1. Don't read emails. Just Listen!
If your job is anything like mine, a large chunk of your day is probably spent reading and responding to emails. It is exhausting! It is my least favorite part of the work day, but I found a simple hack to make it more enjoyable!
Here’s what I do:
I no longer read emails. I just listen to them! Yup, that’s right. You can actually have Siri or Google read your emails to you. It surprisingly sounds pretty good too.
Here’s how to do it:
- Highlight the text in the email you want to read.
- Right click on the highlighted text
- Hover over “speech” and click “start speaking”
- Now just sit back and listen while a slightly robotic-sounding voice reads your email to you
I used to dread reading those page-long emails that show up in my inbox, but now I just close my eyes and listen. This hack has saved me a lot of time and made the worst part of my job so much easier.
Tip: Listening to your own email responses is a great way to proofread too.
You can also use this method to listen to online articles and blog posts. Just follow the steps above on any website and browser.
2. Take a break and get outside
Find time to get away from your computer and take some time for yourself during the workday. Even if it’s just a 10 minute walk down the street, you will feel refreshed and more productive when you get back. Looking back on a hectic day, you will feel good knowing you did something to make yourself happy.
Don’t limit yourself to one break either! Take three separate, 10 minute walks throughout the day if you can. These short walks add up to the length of a short lunch break and it will give you something to look forward to between tasks and meetings.
3. Decorate your workspace and make it your happy place
Adding plants to your workspace has been proven to reduce stress and increase productivity. It can also make your home office feel cozy. If you’re spending 40 hours per week at a desk, you want to enjoy the way it looks.
Image courtesy of Pinterest
Set up your workspace with photos of people and places that make you happy. If you don’t enjoy working at a desk, display photos that remind you of the reasons why you work.
Where you sit can actually impact your productivity. Sitting near windows gives you more natural sunlight which can increase your mood and wellbeing.
Sometimes I play beautiful 4k drone Youtube videos on my TV while I’m working from home. These videos do not distract me from my work and it’s nice being able to see amazing views from around the world when I look up from my laptop. It almost feels like I’m exploring the world and sightseeing while I work.
Here is one of my favorites:
4. Set a weekly tradition so you have something to look forward to
Find a mid-week activity or tradition that splits up the week. This will give you something to look forward to when the week starts. It could be something simple like going out to lunch with coworkers or ordering from your favorite takeout spot. Or maybe after work you go bowling or get a massage.
5. Find passion in your work. Delegate the rest.
If you truly enjoy what you do for work it won’t feel like work. Take a step back and see if you actually enjoy your job. Then identify what you enjoy the most about it and what you are good at. Focus your time on these things and delegate or outsource all other work. This will make you happier and more effective at your job.
