With 2016 coming to a close, it’s time to make our list of New Year’s resolutions. For many of us, our goals include eating healthier, saving more money, or traveling. Why not add increasing productivity at work to your list?
Here are five resolutions to set yourself up for a successful and productive 2017:
1. Wake Up Early
The early bird gets the worm, but the reality is that many of us hit snooze more than we’d like to admit. Successful people know the advantages of waking up early. They kick off their mornings with routines that create a positive vibe for the rest of the day. Instead of enjoying another 10 minutes in bed, start your day with a solid workout or a meditation session for clarity and inspiration. Or, pour yourself a cup of coffee and outline your goals for the day. This often results in better focus and increased productivity. And believe it or not, if you wake up just one hour earlier each morning, you will gain 15 extra days in a year. Just imagine how much more you could get done.
2. Get More Sleep
For many of us, sticking to this resolution is challenging. Hectic schedules—and the countless hours spent on screens before sleep—can greatly impact how much we rest each night. To boost productivity, sleep needs to be a priority. As noted by Health.com, a good night’s sleep benefits the heart, mind, and body, while also enhancing focus and attention span.
Economists have also realized a great night’s sleep is a critical part of the productivity equation. A study by two economists found that sleep has a definite effect on productivity, which in turn might affect worker wages. In fact, just one extra hour of sleep a week raised short-run wages by 1.5% and long-run wages by 4.9% because of raises and tips for higher productivity. For an employee earning $50,000 a year, that’s a bonus of $2,450 at the end of the year.
3. Exercise
President Obama exercises for 45 minutes a day, six days a week. Virgin Group founder Richard Branson gets four additional hours of productivity every day by working out. American Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour is on the tennis court by 6:00 AM every morning before work. What do these highly successful people know that we need to know? People who exercise are more productive.
Studies show that our mental firepower is directly linked to physical exercise. Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, which can help sharpen awareness, increase creativity, and boost energy. Regular physical activity also improves mental health. Exercise releases serotonin that helps make the stresses of the workday easier to manage. If you don’t have time to put in a full cardio workout each day, make small changes to meet your New Year’s resolution. Take a walk during your lunch break or take the stairs instead of the elevator.
4. Say “No” More
Steve Jobs once stated, “Focusing isn’t about yes, focusing is about saying no.” “No” is a word most people are afraid to say at work. Research from the University of California in San Francisco shows that the more difficulty you have saying no, the more likely you are to experience stress, burnout, and even depression. To be productive, we must say no, whether that’s to a distraction or an unnecessary meeting. Saying no allows you to prioritize your work and gives you the opportunity to focus on existing commitments. Check out this article for more ways to increase productivity by saying no.
5. Schedule Fewer Meetings
Meetings aren’t always time wasters; some solve problems, align teams, and spark innovation. However, meetings can take up 35% to 55% of your time without adding any value to your work day. Instead of scheduling more unnecessary meetings in 2017, invest in tools like AnswerHub Knowledge-Driven Productivity (KDP) to allow your workers to capture and share knowledge, discuss new ideas, collaborate, and boost productivity without the need to sit in a conference room for an hour.
Make 2017 your best year yet. Stick to these simple New Year’s resolutions and the increase in your productivity might surprise you!