1. The Rooster – by that, I mean set an alarm for the same time every day. And when that alarm goes off, get up even if that means literally rolling onto the floor! You have to avoid sleeping in or else you break the schedule for the whole day — thus affecting your overall productivity.
2. The List – every night before you go to bed, make a list of the things you want to accomplish the following day. Once you’re ready to begin work that next morning, read that list and prioritize and then just start banging it out!
3. The Blinders – one of my ex-boyfriends went to a strict Catholic elementary school. He was easily distracted so the nuns made him wear makeshift blinders – you know, like what racehorses wear – only his was made out of duct tape and cardboard. Poor guy; so much for sitting at the cool kids’ table at lunch. BUT you need to find a way to make your own mental blinders and focus on what you’re doing in the moment. For example, if you’re working on task #3 on your list and that’s to send a press release out by five pm, don’t decide to skip ahead and complete task #4 until you’re done. BLINDERS people!
4. The Breakroom – you’ve got to let yourself breathe. In an office setting, you have constant interaction with co-workers and that helps to free your mind for a few moments before shifting your focus back to work. So each time you complete a task, get up and reward yourself with something small – whether its a visit to Facebook (come on, we’re all addicted), a phone call to a friend, a shot of tequila — that’s a joke. Please do not take it literal — or a five minute break outside, but whatever you do, keep the break short and then get back to work.
5. The Spot – set a space aside where you do nothing but work. One of my college professors told me not to ever write papers or read textbooks in a place that I associated with relaxing. This could explain why I used to always fall asleep on the couch with a Biology book on my lap. So find a place that works for you and go to that same spot every day. It’s amazing how your mind will learn to associate that place with work and you will kick into action-mode as soon as you arrive at your “office.”
PS I still can’t read a biology book without falling asleep. Guess you can’t win ‘em all!