by Donna Vestre

Created on: December 29, 2006   Last Updated: April 15, 2007

1 - Organize & Prioritize:
It's wise to arrange your schedule in a priority order. Getting the most difficult and time consuming projects out of the way first will greatly reduce the stress level we often experience at the end of our day. Take a few minutes at the end of your day to prepare your agenda for the following day, a daily planner is a great organizational tool for tasks such as this. After you prepare your agenda, take a moment to organize your desk and put things in order. Nobody wants to start their day walking into a mess.

2 - Set Realistic Goals:
When setting goals be certain they are realistic and you can accomplish the goals within a realistic time-frame. If you find you have time to spare at the conclusion of your project, offer a little more than the recipient expected. This is always a win.. win situation! You come out smelling like a rose when you deliver more than originally promised.

3 - Focus On The Whole Picture:
Often times we prepare an agenda or to do list, and neglect to schedule time to return important calls or e-mails. Communication is essential in today's world of business, be certain to schedule a time period during each day to return calls and answer your e-mails.

4 - Health & Nutrition:
Get an ample amount of sleep, eat healthy, snack healthy, and exercise! If you have to get up a few minutes earlier to make sure you have time for breakfast, then do it. It's a proven fact that eating breakfast results in better productivity. I don't mean grab a donut and a cup of joe on the way to work. It takes about two minutes to zap a package of instant oatmeal in the microwave (less time than stopping in the local donut shop on your way to work). Add a piece of fruit and a glass of juice to your breakfast and you'll be energized and ready to start your day.

5 - Eliminate Stress:
Do you feel overwhelmed at work? Unrealistic deadlines, unbearable co-workers or boss, do you feel stressed because of a combination of responsibilities at work and at home? Identifying what stresses you out is half the battle in eliminating the problem. If you experience consistent difficulty with a co-worker, or your boss, document it each time a problem occurs. Address the situation with the appropriate person. I once had a boss that constantly looked over my shoulder. I requested a meeting with my boss and discussed my work history and accomplishments with him. I explained that I was concerned that the constant interruptions were going to affect my productivity.

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