It’s easy to be motivated and productive on days when you have tons of energy, but what about when you’re exhausted and can’t imagine working for more than 5 minutes at a time? This is when you just need to rethink your schedule and make minor adjustments that allow you to be productive, without struggling even more with your fatigue.
Spend Some Time Outdoors
People often forget that they can boost their energy naturally just by stepping foot outside. Do you ever notice that you get a burst of energy when you are in the sunshine? This is thanks to the vitamin D you get from the sun’s UV rays. Just a few minutes outside can recharge your batteries and make you feel like you have a bit more energy to get things done.
Prioritize What Needs to Be Done (And What Can Wait)
On days when you are overly tired, don’t try to keep up the same momentum you have on days with loads of energy. Instead, take some time to prioritize what tasks absolutely need to be done, and which can be saved for later. This is when it is okay to let some things go as long as they don’t have a strict deadline. Those little tasks you like to get done, but aren’t actually mandatory to be done each and every day.
Stretch and Move Your Body
The more you move your body when you’re tired, the more energy you will get. It might seem like the opposite would be true, but stretching and getting regular activities is a wonderful way to wake yourself up a little and get going with your work. It doesn’t need to be an hour-long yoga session either. Spend about 10 minutes a few times a day getting some good stretches in or going for a walk, and it will do wonders on your most tired of days.
Work in Shorter Blocks of Time
Instead of trying to work in 2-3 hour blocks, choose just 20-30 minutes to work, before taking a short break. Working for hours at a time can seem daunting even on a good day, but pretty miserable when you’re exhausted. You don’t have to work 3 hours straight just to be productive. For every 20-25 minutes you work, give yourself a 5-minute break just to rest and recharge.
Reduce Unnecessary Distractions
Distractions can be even harder on your focus when you’re exhausted, so try to keep them to a minimum on these days with less energy. Turn your phone off, stop checking your email, and leave your office door closed so you can focus on your own work.
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