Have you ever wondered how to get more out of your day while making your day less draining? We’ve hear sayings like “Success is a habit” or “We first make our habits. Then, our habits make us.” What does this mean for our success in life?
As I mentioned last week, we have a finite amount of willpower at a given time, and like a take of gas, it too needs to be refilled to keep the engine running. By creating winning habits around daily tasks, you can reduce the amount of willpower exerted. For example: by having a morning routine, you brain already knows what’s next, so getting out of bed and getting your day started on the right track can become a habit rather than waking up and asking yourself, “Now what?”
This is extremely important when looking at your next actions for the projects at hand. Deciding the night prior, or the end of your workday, what the most significant tasks are for the next day will significantly reduce the amount of time spend making decisions during about what to do and leave you the mental resources to stay focused at the tasks outlined.
The biggest intruders on good work habits are the constant interruptions of emails and notifications that break focus. The habit to check these notifications, even with a glance at your phone to silence them, can use exorbitant amounts of willpower/focus, leaving you drained. By turning off your notifications and dedicating specific times when you handle emails, check social media, and listen to voice messages, you allow your habit of focus to grow stronger and decrees the amount of wasted time. All this will leave you feeling less drained by the end of the day.
