide sensory stimulation that can help wake up your brain and increase focus. The sensation of water on your skin, the smell of soap or shampoo, and the sound of water can all contribute to a heightened sense of awareness and alertness. It can also help reduce stress, which can have a positive impact on cognitive function. By reducing feelings of stress and anxiety, you may be better able to focus on your work and perform more effectively. Stimulating the sympathetic nervous system, providing sensory stimulation, and reducing stress, can help you feel more awake, alert, and focused throughout the day.

4. Get moving

Getting your heart pumping doesn’t require a full game of tennis or running 10 miles, but a little exercise goes a long way to kickstart your day. Even walking five to 15 minutes can put your body into an active mode in which you feel more alert and like you’ve done something for yourself first thing. Do what is comfortable for you or you’ll find yourself putting it off or never taking it on. You can even integrate this into your morning commute by parking a little farther from the office entrance or getting off one bus stop early.
Getting some exercise in the morning can help boost your energy levels and improve your mood. Even a quick walk or stretch can help get your blood flowing and prepare you for the day ahead.

By following these 4 ways to jump-start your morning, you can set yourself up for a productive morning and start your day off on the right foot. Having a positive morning can set the tone for the rest of the day, so it’s important to start off on the right foot. That being said, having a bad start to the day doesn’t mean the rest of your day is doomed. Think of it as if you’ve filled your quota of things going wrong and try to move past it with positivity and hope.

Productivity, Writing

6 Tips to Improve Productivity and Focus to Write

Evin

As a writer, it can be challenging to find time to focus and maintain a disciplined schedule. In order to finish anything, you first have to begin, but also need to keep going. What drives you to write? Whatever it is, don’t let go of that passion and spark, but also recognize you need to be dedicated and invested in the process just as much as in the outcome to make it work. Somehow as if that’s not challenging enough, real life swirls around you. For the most part, all these tips are applicable for other professions as well. It takes all these and practicing and honing of one’s skills to achieve anything. Each person finds these things are slightly different, but these 6 tips to improve productivity and focus to write will help you.

1. Plan and prioritize

Comprehending and documenting your tasks, both large and small, is a solid first step in the process that will guide to your time management so you can protect regular writing time. This section is also useful for non-writers. Start each day by creating a to-do list of tasks that need to be completed, including deadlines and any dependencies. Review the tasks on your list and determine which are urgent and which are important. Urgent tasks are those that require immediate attention, while important tasks are those that contribute to your overall goals. Use the urgency and importance evaluation to assign priorities to each task. You can use a simple numbering system, such as 1 for the most important and urgent tasks, 2 for important tasks, and 3 for less urgent and important tasks. Estimate the amount of time each task will take and allocate time for each task in your schedule. Be realistic about how long each task will take and try not to overcommit. Allocate specific time slots for each task. Schedule the most important and urgent tasks for the time of day when you have the most focus and energy. By completing these tasks, you’ll feel more productive and motivated to tackle other tasks. Schedule less urgent tasks for times when you have lower energy levels. This isn’t just a one-off event either, it benefits you to do this on an ongoing basis. Regularly review your task list and adjust priorities as needed. Priorities may change due to changing circumstances, and it’s important to stay flexible and adaptable. Planning and prioritizing can help you stay focused and avoid wasting time on low-value activities.

2. Write regularly

Writing regularly is key to building momentum and maintaining productivity. When you write consistently, you train your brain to expect and prioritize writing time. This habit also allows your brain to generate ideas more freely, as it becomes accustomed to the process of writing. Maintaining a consistent habit brings out your best work, not necessarily every day but over time. Set a daily or weekly writing goal and stick to it, even if it’s only for a short period of time. Writing regularly builds momentum. Each time you write, you build on the work you’ve done before, creating a sense of progress and momentum. Even if you only write for a short time each day, you’re making steady progress towards your goals. For procrastinators, it also helps alleviate the ‘blank page’ anxiety. When you have a regular writing schedule, you’re less likely to put off writing tasks until the last minute or avoid them altogether. Consistency is key to making progress.

3. Don’t edit while writing your first draft

Writing the first draft without editing can be a useful technique for combatting blank page anxiety because it allows you to overcome the fear of not having anything to say, and just start writing. When we try to write a perfect first draft, we can get bogged down in self-criticism and doubt. By giving ourselves permission to write without editing, we can free ourselves from the pressure to be perfect and just focus on getting our thoughts down on paper. Once we start writing, it can be easier to keep going. By getting into a flow state, we can build momentum and make progress on our writing, which can help boost our confidence and motivation. Sometimes, the act of writing can help us generate new ideas and insights that we might not have thought of otherwise. Maybe those ideas don’t mesh in that part of your writing, but by documenting it in your first draft you can work with it later through editing.

4. Minimize distractions

Notifications from emails, messaging apps, and social media can be a significant distraction when you’re working. To minimize distractions, turn off notifications on your computer and phone or use software that temporarily blocks them during your work time. Having multiple tabs open on your computer can also be distracting, even if they’re not related to your work. Close unnecessary tabs to help you stay focused on your task. If you need those tasks to remind you of action items, consider entering the title, related task, and URL into a Google Sheet which you then make your web browser home page. Still reminding you, but not in the moment you need to be focused on something else. Designate a dedicated workspace for your writing, free from distractions such as television or noise. If possible, try to make this space comfortable and conducive to writing. If you’re working from home or in an open office, it’s important to set boundaries with others to minimize distractions. Let your family members or coworkers know when you’re working and need uninterrupted time. Taking regular breaks can help minimize distractions and increase productivity. Schedule short breaks throughout the day to recharge your batteries and come back to your work refreshed and focused. If you’re working in a noisy environment, consider using noise-cancelling headphones to block out distracting sounds. Distractions can disrupt your flow and make it difficult to concentrate.

5. Take breaks

Schedule short breaks throughout the day to recharge your batteries and come back to your work refreshed and focused. Your brains need rest just like any other part of your body. Taking breaks allows you to rest your minds and come back to your work refreshed and re-energized. This simple activity also helps prevent burnout and increase productivity. When you work for long periods of time without a break, your focus can start to wane. Taking breaks can help you maintain your focus by allowing you to come back to your work with a clear mind and reduced stress levels. When you take a break, you give yourselves the opportunity to recharge your batteries, which can help you feel more relaxed and less overwhelmed. Sometimes taking a break can lead to increased creativity by giving your minds time to be free to wander and explore new ideas, which can lead to breakthroughs and innovative thinking.

6. Stay organized

Keep your writing space and files organized to avoid wasting time looking for information. Develop a system for organizing research notes, drafts, and other documents that works for you. When you are organized, you can feel more in control of your work and your environment. This can help reduce stress and allow you to work more efficiently and productively. Though it often feels like organizing is a procrastinating technique, it is an investment in your upcoming work and mental state. By taking the time to organize your workspace, tasks, and schedule, you can set yourselves up for success and achieve your goals more efficiently.

No single technique or approach will help you become more productive. Not even this entire combination of 6 tips to improve productivity and focus to write will solve everything, but it’s a start. Work with these tips to find what works best for you and allow that to evolve with your needs and work. Also, allow yourself the flexibility and forgiveness to adapt. Things may not always go according to plan, but try to see those moments as a blip not a speed bump or detour. Now, stop reading and go write!

Productivity

Multitasking is a Myth

Evin

Multitasking is the idea that you can do multiple things simultaneously and be more productive as a result. Ha! Research has shown that multitasking is a myth and can lead to burnout, mistakes, and stress. When you try to do multiple tasks at the same time, you are dividing your attention between them, which can lead to decreased performance in all of them. This is because your brain can only focus on one thing at a time, and switching between tasks can cause a lag in your cognitive processing, resulting in errors and mistakes.

Giving 50%

This isn’t a theory or newfangled idea, but one discussed and studied for almost 300 years. In Christine Rosen’s article ‘The Myth of Multitasking‘, Rosen cites Lord Chesterfield’s (aka Philip Stanhope) Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman in which he proclaims “There is time enough for everything, in the course of the day, if you do but one thing at once; but there is not time enough in the year, if you will do two things at a time.” That was in 1747. Scientific American backs this up in their article from 2010 stating “When we do two things at the same time, our brain divides the work in half, literally: each hemisphere concentrates on one task.”

Digital distractions

Digital distractions, such as social media notifications, email notifications, and instant messaging platforms, can be very disruptive to an employee’s workflow. Constant interruptions by digital distractions can make it difficult to maintain focus on the task at hand, and this can lead to decreased productivity and increased stress. Dare I say that the constant stimulation of digital distractions can create a sense of addiction or compulsion, making it difficult for employees to disconnect from work and recharge. This can contribute to chronic stress and burnout over time. Is there a bit of FOMO being disconnected from colleagues, a project, or friends during a time window when you’d usually be inundated with updates? Yes, you may need the silence, but it doesn’t mean it won’t feel surreal.

Effects

When you try to perform multiple tasks at once, the brain is not able to fully focus on any one task. This can result in poorer retention of information in short-term memory, as brains are not able to fully encode the information due to the competing demands of the different tasks. Research has shown that even small distractions can have a negative impact on cognitive performance, and the more complex the task, the more detrimental multitasking can be. The modern world’s demand for attention constantly with notifications and group chat messages can lead to increased stress levels, as your brain is constantly trying to switch between different tasks and manage competing priorities. Stress, fatigue, and decreased performance and productivity can result because human brains are not designed to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.

What to do instead

Instead of multitasking, what employers should be encouraging is effective task management and organisation. With those strengths, the tasks are not neglected and can be worked on concurrently, but not simultaneously. It’s better to focus on one task at a time and prioritize your workload, which can lead to better productivity, fewer errors, and a happier, more fulfilled work life.

Setting boundaries

To combat burnout caused by digital distractions and multitasking, it’s important for workers to set boundaries and limit the amount of time they spend on digital devices. This isn’t even limited to work though, the family WhatsApp group may be pinging you more often than your brain can handle. If you are on your lunch break or with a friend, don’t be tuned into the chat group or doom scrolling. Commit 100% to the break. Draft an outline on note paper to get a break from the screen. A study showed that longhand note taking can be better for learning than typing notes. This would work in concert with one solution to managing digital distractions which is to limit device use to necessary tasks. Employers can also take steps to reduce digital distractions in the workplace, such as implementing policies around email and messaging etiquette, encouraging breaks and time off, and promoting a culture of work-life balance.

Monotasking

In order to perform tasks optimally, it’s best to focus your attention on one task at a time. Matthew Solan wrote a piece focused on ‘The art of monotasking‘, explaining that “the brain cannot devote equal attention to multiple tasks that require high-level brain function.” Otherwise, there is an increased risk of burnout, which is characterized by physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. In the workplace, multitasking can also lead to decreased job satisfaction, as employees feel overwhelmed and overburdened with tasks. This can result in high turnover rates and lower productivity levels. There is even research about the future neurological impact of this.

Multitasking is a myth and can have negative impacts on cognitive performance and stress levels. Instead, it is better to focus on one task at a time in order to maximize productivity and reduce stress. This means minimizing digital distractions, setting priorities, and taking breaks when needed to recharge and refocus.

Storytelling

The Science Behind Why Our Brains Love Storytelling

Evin

Storytelling evokes the quaint images of a group sitting around a campfire with gestures casting shadows on the surrounding trees, drawing the listeners in and leaving them hooked until the very last word. Perhaps playing with a piece of bark to release nervous energy until finally a resolution and sense that the shared journey is complete. Modern storytelling is not a far cry from its campfire cousin with the connection it forges. As a story unfolds, the readers or listeners are reeled in which we all know to have happened, but now neuroscience backs this up with data.

We hang onto every word around the campfire because our brains are invested in and crave the connectivity and completion of the story. This unique neurological experience is studied by Paul Zak, Ph.D. of the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies at Claremont Graduate University and of the Neurology Department at Loma Linda University Medical Center. He has found that the surmounting challenges and obstacles within a story build a connection with the listener. As that connection strengthens, the listener’s body then produces more oxytocin. The stronger the connection, the more oxytocin created, and this is all measurable in the bloodstream. Oxytocin was discovered just over 100 years ago, but in the decades since the science community has found this is the same hormone and neuropeptide plays a key role in how humans build relationships and connections with one another. It increases the sense of an emotional bond. This is exactly the bond that Dr. Zak focuses on.

The study of neuroeconomics lends clarity as to how and why a story is a way to influence others. It is within the factors of influence that people build empathy and a desire to connect, support, or be involved with the story or those involved. As a neurotransmitter, Oxytocin immediately reacts within the brain when the person listens to an emotionally-driven story. This increases Oxytocin in the bloodstream, thereby strengthening the level of empathy felt. The presence of Oxytocin is measurable and can be used to further engage the listener and connect with them. Creating a story that triggers the creation of Oxytocin is essential to be able to then use that in the way you need to develop a stronger relationship with the listener, your potential customer. 

For all this to work, the listener must be paying attention and actually listening. This is rare enough, but even more so in today’s business and social environment. This makes the art of storytelling all the more important. Ensuring that the listener is engaged begins with the content of the story itself. When selecting what tale to share, consider the interests of the audience and the take-away the story offers them. According to Dr. Zak, the first 15 seconds must engage the listener. Unveiling layers of the story in a particular way and order helps to elicit emotional engagement. Express the story in a three-act structure: Grab attention, introduce conflict, and share resolution. There needs to be a moment in which the protagonist of the story faces a crisis or seemingly insurmountable obstacle. The engagement is locked in and brings the listener to the point of wanting to act on the story or help.

Applying this knowledge to your own storytelling becomes an artful endeavour. Just blandly saying the facts of a project or experience could be enough for some to engage, but moments and details are often useful to help draw people in. In the business world, overcoming the habit of being unemotional and exacting may be the first step. It is important to share the authentic feelings on why this particular obstacle or crisis is such a formidable challenge that must be overcome. It needs to be intense enough to be felt by the listener, triggering their own feelings of empathy. Engaging the listener helps them become furled into the story as well, craving a resolution in the outcome. Even a small anecdote or tale can engage the mind and result in loyalty and emotional investment. 

Once it happens, the ability to influence becomes possible. How you use that newly forged influence and customer loyalty depends on your business needs and goals. This could inform your storytelling strategy or be a sign you need such a strategy because a well-crafted message, content, or story can direct customers to your desired result, whether it be sales, donations, or interaction with the business on social media. Dr. Zak’s findings also show that the engagement does not have to be in-person. In fact, there is a very strong response from mobile device users on social media. The warm glow of a screen is just as effective as the warm glow of a campfire. Just as with other business skills, storytelling is worth the effort in business and the science behind it continues to yield impressive data to help leverage storytelling to engage customers and build a stronger community.