At the start of the year, and the start of every week…as entrepreneurs, we are always asking the critical question: “How can I do my best this week?” Whether you’re working solo or part of a global organization, the question of personal productivity is always top of mind. It doesn’t go away.
Yes, you can make a master plan at the start of the year. Yes, you can make a chart of your top priorities. But it often comes down to knowing what works best for you. If you’ve been working harder but not getting the results you’d like, perhaps it’s time to do a bit of investigating. There could be a better way to maximize your performance.
What Can You Outsource?
According to business productivity experts, one of the first things to do is to look at what you can outsource. This is the fun part. It means you’ll be getting things off your plate, off your calendar, and of your mind. Think about the stuff that is cutting into your time, energy, and resources.
If your company is expanding into international markets, you’re already aware of some of the profound benefits—and massive hurdles to overcome. That’s why one of the smartest and first moves is to get some of the nitty-gritty details off your plate. Investigate global payroll solutions to help you manage payroll, taxes, regulations, and local requirements.
As every country has unique and changing regulations, outsourcing payroll is one of the first ways to improve your performance at work. It’s not only that you’re outsourcing all the paperwork. Think of it as outsourcing your worry. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?
What Can You Stop Doing?
As you move ahead, the next thing to look at is what you’re doing that isn’t providing value. Every leader and professional will have a unique answer to this question. But for many professionals, the answer is immediate and clear.
- Can you stop worrying?
- Can you stop checking your email?
- Can you stop scrolling social media?
- Can you stop checking for client responses?
- Can you stop spending family time on work issues?
It may be that your list is different. That’s also good. What’s on your list of things that you’d like to reduce or stop doing? If “stop” is too big a word, consider reducing, refining, or resetting. You may not want to stop fully. Even a small reduction of time spent doing low-value activities can help you be more productive and effective at work.
What Can You Start Doing?
According to medical experts, business professionals can derive immense benefits from relaxing. It may seem unusual to think about starting to relax. Yet, research confirms the importance of relaxation for peak performance.
Relaxation helps keep stress in check. This enables you to be more creative, energetic, and resourceful in your approaches. If you’re relaxed, you’ll feel better—and you’ll approach problems with more agility.
Relaxation has been shown to help you feel happier, have better concentration, and even better memory. This can improve your relationships at work and home. Your communication is likely to be better if you’re feeling more relaxed. Relaxation can improve heart health, and make you less prone to heart attacks.
How Can You Master Stress Reduction?
As profound as relaxation is, we oddly didn’t learn how to do it in school or at home. If you haven’t been focusing on relaxation skills, don’t despair. It is entirely possible to learn how to relax and experience having less stress.
It may not happen immediately, but with steady and gradual practice, you can learn new strategies. Health experts advise learning to do things that you can incorporate into your daily life at work and home. This may include a variety of options such as:
- Mindfulness practices
- Exercises for calm breathing
- Practicing yoga stretches
- Learning Pilates
- Practicing Tai Chi
There is not one single right way to master stress relaxation. It may be useful to think of this as a time to experiment and explore. As you do this, you’ll find some techniques and tactics appeal to you more than others.
How Can You Personalize Your Approach?
While looking at your approach to productivity, give yourself plenty of room to personalize your approach. You might like to start your day with a breathing meditation. You may prefer to take short breaks during the workday. To get the best results, make mastering stress a top priority. It will help you unlock insights, start healthy practices, and inspire your team.
