Experts reveal common after-work behaviors that can hinder your productivity the next day. Learn how to build healthy routines to improve your focus and efficiency at work.
If you don't have a work wind-down routine or are skipping out on much-needed self-care, your productivity will suffer, experts say. It’s nobody’s favourite situation, but we’ve all been there: you sit down at your computer at the start of a busy workday, only to find your mind going to 100 different places as your to-do list remains untouched. With outside stressors and other factors, it just isn’t possible to cruise through your tasks every single day.
That said, productivity experts note that many of us engage in certain behaviours in the evening that potentially set us up to fail the next day ― including by hindering your focus time at your desk. Experts share those after-work behaviours that are getting in the way of a productive workday:* **Not Getting Enough Sleep:** Without enough sleep, our body doesn’t do the repair, rebuilding and recovery work that are necessary for every day. Think about it: have you ever tried to do a seemingly easy task after not getting enough sleep, and found that you couldn’t focus? If you aren’t sleeping for the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep per night, you’re setting yourself up for a less productive day.* **Poor Diet:** You need to properly fuel yourself — with enough calories, protein and more — to be focused and productive. * **Thinking About Work Constantly:** Hear us out for a moment. You’ve probably gotten mad when you find yourself thinking about work on a day off, or when you’re on vacation. But Boyes said this isn’t actually a bad thing when it comes to your productivity. “One of the things I have written about is how the advice to not think about work outside of work is bad advice,” Boyes said. “To be productive, we need to have that time where our mind drifts to work, so that we can make those creative connections between ideas,” she added, noting that brain does a lot of its background processing for creativity, planning and organising when our minds are allowed to roam. Often, Boyes said, “the most valuable use of precious focus time comes to us when our mind is just drifting to work. A huge amount of productivity comes... from unfocused attention, so you have to allow that to happen.”* **Overuse of Social Media:** For many people, scrolling social media or replying to memes from friends and family is a natural thing to do after work. But social media is part of the productivity problem, according to Mindy Godding, the owner of It’s likely that you aren’t just scrolling social media for a few minutes. Doing it for extended amounts of time may feel like relaxation, but social media is anything but relaxing for your brain, Godding said. “When we’re on our devices, our brains are taking in all that information. So we think that we are relaxing, we think that we’re decompressing or resetting, when our brains are not,” Godding said. “So, we’re not doing anything good in terms of recharging our battery for the next day.”* **Lack of End-of-Workday Routine:** Waking up and sprinting around until you leave for work isn’t a great feeling. Nor is mulling around your house in the evening until it’s suddenly time for bed. And neither of these habits sets you up for productivity, according to You’ll probably need a few different routines to set you up for success — a bedtime routine, an end-of-workday routine and a morning routine, Lee said.What your routines look like is up to you; they’ll vary depending on your lifestyle, your family needs and your personality. Either way, when you construct a routine out of various small activities, it helps usher in the day and close it out in more productive ways, Lee said. For example, you might schedule dinner around 6 o’clock every night, or plan a morning workout before you go to the office. While morning routines and evening routines are more talked about, Lee said there is power in an end-of-workday routine, too. “We need to signal to the body that it’s time to wind down from work,” said Lee. Otherwise, it’s too easy to just keep working on that presentation or client proposal. When creating this wind-down routine, be sure to think about what you can do to prepare for the next day, too, Lee said. This could mean cleaning up your desk, looking at your calendar or sending a text to a co-worker.
Productivity Work-Life Balance After-Work Habits Routines Sleep Diet Social Media Mindfulness
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
5 Habits To Avoid After Work For Maximum ProductivityDiscover 5 productivity-boosting habits to avoid after work, according to experts. Learn about the importance of disconnecting from work, creating a relaxing evening routine, and prioritizing sleep for optimal focus and efficiency.
Read more »
Maximize Your Evening: Simple Habits for a More Enjoyable Transition from Work to HomeLearn how to reclaim your evenings and transform the time between work and bed into a more relaxing and fulfilling part of your day with these expert-backed tips.
Read more »
Council whistleblower ‘ashamed’ of four-day work week: 'I pretend I still work five days'An ‘embarrassed’ council worker has blown the lid on their office's controversial four-day work week, admitting they lie to friends and family about their hours to avoid being called 'lazy'.
Read more »
Scots Spend Big on Boxing Day Sales Amidst Shifting Shopping HabitsDespite a drop in footfall compared to last year, Scots shoppers made the most of Boxing Day sales, spending an estimated £317 million. Online shopping continues to rise, but tempting in-store deals still drew crowds.
Read more »
Husband Ignores Children on Christmas Because of Shower HabitsA woman is upset after her husband refuses to 'host or entertain' their adult children on Christmas because one of them hasn't showered in two days.
Read more »
King Charles's Eco-Conscious Habits RevealedThis article explores King Charles's commitment to environmentalism, highlighting his dietary choices, travel preferences, and longstanding advocacy for sustainable practices.
Read more »