10 HEALTHY TIPS FOR SMART-WORKING

new habits for a new lifestyle

Smart working is defined as a “model of work that uses new technologies and the development of the existing ones to improve both the performance and the satisfaction that is obtained from the job”. It's a way to give employees the tools and leeway to determine how, when and where to perform effectively, all with an eye toward productivity. It implies that most of our lives will drastically change as far as habits go, so each one of us should find a way to efficiently bond personal life and work duties. In order to do so here’s a ten points list that will improve your daily routine.

1. SET UP A DEDICATED WORK SPACE

Do your best to find a comfortable and supportive chair, and make sure your desk or table is at a comfortable height. If you are using a laptop, consider an external keyboard to improve your body mechanics. Even better if you can enjoy some sunlight or fresh air from your seat. If you don’t have a standing desk at home prop your laptop up on books or find a higher countertop to work on for several hours a day.

2. GET UP EARLY

Getting up early gives you a head start on your day that can't be matched. If you are not an early riser, try moving your wake time back gradually.

3. SCHEDULE TASKS BASED ON YOUR ENERGY LEVEL

We tend to ignore our energy levels when planning our work, but it's a major player in productivity. Everyone's energy spikes at different times; we each have our own built-in body clock called a circadian rhythm.

If you know you're most productive right before lunch, for instance, don't plan meetings or email catch-up time then. Instead, put your most challenging work during the time periods when you've got the most energy and save easy tasks for when you're dragging.

4. TAKE MORE BREAKS

Taking breaks is one of my favorite ways to work smarter. Without real breaks, our brains get tired, and we get distracted. Try taking a small break (10 to 15 minutes) between each task you focus on.

5. POWER NAP

Naps can do wonders for your memory and help you solidify things you've just learned. Perhaps more importantly, a short nap is the best way to improve your energy levels when they're low. Try drinking a cup of coffee just before a quick nap for the biggest energy boost.

6. TRACK YOUR TIME AND REVIEW YOUR PRODUCTIVITY

If you don't know how and where you're wasting time, try tracking everything you do for a few days. This can be as simple as keeping a running list on paper of what you do during the day and how long it takes. Reviewing your progress often will help you identify what's working and what's not. Set a reminder for each week or month to go over what you completed. Also, take note of what you struggled with.

7. CHUNK SIMILAR TASKS TOGETHER

Batching similar tasks can help you be more efficient because you're not switching back and forth between different types of work. This is especially useful for small tasks because you can knock out a bunch at once and get a nice kick of productivity.

8. TURN OFF NOTIFICATIONS

Try turning off all notifications while you're working, or if that sounds too extreme, only turn them off during the periods you need to be most focused. Or you can figure out which notifications you actually need and do something to separate them out.

9. COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES FREQUENTLY

It’s easy to feel isolated when working from home. Make sure to participate in online meetings. Use the telephone and Zoom or Skype, not just email. Working from home in these challenging times is especially hard, so it is important to use the audio and visual aspects of our technology to communicate with our peers when we are unable to meet in person. Bring your smile with you.

10. MOVE

Feel free to take a walk or do some floor exercises during your breaks, but even while working, find a way to move!

To sum up, try to create a series of habits in order to feel comfortable with yourself and the environment surrounding you during your work time. Doing your job in a relaxing way will improve your efficiency.

articolo di Tommaso Corno