July has just begun, which means summer is upon us—at least here, in the Northern Hemisphere 🙂 Kids are already out of school, sun is on full display, days are long and hot, and vacations are in the works. No doubt, this is an enjoyable season—but if you’re not careful, productivity can take a nosedive. Is your team ready?
If you’ve spent any amount of time in the workforce, chances are, you’ve already been exposed to the multitasking myth. Juggling with more things at a time on the job leads to success, while monotasking is for losers. Such a culture tends to glorify those who manage to tackle a dozen projects all at once. You know, the hustlers who have their coffee in one hand, their smartphone in the other, an overwhelming slew of tabs open on their computer screen, and notifications buzzing every few minutes. But myths get busted sometimes and now it’s one of those times!
Returning to office after Covid era and two years of working from home can pose a real challenge for many employees and companies. Everybody has experienced the pandemic in their own way, so people have different attitudes towards their working space. While younger employees are the most excited about this change, more experienced professionals, who need less supervision, tend to be more reluctant.
Have you noticed that working in the midst of chaos and clutter makes it hard to perform at your best? That’s because the brain craves order. When you’re organized, it’s easier to think clearly, process information, and focus on the task at hand. Yet, the mind is also prone to chaotic, jumbled thoughts that cause you to ruminate in a continuous inner loop. When you’re in this pattern of overthinking, it can feel almost impossible to concentrate on anything else. That’s where the brain dump strategy comes in.
Hot desking has become increasingly popular with the rise of hybrid work. The term originally referred to a company setup where employees could sit at any desk in the office to work, rather than having an assigned seat. The concept has since been applied to other aspects of office technology, including the communications systems.
The moment your feet touch the floor each morning, you begin to set the tone for your entire day. So it’s worth asking yourself: Does my morning routine fuel productivity? Or does it just prime my brain for distraction and procrastination? Do I start the morning with intentional practices that energize and motivate me? Or do I scroll mindlessly on social media and create unnecessary anxiety?
Remote work revolutionized the way people look at their work-life balance and put the spotlight on the unnecessary stress and costs involved with commuting and working on-site. Unringing the bell simply isn’t possible and businesses are left to figure out how to best handle this on a long-term basis. And this is how organizations have come up with a hybrid work strategy.
Mental health and anxiety have become a consistent topic of conversation at work. Many business leaders now recognize the need to prioritize psychological and emotional wellness. However, there are some employees who think their companies have not done enough to create a positive culture where mental health is taken seriously. Looking beyond this debate, what truly matters at the end of the day is awareness and action. Because mental health influences both our personal and professional lives.
As the winter snow melts away and the days get longer, many people feel like they’re waking up from hibernation. Now that the bees are humming and the flowers are blooming, it is time to look ahead to warmer, brighter times. Use this transition period to evaluate your current productivity levels and make changes to your workflow. Spring is a time for setting priorities and committing to growth throughout the year.
If the stress of these last couple of years has thrown your sleeping habits out of whack, you’re not alone. Research published in The Lancet Neurology Journal found that sleep disturbance and insomnia rates have increased all over the world since the start of this global pandemic.
