I recently read an article in Psychology Today about how good employees stay focused and driven at work (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-procrastination-equation/201112/beyond-the-coffee-crutch-the-secret-vitality-work). It was full of delusional – oops, I mean HELPFUL – tips like not drinking caffeine, not answering emails and not surfing the web. Hmm.
Upon reading this optimistic list of stellar employable qualities I was washed with a wave of guilt. All I drink at work is caffeine. Sitting in front of my computer most the day means that I not only surf the web, but I over analyze my music selection (actually this article said that listening to music is a no-no too), respond to phone calls and emails as they come, and even watch the occasional YouTube video. Sudden panic set in, should I be fired?
Whoa there work self, calm down. For those of you like me, I’d like to set out a revised list of how to focus and stay energetic at work. (Disclaimer: I don’t do all of these. In fact, the only ones I can say I do with consistency are 4 & 6…)
- Caffeine can help, but drink water too. I mean, who can argue with caffeine’s, well, caffeinating qualities?
- Eat! I mean, not all the time, but don’t wait until your stomach is growling to get yourself a snack or lunch. It will force you to move around and eat smaller amounts more often.
- Get up every couple of hours, even if it’s just to walk into the next room and say hi to a coworker. Yes, it may annoy them, but you’ll feel refreshed.
- Listen to energizing music that helps you focus. Dubstep? Gangsta rap? Bach? I’m not gonna judge, whatever works.
- Intersperse fun tasks with the more benign ones.
- Allow yourself a couple minutes of mindless web surfing or NyanCat-like You Tubeness at least every hour. Anything that makes you laugh is bound to be energizing.
- Write yourself a task list for the following day.
- By all means, if it’s 5:30 on a Friday and you’ve finished a task and don’t have the energy to begin another, update your WordPress!
musefulness 