(And How to Beat It)
There’s something about that first week back after a break that just hits differently. I’m landing back from Bali after a much-needed reset with my girls, but stepping into a short work week after the Easter long weekend means one thing—playing catch-up!
And I know I’m not the only one. April is a month full of public holidays, which means we’re all trying to squeeze more out of less. More work in fewer days. More meetings packed into shorter weeks. More emails, more tasks, more ‘urgent’ things to get done—often leaving us feeling like we’re always behind.
But here’s the thing: Productivity isn’t about cramming more in—it’s about working smarter. In my coaching, I help leaders shift their mindset around productivity so they can get more done without burning out.
Here are 6 ways to be productive and make your first week back from Easter (and the rest of Q2) feel more manageable:
6 Ways to Be Productive
Use your morning to focus on yourself.
Start your day right by ignoring emails in the morning and prioritising you. Whether it’s a good breakfast, reading the news, meditating, or working out—how you start your day sets the tone for everything else.
Take more breaks.
Yes, you read that right—more breaks, not fewer. Giving yourself a moment to refresh (whether it’s a quick walk, lunch, or meditation) helps you recharge and actually boosts efficiency.
Stop multi-tasking.
Trying to do 10 things at once? Stop. Task-switching more than 10 times a day drops your IQ by an average of 10 points. Focus on one thing at a time and watch your productivity soar.
Follow the 80/20 rule.
Only 20% of what you do each day produces 80% of your results. The key? Identify and eliminate low-value tasks that don’t actually move the needle.
Tackle your challenging tasks before lunch.
Your brain is freshest in the morning—use it wisely. Knock out your biggest tasks early and save the admin, meetings, and ‘busy work’ for the afternoon.
Stop confusing productivity with laziness.
This one’s a tough pill to swallow, but it’s true: Meetings, emails, and so-called ‘time-saving’ hacks often just help us avoid real work. Don’t mistake movement for progress.
Leadership Excellence Program
These are just some of the strategies we share in our Leadership Excellence Program to help leaders work smarter, not harder. If you’re ready to build stronger habits for yourself and your team, find out more here.
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