No achievement is possible without hard work. Idling and sitting around while waiting for an opportunity to come is foolishness. Success has no shortcuts, but the tenacity to work hard, complimented with the desire to accomplish goals, makes the probability of success more significant. Hard work is the only thing that will push you beyond and above the ordinary.
Today’s successful people have gone through countless sacrifices just to get to where they are— sleepless nights, early mornings, and long nonstop work. Hard work becomes a badge of honor since the hustle culture has promoted the idea that only those who go full force can muscle their way to success.
Some reach successes quicker than others, but one thing is for sure, it does not happen in a blink of an eye. The common starting point of successful people is working about 80 hours a week or more. Almost 12 hours of work a day is definitely not a joke, there’s a dark side to working that long.
Being a workhorse makes a person more susceptible to burnout. No matter how passionate you are about the work you do, working without ceasing can put you in a flameout spiral. You are likely to work slower and less productive once you get exhausted, anxious, and stressed.
Predicting burnout is out of the question. It’s hard to see it coming since it creeps up gradually as you work your muscles to emotional and physical to enervation. Good news! There is actually a way to work hard without actually compromising good health and performance. Work smarter.
Entrepreneurs from around the globe share some of their strategies to achieve higher without burning out. Let’s kick off these 5 simple ways to work harder and smarter!
Note down your thoughts to your phone or on a piece of paper
Entrepreneurs or even ordinary workers tend to get piled up with workloads. Perhaps, you have experienced having a lot on your plate that calls for attention in one single day.
Maybe you have to take care of your kids, go shopping for groceries, finish a project, meet a colleague to meet another deadline, clean the house, and then study something for the next day, all while trying to keep a healthy social life and relationship with your partner.
Sometimes, there are so many things to do that it gets overwhelming, and it just gets into your heads, causing you to feel frustrated. You are not alone. Many are battling against such fights. However, overcoming frustration brought by too much workload is way easier to alleviate than what you think.
Start taking down notes of all your tasks, prioritize those that need more attention, and make deadlines on when you will accomplish them. Listing your tasks will give you a sense of priority and carry off stressful thoughts that weigh your mind.
Take short breaks
Engaging yourself with a repetitive task or sitting in only one position for a long time can carry weight in your body and mental focus. Workplace-centered studies have shown that taking short breaks is essential for the productivity of employees.
With physical or mental exhaustion, slip-ups can be easily made. This could put workers in a serious safety hazard, especially in precarious working environments.
If you would come to think of it, even computers and high-end machines need to stay still for a while. If such lifeless equipment needs rest, so do you. By taking short breaks, you will be able to take your time stretching tired muscles and finding relief from sustained posture and position.
When the amount of work becomes too devastating for you to handle, a short break can help you refresh your mind, gain mental focus, and increase productivity.
Use standing desks
If you’ve seen your co-workers knock out their reports at their standing desks, they are probably practicing a smarter way of working. If you haven’t heard, sitting for a long time is linked to several health problems, including obesity, heart disease, as well as back and neck pain. Even people who regularly exercise can sustain health risks if they spend too much time sitting.
Every standing desk conforms to one basic idea— they allow you to do your task while you stand. Since you will be using muscle to engage with work, you will feel less tired, minimizing the need for breaks. According to a study conducted with call center employees, workers who use standing desks are 45% more productive compared to employees who sit during their shift. Hence, getting yourself a standing desk could boost your productivity levels.
One crazy option alternative to standing desks is the use of treadmills desks. Once exercising while working becomes your daily habit, it can benefit you by preventing progress and development of diseases and assist in boosting your mood and energy levels, making you more efficient.
If you are living a desk-bound life that takes a toll on your mind and body, you can consider using a treadmill desk. From weight loss to mental stability, making yourself move all day is effective in maintaining vibrant health.
Exercise
Studies show that exercising does improve not only well-being but also time management and workload accomplishment. It doesn’t just make us healthy but also boosts productivity in all areas of our life.
Exercise is a pivotal key in avoiding burnout since it has proven to combat fatigue, reduce stress, and promote better performance. It is a natural stress reducer that fights chronic stress caused by a nerve-racking environment.
You might find it pretty hard to fit exercise into your hectic schedule but doing so is necessary since getting yourself some workout actually sharpens mental acuity. Exercise feeds up the brain, so you will be able to perform at full capacity without burning out. You will be able to concentrate more and make smarter decisions.
Plan your days
Just like the first way presented, planning your days can help in eliminating heavyweights on your head. If there’s so much activity going on with your mind, you might forget things that need utmost attention.
No matter how big or small your tasks are, make sure to create a strategic plan to accomplish them smoothly. You can use Google Calendar or other planning tools to map out how your day should go hour-by-hour.
