What can you do when you’ve run out of steam mid-week but still have a hefty to-do list to trawl through? Your energy levels are critical when it comes to completing complex tasks well and working productively, so knowing how to manage your get-up-and-go is really important.  If you’ve hit a slump make sure you swot up on these simple tips to help lift your day….

Restart

It’s impossible to work at a high intensity all of the time, so when you’ve hit a wall but still need to get critical work done properly it’s important to know how to incorporate rest and recovery into your schedule so that you can work at a productive level again.  To give your productivity a mid-week boost follow these simple steps to reinvigorate your day quickly and easily….

1. Get up and away from your desk – a walk to the coffee machine or bathroom can quickly reset your mind and get you back on track
2. Reply to your emails – spend a few minutes getting on top of the inbox that’s stressing you out and free up some thinking space
3. Brain dump – mindmap all the things that are occupying your mind to enhance your attentional capacity
4. Stop for lunch – working all day without a break has been scientifically proven to ruin productivity – stop, go out, eat
5. Get clear – write down your objectives for the day and plan your time around them to have a greater sense of control
6. Drink more – water that is.  Research shows that dehydration causes energy loss, so if you’re talking a lot you need to rehydrate
7. Crank it up – pop your earphones in, turn up the volume and listen to your favorite, most uplifting song
8. Do something important – now.  The rush you’ll get from smashing through a key task will give you a quick, welcome boost
9. Phone a friend – call someone who’s good at making your laugh or feeding your mind with a good dose of positivity
10. Work out – duck out to the gym or take a walk around the block – movement equals energy so whatever you put in is what you can take out

Research shows that we work best in 90 minute intervals before we get tired and our attention wanes.  So if you schedule your day intentionally around these intervals you can set yourself up for success from the very start, incorporating any of the tips above as breaks in-between your work sessions.  With prior planning, it’s easy to avoid those mid-week slumps, and instead power through your day in a productive and highly satisfying way.