{"id":27,"date":"2023-07-26T14:50:14","date_gmt":"2023-07-26T14:50:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.latterly.org\/?p=27"},"modified":"2023-12-18T16:32:29","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T16:32:29","slug":"downtime-at-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.latterly.org\/downtime-at-work\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Smart Ways to Use Downtime at Work"},"content":{"rendered":"

After decades of working in a corporate environment, I\u2019ve seen many rise through the ranks, often to executive-level positions, while others work away at the same level for years.<\/p>\n

There\u2019re dozens of reasons why some make it into top leadership positions, including performance, consistency, emotional intelligence, communication abilities, and a certain amount of luck.<\/p>\n

But I\u2019ve seen in my own experience that minor differences in performance can mean huge career impacts over time\u2014one of those slight differences can be how you use downtime at work.<\/p>\n

What if you don\u2019t have any downtime at work?<\/p>\n

With so many people changing companies and jobs, there\u2019s a good chance that all the shuffling has left you with no downtime. Maybe you had no downtime to begin with.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t give up.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Consider how to gain efficiencies or set boundaries to allow for more downtime at work. Parkinson\u2019s Law says that work expands to fill the time available to complete it. So practice compressing the time it takes to complete tasks. Try setting a timer for 40 minutes and getting as much done as possible, or try another productivity hack. There are likely ways to\u00a0make some more time in your day<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve created some space in your schedule, or if you regularly have downtime at work, make the most of it with these ideas.<\/p>\n

7 Ways to use downtime at work<\/h2>\n

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1. Finish something<\/h3>\n

Look for areas where you have incomplete projects or have failed to get closure on something.<\/p>\n

Maybe you agreed to complete a task you should have said no to, or perhaps you have a project you\u2019re not sure how to move forward.<\/p>\n

One common technique to resolve this situation is to list all incomplete tasks, projects, or conversations. Write every single incomplete item you can think of, no matter how small. Then next to each item, write one of the 4 Ds. Do it, Delegate it, Delay it, or Dump it.<\/p>\n

The key is having action steps next to most items (\u2018Delay\u2019 should be used sparingly and with good reason) and doing the action as soon as possible. Have the conversation, create the closure, and knock the item off the list.<\/p>\n

We can only pay attention to so many things at a time, and each unfinished item takes attention away from the present moment.<\/p>\n

2. Clean or organize something: your email, your desk, your bag or purse<\/h3>\n

You may be struggling with too much clutter, too many papers, and a never-ending email flow.<\/p>\n

Create mental space by\u00a0cleaning up the cutter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I believe many of us crave the simplicity of having fewer things. I certainly do, and I\u2019ve followed The Minimalists for quite some time to help me simplify my life. The Minimalists are two men who realized they had no control over their lives after achieving career success and financial security. They took back control using the principles of minimalism. Their experience has inspired so many, and they now have an incredible 20 million people in their audience.<\/p>\n

The Minimalists believe that removing things from your life creates room for more. More time, peace, creativity, experiences, and contribution. How beautiful is that?<\/p>\n

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They\u00a0challenged their audience to an experiment<\/a>. Get rid of everything on or around your desk today (box it up), and then slowly reintroduce items to your workspace as needed over the next few days. Anything not reintroduced should be tossed or donated.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, I\u2019ve written about\u00a0my love for Marie Kondo<\/a>\u00a0and her method for eliminating things that don\u2019t bring joy. Her approach is life-changing if you embrace her unusual way of thinking about stuff.<\/p>\n

Regardless of your approach, make a plan and purge unneeded items in your work (and life) to create mental and physical space.<\/p>\n

3. Meditate<\/h3>\n

Most of us are more stressed than ever with work demands, home demands, world events, and the chaos of life.<\/p>\n

All this stress, if left unchecked, can take a toll on our mental and emotional health. Not to mention the long list of physical issues and illness stress can cause.<\/p>\n

Meditation is the perfect solution to combat the effects of stress.<\/p>\n

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There is now a ton of research showing the\u00a0benefits of meditation<\/a>, from easing anxiety and depression to improving mood, sharpening concentration, and reducing inflammation in our body. It\u2019s like a miracle drug without any adverse side effects.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve written about\u00a0my journey with meditation<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 it\u2019s changed so many things about how I live my life. I\u2019m calmer and happier and don\u2019t feel the need to react to every stressor that comes my way.<\/p>\n

I learned to meditate with Emily Fetcher\u2019s book Stress Less, Accomplish More.<\/p>\n

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4. Take A Walk<\/h3>\n

Want to boost creativity, increase energy, and improve your mood? Go for a walk!\u00a0Walking has many benefits<\/a>\u00a0and can be a great addition to your work day.<\/p>\n

Walking is the perfect physical activity since it requires no unique clothing or equipment, and it\u2019s free (just make sure you wear your flats!)<\/p>\n

As a bonus, if you walk outside, you can catch some extra vitamin D, boosting your mood and productivity even more.<\/p>\n

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If you don\u2019t have a space to walk, the stairwell is an excellent alternative to get your heart pumping.<\/p>\n

So get out of the office, clear your mind, and boost your energy with 15 minutes of walking.<\/p>\n

5. Problem solve<\/h3>\n

We\u2019ve all got problems at work that need to be solved, but we don\u2019t know how to solve them.<\/p>\n

One good practice is to keep a list of problems you notice, regardless of how small they are. They could be things like inefficient processes, annoying tasks, or unnecessary approvals.<\/p>\n

Set aside some time to brainstorm solutions. There are a lot of techniques to brainstorm, but this YouTube video provides a simple methods to think through and develop ideas to solve problems.<\/p>\n

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