10:11am
Olympic athletes don’t get into tip-top shape by waiting around–or sleeping in. Rather, they get up at the crack of down so they can be as productive as possible. Applying this habit to your routine gives you more control over the rest of your day; as opposed to needlessly burning energy by rushing when running late. Athletes have more energy and motivation to get into the right mindset for their work-out by waking up early. We can better focus on the day ahead by exercising this habit too. Giving our brains more time to organize the tasks of the day increases productivity, thus contributing to improved workplace performance.
While everyone occasionally needs a caffeine pick-me-up in the morning, Olympic athletes know there is a much better kind of rejuvenation. Caffeine in small amounts is okay in coffee or tea, but water should be your go-to beverage. Everyone knows how important water is, but athletes understand how necessary water is to achieve peak performance. Dehydration causes your body to become slow and your mind to become less focused. Once you are properly hydrated, you will not only be more awake and less hungry, you will be able to fully focus on working toward your maximum potential throughout the day in the office.
For sports and the office, staying focused is critical for success. However, nowadays it is hard to remain focused when we constantly receive emails, alerts from social media, and text messages. The impact of distraction is more evident when research shows that humans can’t focus on multiple things at once. To perform better, it is important to find or make time in which you have few or no distractions. Try setting aside an hour of distraction-free work in order to focus on your most important projects and tasks. Another idea is to take smaller breaks so you can push yourself more when you are focused. Think of the breaks as sprints for your mind and attitude. Just as Olympians make time to stretch before working out, you’ll feel better after making time to do specific things like check emails or make calls before diving into work.
Olympic athletes recognize that they can’t achieve the big goal if they don’t gradually work up to it first. Similarly, long to-do lists are too overwhelming in the office environment. Break up your day or week by setting small important tasks or goals that you know you have to get accomplished. Scratching off tasks on a smaller list builds momentum and helps you feel more efficient each day. While the little chunks don’t seem like a lot at the time, they eventually add up along the way. It’s like earning compound interest for your body and mind. Before you know, those small daily improvements amplify your life, giving you more time to do what you love.