Whether you’re a 60-hour per week entrepreneur or a busy freelancer with a full schedule, working long, hard hours is sometimes par for the course.
The trouble is that working hard doesn’t always equate with working smart. Energy levels deplete, decision making capacity becomes stunted, and your senses dull. So, even menial tasks can appear big tasks and elevate stress levels.
Even if it’s just a quick refresh, you need a few ways to recharge and maintain your energy through the day. Here’s how.
Create
Spend some time drawing, painting, or crafting. Art is engrossing and it can take your mind off work, even if it’s only for a few brief minutes.
If you don’t feel creatively inclined, or don’t have any intention of creating anything yourself, then at least hang artwork in your workplace. Work Design Magazine’s Rachel Smith says viewing artwork can restore mental energy, reduce stress, and even boost brain performance.
Meditate
The benefits of meditation are too numerous to mention. From reducing stress to improving sleep quality, you’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.
15 to 20 minutes of quiet meditation in the morning or even in the afternoon can offer the quick refresh you need to carry on with your workday at peak efficiency.
Beware of overcomplicating the process though. You don’t need a special meditation room, meditation chair, incense, candles, and a sleep mask to “do it right.” Simply find a quiet space, put on some music, close your eyes, and breathe.
Read
In an article on Healthline, Joy Stanborough, MFA says 30 minutes of reading can lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and even feelings of psychological distress.
Reading can also prepare you for a better night’s rest, alleviate symptoms of depression, help you live longer, and more.
Exercise
Busy people sometimes forget to schedule in exercise or simply can’t seem to find the time for it.
But we all know that sitting is the new smoking. There are altogether too many health risks associated with sitting for long hours for it to be worth the trouble long term.
Even if it’s just getting up and going to the washroom, making tea, or taking a walk around the block, the effort you put into exercise will pay off in spades.
If you can, though, try to fit in a 15 minute high intensity interval training workout three times per week. Even the busiest of professionals should be able to manage.
Nap
Tired or sleepy? Feeling dull? Exhausted and ineffective?
For productivity fiends, sleeping can sometimes feel like a waste of time. Yet, it might be the exact midday boost you need to perform at a high level during the final hours of the day.
When you haven’t had enough sleep, the slightest of problems can seem insurmountable. But after you’ve gotten some rest, the challenges may not seem so monumental after all.
Final Thoughts
It may seem as though taking time to recharge would only take away from your productive hours. But it’s the opposite. As you begin to form a routine around self-care and exercise, you’ll find yourself better able to concentrate and get things done, all without feeling drained at the end of the day.
What changes will you be making to your routine?