Work Well: 3 healthy thoughts to improve your productivity
Every moment of your day is precious. Are you treating it that way?
From the moment you wake up to when you lay your head to rest, your time matters. Are you using your time wisely?
Did you know what you think has a direct correlation to the productivity of your day?
Just give it some thought. When you enter your workplace already thinking, “I don’t want to be here,” how well do you work? Are you working with excellence or only doing the minimum?
Look, being productive is not a mystery, but it does require intentionality both in our actions and in our thoughts. So let’s take a look at how to increase your productivity by embracing these three healthy thoughts.
I will embrace work and rest.
Say out loud: “I give myself permission to work with excellence and to rest well.”
All too often we go to work frustrated because we spend more energy pushing ourselves to work and not enough time valuing the importance of rest. Productive people are not people who push to exhaustion. They are people who understand our brains and bodies function more effectively with proper rest. Choosing to rest well gives your mind and body a chance to recover from the day allowing you to perform at peak performance.
To rest well, there must be clearly defined boundaries between work and rest. Set hours for completing chores around the house and running errands. As much as possible, don’t bring work home. Even when you are home, outline the amount of time you will spending writing or editing your work. Creating healthy boundaries prevents work from bleeding into our personal lives taking away from our relationships and allowing our bodies time to recover. Work with excellence and rest well.
I will embrace my mistakes.
Say out loud: “I give myself permission to make mistakes without condemnation.”
Ummm, last time I checked the only person who is, was, and will ever be perfect is Jesus Christ. So whatever expectation you have for yourself as a wife, mom, professional, or student, I hope it is not one of perfection. To allow ourselves to be productive, then we also accept nothing significant happens without failure. When we take a look at people like Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, or Lysa Terkeurst, they are not people who became successful without mistakes. Quite the contrary. Instead, they made mistakes, learned from them and went on to become household names in their professions.
Thinking of trying something new in your business, doing a different routine in your home, or creating a different program at work? Do it. Maybe it will work, then again maybe it won’t. You won’t know if you won’t try. Who knows? It could be the best step ever. Even if taking that next step doesn’t work out, YOU are not a failure. Remove condemnation as a barrier to moving forward and you will see just how much you can improve your productivity.
I will focus on the one.
Say out loud: “I give myself permission to not do it all.”
Can I tell you something? Of all the three statements, this is the hardest one for me. When I start my day, immediately I see everything and everyone who needs my attention. From projects at work to checking homework in the afternoon to the laundry and grocery shopping in between, there is always plenty to pull at my attention which only creates pressure I need to do it all. Do you relate?
In the moments where I start to feel pulled in a thousand direction, I stop. I tell myself “I do not have to do it all.” That one thought helps me to zoom in to the one area that needs my attention now. Focusing on the next step can significantly improve your ability to be more productive in the day causing you to experience fewer frustrations and stress. Instead of focusing on everything on your to-do list, identify the next item you can complete and can control. None of us is designed to do it all and do it well.
Taking time to improve your productivity starts with the way we think. Changing our thoughts, changes our behaviors. Whether you are a mom or entrepreneur or both, you can improve your productivity any time with just shifting your thoughts.
Cheering you on,
Coffeeeandcream
Great thoughts to have, thanks for sharing!
Mamie L. Pack
CoffeeeandcreamThanks for stopping by.
Sarah
This is good advice. I like the idea of focusing on the one. When I have too much to do, sometimes I just shut down. Or the quality of my product suffers.
Maria Lucille
Yes, I have just finally started to prioritize rest. This is a great reminder.
Mamie L. Pack
Maria LucilleGlad to hear that Maria! What do you do to help make sure you rest?
Tara Florance Adams
I love this post. I always tell others I don’t bring work home & if I’m working from home I only do it within working hours. Rest is so important. I agree with owning up to mistakes. It doesn’t mean we’re a failure just human.
Mamie L. Pack
Tara Florance AdamsExactly Tara! Having boundaries for work helps us to be present in our relationships and take care of our bodies.
Amy
Thank you for the helpful tips and reminders!
Mamie L. Pack
AmyThank you!
mylittlegreenboutique
i love the part where you say “I will embrace work and rest” so many people just move and move and then get burnt out. I love my breaks and breaks are ok to have. If I dont take breaks its harder for me to get stuff done. Especially with being pregnant.
Mamie L. Pack
mylittlegreenboutiqueOh, been there 😆 Breaks are definitely important especially when you are breaking for two.
Stephanie
Such a great post! For me the hardest one is the last one as well, I try to do everything and somehow I get lost in the middle. Definitely need to focus on one thing at a time!
Mamie L. Pack
StephanieDoing to much only slows us down from getting anything done. Multitasking is such a myth.
naomibianca613
One thank at a time and breaks are essential!!! Great post!
Mamie L. Pack
naomibianca613Thanks Naomi!
kishastewartharris
Oh how I need to live by each of these rules, because I struggle with them all. I overwork, don’t rest enough, I’m definitely hard on myself when I make mistakes because I’m a perfectionist, and I have too many things going on at once. Sometimes I feel like my head is spinning, so I know I need to find balance. Thanks for giving these tips because its so many of us that need them!
Mamie L. Pack
kishastewartharrisI think most of us have been there. At least I know for sure I have. I end up missing out on spending time with those I love. So much wasted time!
Christina
Great advice! 🙂 I’ve learned that rest is so vital in being productive. I used to pour SO much of myself into certain tasks or projects and it left me burnt out within weeks if not days. Taking breaks or extended periods of rest not only helped me recharge, but opened my mind to new ideas and a fresh perspective.
Mamie L. Pack
ChristinaSo true Christina! I don’t know where so many of us have picked up the idea that rest is laziness or something to put off until later. I am making changes in this area so I can be an example for my children.
The Teaching Aunt
I make sure to focus on one task at a time. I find myself more productive when I work this way. I can multi-task but only on small stuffs.I don’t want to mess up on bigger things then repeat them again just to correct. 🙂
Mamie L. Pack
The Teaching AuntYou are so right! When we do to much we often end up going back to fix what we have messed up. Double work!
Amy
Focusing on the one is so important! Otherwise I start many things at once and finish none. Great post!
Mamie L. Pack
AmyYes! Sometimes I have the bad habit of starting without finishing. So frustrating!
Therose
These affirmations are great and they are all spot on. You’re definetly right about rest. I have a hard time with that one. I always feel I need to be doing something.
Mamie L. Pack
TheroseMe too!!! So frustrating 😆
Autumn
love the one about embracing mistakes! it the only way to grow I believe
Andrea
Simple reminders to help us live a better life! Thanks!
Mamie L. Pack
AndreaThank you for stopping by.
savvysouthernchic
Excellent points. In order to work well, we definitely need to rest well.
Mamie L. Pack
savvysouthernchicJust think of all that happens when we prioritize rest as much as we prioritize work. Our minds and bodies function better. Plus we are not as cranky. So that is a big win 😆
Kari
I need to do better at the rest piece. I always intend to rest, but the next thing I know my bed & Netflix time turns into bed & Netflix and paperwork organizing or mending, or….! Arg!
Trish
Since I work from home I try to do everything at once – multitask. But if I get tired and the little one wants to nap, rather then work through I’ll nap with him!
homeboundbuthopeful
The first and third idea are especially relevant to my life right now… I’m burnt out and overwhelmed, and nothing seems to be going right as a result. Definitely going to keep those 2 in the front of my mind as I move forward!
Raina
Yes, yes, and yes! I struggle with work and rest balance but it is so important. And mistakes… oh my goodness… all the time. Thanks for the great reminder!
rebecca
That last one really hits me; these are great permissions to give yourself and I know when I have this mindset I am able to be so much more productive!
Mamie L. Pack
rebeccaWe can be so gentle with others that we forget to do the same for ourselves.
Ashley Newton
This was an easy read! I especially like the tip on giving yourself permission to make mistakes. I find it so hard to go eas on myself, which makes my life harder.
Sarah
These are such great reminders!! Thank you!
Jen @ Jen Bradley | MOMS
These are perfect reminders! I really need to work on both #1 and #3!