For some people hump day can be the most difficult day of the week. You are halfway done, but you still have half way to go.
You want to relax, but the weekend is just quite far yet. In some scenarios, you already feel tired. Of course, you can’t stop now. Slowing down would mean additional chunks of work that has to be finished by the end of the week. The last thing you want is to be left with unfinished work on a Friday. Here are some tips on how you can beat the hump day and boost your productivity:
1. Restart by refocusing on things you need to accomplish
A restart is often times the best move in order to stay energized and productive throughout the remaining days of the week. Give yourself enough time to breathe and savor the tasks that you have accomplished so far. This way, you will feel re-energized in taking the remaining tasks ahead.
It is a good idea to develop a routine which can help energize your mornings. This way, you go to the office inspired to work during Wednesdays. You can check this routine that could potentially help you energize your mornings.
2. Plan your off-work activities well
Life outside work can sometimes get the best of us. There are other things aside from work that can also drain our energy. Socializing with friends can sometimes be taxing especially if you end up drinking late at night on a week day. Also, there are matters at home that can be just as stressful, if not worse. What you have to do is to plan your off-work activities well. This helps in conserving energy.
By having a schedule, you avoid spontaneous activities that could get you too drained to function at work the following day.
Other than socializing, you also want to include in your schedule when to go to bed. Make sure that you have a sufficient number of hours to recover in order to have the necessary energy in the morning.
3. Reward yourself
There are times when you have to appreciate the work that you’ve done so far. A reward can keep you happy to move forward. In fact, it gives you a reason to accomplish more tasks. But unlike treats during the weekend, hump day rewards shouldn’t be too big. It shouldn’t be a massage wherein you become too relaxed afterwards. A nice lunch perhaps makes a great reward.
4. Regulate the number of hours you work
Do you spend 10 hours or more on a Monday and Tuesday, while working 3 hours on a Wednesday? This shouldn’t be the case. If you want to still feel energized during Wednesdays, it is a good idea to manage the amount of time that you spend at the office.
It is important to distribute the number of hours evenly. And why should you do this? Although you are spending more than 8 hours at work on Mondays and Tuesdays, there’s a possibility that you are no longer as productive on the latter hours of your shift. Feeling tired, you simply push yourself to work, even dealing with the possibility that you could actually make a mistake at work.
If you plan on working extra hours, you might as well distribute these hours throughout the entire week. Also, keep in mind that an 8 hour working shift was mandated for a reason. It aims to keep our focus at work.
5. Finish the hardest tasks first
The most satisfying thing to cross out on your to-do lists are the hardest tasks. If it is possible to pick which tasks to tackle first, it is a good idea that you choose to finish the hardest tasks first, at the beginning of your work week. This way, easier tasks will be left during the middle of the week or at the end of the week. This allows you to have an easier time during hump days.
6. Find a hobby after work
It is a common scenario to have a difficult time focusing when your mind is already exhausted. Doing the same things over and over again can sometimes leave you mentally exhausted. You’ll be surprised to notice that you are already working slower, and missing out on a lot of important details.
One great way to minimize the chances of mental exhaustion is by having your own hobby. Adding a hobby to your after work routine can help you clear your mind and get rid of stress.
7. Build healthy work relationships
One of the things that make it stressful at work is a poor working relationship with your colleagues. Human interaction involves a lot of effort for a lot of individuals. In fact, this could be the reason why more and more people opt to work at home. Now, could you imagine dealing with other people you don’t get along with on a daily basis?
This is why some companies try their best to create a culture that is beneficial for all employees. But of course, you need to do your part in order to have a healthy relationship within the workplace. By being patient and implementing appropriate communication strategies, it is possible to build a healthy work relationship with your colleagues.
8. Re-evaluate your work
Are you actually doing what you love to do? If you just took a job simply because you needed to pay the bills, you can expect to feel tired easily. Unfortunately, it is a reality for a lot of us to work on full time jobs that we are not really happy with. Keep in mind that mind conditioning can only do so much.
What you can do is to re-evaluate your skills, work and your passion. Finding work that aligns with your skills and passion gives you the chance to enjoy the things that you are doing.
Conclusion
Consistency is always a major concern to any workplace. Regardless of the day, it is important that you are able to perform well. But of course, it is normal to get tired and feel stressed, especially if you try to start your week right by working extra hard.
It is only normal to already feel tired during the third day of the week. To beat the hump day blues, it is important to try different methods on how you can energize yourself. If you can’t re-energize yourself, might as well manage your energy well.
Do you use any other methods on how to beat the hump day and increase your work productivity? Feel free to leave a comment below!