Jayne Whyte's Portfolio

How are you?

A lot of the time, when we are asked, “How are you?” the response we give is “, I am fine”. The truth is we don’t want to bother the other person (s) with the challenges we are experiencing, or we are afraid to share, or we don’t want to be vulnerable with another person. If you really want to know more about the other person, you can ask a follow-up question like “How are you thriving in the midst of the economic situation or the weather?”

This month, I have had all sorts of emotions running through me because of leaving a familiar environment (job), and it is the beginning of a new year, starting a short course and meeting my obligations as a mum to teens. Amid all these, I have found myself taking several steps to unwind, breathe, and just live, which has been helpful.

January was one of those months where you just want to survive and are not confident about making tangible plans. This month, I found it hard to make annual plans, but I did make small plans and wrote down my weekly goals. There are some situations you may be experiencing challenges that will require you to step back from planning for the long term. It is okay to step back. Don’t feel disappointed.

Following a slow January, the challenge for February will focus on increasing productivity.

Five Simple Ways to Be More Productive Every Day

Tip one: Prepare for a new day the night before, and you can do it with your Smart Life Planner. Usually, my planner is the last thing I look at at night and the first thing I look at in the morning after my meditation. You can spend a few minutes each night organizing your to–do list for tomorrow. As an analyst, I could outline the data I’m going to analyse the next day and develop a short list of the most important items for me to accomplish. It could take 10 minutes that night and save 3 hours the next day.

Tip two: Develop a ‘routine’ to start your day.

My morning routine starts with drinking a glass of water, preferably lemon and ginger-flavoured water, and then with ten minutes of meditation. Similarly, you should have a sequence that starts your morning ritual. This tiny routine signals to your brain that it’s time to get into work mode, exercise mode, or whatever mode you need to be in to accomplish your task. Additionally, a routine helps you overcome a lack of motivation and get things done even when you don’t feel like it.

Tip three: Manage your energy, not your time.

If you take a moment to think about it, you’ll probably realize that you are better at doing certain tasks at certain times. What type of energy do you have in the morning? Afternoon? Evening? My energy level in the morning is amazing! I get to work very early in the mornings and do the most important things on my to-do list before my colleagues get in, so I am not distracted. Determine what tasks each energy level and time of day are best suited for.

Tip 4: Turn your phone off and leave it in another room.

When you need to deliver and have deadlines, do the following: turn your phone off or put it on silent and leave it in another room or inside a drawer. Just put it somewhere that is out of sight. This reduces the urge to check text messages, Facebook, Twitter, and so on. This simple strategy eliminates the likelihood of slipping into half-work, where you waste time dividing your attention among meaningless tasks.

Tip 5: Work in a comfortable environment.

For instance, room temperature or the type of chair you sit on can affect productivity. Comfortable room temperature can help focus your mind and body. A good chair that allows you to sit up straight and breathe easier and more fully will help your brain get more oxygen, and you’ll be able to concentrate better and spend longer at work.

I wish you a fulfilling month of February.

Cheers!