Make Time your Partner, Not your Opponent

Time is the most precious resource we have as human beings.  When it comes to your job, time management is definitely something you need to master sooner rather than later to avoid being swamped. There are a few key tips to keep in mind when managing your time during work.

Always be a good listener. It’s critical to listen to your colleagues in order to learn, receive some advice, or come up with new ideas. Often times this helps get tasks done faster.

Deadlines are also very important, so the more successful employees tend to be more organized and productive by keeping track of time. Planning ahead is a tactic that is needed in order to meet deadlines and will benefit you in the sense of keeping your day on track.

In today’s society, technology and social media are becoming large aspects in the business world. Technology should be used as a resource, but a lot of times it can be a distraction. It’s vital to be in control of technology so it doesn’t control you and affect your work ethics. Take initiative and handle these circumstances and diversions that are best for you.

Another tip is knowing your limit, so never bite off more than you can chew because in the long run that will end up slowing you down.  Going back to planning out your work day; it’s a clever idea to set a time for yourself that you want to work until and a time you don’t want to work past. By choosing a time to leave work by will help you be more proficient during the day, as well as keeping up with plans outside of work. 

The real and utmost trick to time management is organization. Being organized helps you stay at the top of your game, so go ahead and make a to-do list and organize your information. You will find yourself moving at a faster pace and work will seem that much easier with a little bit of organization skills.

Manage your time; don’t let it get ahead of you.

Please contact Connor | Caitlin at www.connorcaitlin.com for more information. 

Why it’s Okay to Have an Off Day

Let’s get real. Everyone has off days. Sometimes it’s the weather, sometimes it’s morning traffic, and sometimes you just can’t find your motivation. In case no one else has told you this, I will: it’s okay.

Today is an off day for me. I have not accomplished nearly as much as I would like to. I have not been proactive in asking for tasks or seeing if I could help anyone with what they’re working on. However, I am still writing a blog and I did accomplish what was asked of me. Still, today is an off day.

It’s okay to have off days because you cannot give 100 percent all the time. You can try, but you will fail and you will just disappoint yourself. This is not to say that it is okay to give 50 percent all the time, just to say that you do not need to beat yourself up over a crappy day.

Today could have been better and maybe it should have been, but because today was like it was I know tomorrow will be better. I let myself have an off day because if I had tried to force myself into an exceptional day I would have produced mediocre work that I would have to fix tomorrow. I stayed on top of all my required tasks and made sure I did not fall behind. I did not get ahead either, but that’s okay.

Everyone has off days. It’s okay to let yourself have one and not feel guilty. No one is perfect and your bosses do not expect you to be either. Give 100 percent as much as you can, go above and beyond when you need to, and give yourself a break when you need it. Ultimately being honest with yourself about your capabilities each day is going to lead to long-term higher productivity. So really, it is okay to have an off day!

Contact Connor | Caitlin with your questions about workplace productivity!   

info@connorcaitlin.com 

Beating Procrastination

We’ve all procrastinated. When you’re feeling tired or bogged down by your work, it seems so tempting to put off your responsibilities until later, hoping they will get easier. However, this is never the case, you just end up giving yourself less time to complete your work. This causes your work to be sloppy and you end up feeling more stressed out because of the limited amount of time you have to complete it.

To beat procrastination try to start off doing the easy work first. It is easier to start and it will give you enough momentum to start your more difficult tasks. Often, the hardest part about doing your work is simply starting it, so once you complete an easy task, your brain will be warmed up for the next one.

Try breaking your work into smaller pieces if you are feeling overwhelmed by a large project. This will make it seem much more manageable, making it easier to start. Also try to remember why you are doing your work. If you remember you’re doing it to make money for your family, to advance in your career, or to put yourself through school it will be much easier to get the work done.

If you have any questions, please contact Connor | Caitlin Talent Solutions.

Beyond the 3pm slump.

Wondering why you’re so tired at work all the time? There are many different causes as to why you might be struggling to stay awake, yet the solutions to them are actually quite simple. The most common reason would be poor sleeping habits or just lack of sleep. If you can’t seem to fall asleep earlier, try setting an alarm telling you to unwind and start getting ready for bed.

Other than the obvious reason, your personal diet and exercise routine could be affecting your sleeping habits. You might think that drinking coffee or eating some sweets throughout the day will keep you awake, but all that’ll do is give you energy for a short amount of time before you crash.  Normally you would consider exercising an activity that would just wear you out more, however studies show that working out when you’re tired will help you regain your energy.

A thought that wouldn’t normally cross one’s mind is dehydration. Instead of attempting to get through your workday with coffee, drink those suggested 8 glasses of water.

Do you happen to be a perfectionist? Well if you are that could be another not so obvious cause as to why you’re tired. This is because perfectionists are constantly setting goals for themselves that cannot always be met in the time they prefer or even at all. On the contrary, if you are a disorganized individual you might want to rethink your work-space. Having a cluttered desk is normally less than productive, but it’s especially a problem because it can make you feel mentally exhausted. If you are one of these individuals, start keeping a neater work-space by organizing your files in folders for example.

Finally, I’m sure almost everyone is familiar with the expression “breakfast is the most important meal of the day”. This is true because if you skip breakfast your body will try to conserve the energy that it didn’t get from its morning fuel, leaving you feeling tired all day. Start your day a little earlier next time in order to prepare a healthy breakfast to kick start your day. Hopefully these suggestions will stop you from dozing off at work next time.

Please contact Connor | Caitlin Talent Solutions at www.connorcaitlin.com for more suggestions on how to have a more productive work day.