How do you recharge?

After 30 minutes or when you are ready (don’t set a timer so if you are in a work flow you are not interrupted by the timer) move on to the first thing that you can fully complete on the list. I cannot make my bed in the morning for instance because my husband is still sleeping in it by the time I leave for work, but I can finish drying the laundry and wash the dishes. Know what works for your family and completing a task will set yourself up for success the rest of the day.

If you need to take a break. Do a few stretches at your desk (if you are already at work) or in your kitchen if you are working on the morning breakfast. I personally like push ups from one of the office chairs. It is super easy to do I can get out of my normal zone and I don’t have to change or anything and I can’t do a regular push up so it makes me feel better about life. Move around for 5 minutes and clear your head thinking of the next task that you want to accomplish.

• Start in on the second task. Work hard for the first 30 minutes. Emails are my vice so when I get into work I dive into emails and clear out all the junk emails first thing. I can go from 30 emails down to 10 in a matter of minutes. I don’t respond to the other 10 right away just create a cleaner work space for you to operate

• Then get some water. Use this time as a mental break. Get up refuel (maybe breakfast wasn’t that healthy, use this time to jump start your day again. The cool water will wake you up and allow your brain to again refocus and pause from the tasks you have already completed this morning.

• Then hop on your 3rd task this may be different each day but work on tidying up your work space or if you have a big project getting what you need to prepared for it. Make areas work friendly. You may have enough energy to hop on to the 4th task without a break. Do so if that is you.

For times where you are away for longer periods of the office and you need to recharge make sure you do so properly. 

• If at all possible do NOT check your work emails while on vacation or away.
• Limit time on your phones, tablets, and devices.
• Read a book (a literal book you have to hold) a magazine
• Take a project and work on it.
• Listen I mean really listen. Listen to your breathe, your brain, and your inner voice. What do you need from yourself to be the best you possible? Once you have something in mind put in place action steps to make it happen. 

• Watch in silence. The world is always speaking to us and we so often are the ones who do not listen. Watch the world wake up. See the sunrise at least once a year and reset your brain to make things happen. 

Some of my most memorable times is working on a project I have wanted to do for months or years in the early morning with my mom at the kitchen table while on vacation. We always take a fun project with us that we can work on. This allows us to complete something we have wanted to but not given time and gets our brain out of our normal day to day rhythm.

Author: Elizabeth Kilby