10 Easy Tips For Simplifying Your Work Life

Your work life can often get complicated when you aren’t taking the necessary steps to maintain motivation, balance, and overall health. Below are a few ways you can simply your work life for better professional relationships.

1. Let yourself step away from work

As counterintuitive as it may sound, letting yourself take some necessary time away from work is an easy way of simplifying your work life. In an age where workaholics are often praised for their motivation and productivity, taking a step back and allowing yourself to regain your energy and your passion for your job is necessary in doing the best work you can, whether that be using up some of your vacation time or making the most of your breaks throughout the day.

• Use the right tools

Technology has been designed to help us with our daily lives, which is why you should take advantage of the digital tools afforded to you through your company. These include any calendar applications for scheduling your day, online communication platforms for constant contact even when you are working remotely, and document sharing services such as virtual data rooms where you and your co-workers can upload and review confidential company documents safely whenever necessary.

• Know your goals and prioritize accordingly

The only real way you can make a hectic work life that much easier is by recognizing what your overall goals are and prioritizing the work you do based on them. Rather than trying to fit a certain mould of what it means to be in your job title, understand what your core values are and implement them in how you run your small business or how you work within someone else’s company. Not only will this allow you to stay true to yourself, but will also make the important things that much easier and faster to complete on a daily basis.

• Do some physical activity during the day

Simplifying your work life can also be as easy as setting aside time to do some physical activity throughout the day. This could be in the form of regular stretches by your desk to alleviate any back pain from sitting, taking a long walk during your lunch break, or using fitness facilities if they are provided in your office building. Regular exercise helps your focus, motivation, and mood which, in turn, will make completing your daily tasks that much easier.

• Have a good night’s sleep

Ensuring that you are well-rested before you return to work is vital in maintaining a healthy relationship with your job and boosting your motivation. It also helps managing your stress on incredibly busy days, making it easier to stay on top of your schedule and effectively collaborating with your co-workers. Rather than skipping an early bedtime to finish some last minute work, save yourself the extra cup of coffee in the morning and hectic routine by getting a good night’s sleep.

• Let yourself say ‘no’ when necessary

Being a yes man will only make your work life that much more complicated than it needs to be. You shouldn’t have to feel the burden that without always agreeing to what you are asked despite whether or not you are able to do it you won’t be of value in your work place. Everyone works at their own pace and has different skills catered to their abilities—recognize this and allow yourself to say ‘no’ from time to time when you feel like you are overworked, overstressed, or just not capable of handling a certain task. Your teammates will be grateful for the honesty.

• Keep your workspace organized

An organized space will lead to an organized state of mind, so don’t forgo giving your desk or office area a good cleaning at the end of a long and busy week. Knowing where all your work necessities are at all times and being surrounded only by what you need on a daily basis will make it easier to function efficiently and will spare you any additional stress that comes along with a messy space.

• Work around a detailed schedule

When in doubt, plan ahead. Know exactly what you need to do for the upcoming week or month and work all your priorities around this schedule to ensure that you aren’t having to squeeze things in last minute or accidently double book certain commitments. With a detailed schedule you will know exactly where you need to be and when, getting rid of the anxiety that comes along with last minute deadlines or meetings that you weren’t expecting and allowing you to focus on your work.

• Reduce distractions

Whether it be your phone or your chatty co-workers, distractions are a big culprit when it comes to feeling like your work life isn’t quite conducive to actually getting work done. When you notice that these types of distractions are getting to be too much to handle, make it a point to reduce them in your daily routine, like putting your phone away in a lockable drawer or making an effort to explain to your co-worker that you have a lot to get done that day. Pushing aside all the unnecessary interruptions will let your mind focus completely on what is necessary so that your work day can be that much simpler.

1. Good is good enough

At the end of the day, you really don’t need to stress yourself out or work toward perfection if you are putting in the right amount of effort. Nobody is perfect, so trying attain a level of complete efficiency or capability is impossible and will only make your experience at work terrible. Recognize your skills and put in as much effort as necessary to make a difference for your co-workers and clients. This will allow you to relax a little more often while still maintaining a healthy amount of productivity during the work day.