It is tempting to scroll down your social media when your daily tasks are all finished. However, it is better to stay productive during your slow day at work. Check out these tips to keep your brain stimulated when there’s nothing to do.
After completing an important project, you might find some down-time before the next project starts. With there is little to do at work, it’s very tempting to pass the day by scrolling through your social media or watching cat videos all day.
While taking a break from daily work fatigue is important, this doesn’t mean that you can spend your time on trivial matters. Staying productive at work even when your daily tasks are completed will maintain your work-life balance.
Here are some tips to keep your mind active and busy on your slow day.
Organize your inbox
Your inbox can get cluttered so easily with emails from clients and working partners. Not to mention those newsletters you signed up a long time ago. When you have extra free time, you should clean and organize your inbox. Additionally, there might be emails that you want to save for future reference. Organizing email into folders will help you navigate through your inbox in the future.
Learn new skills
Maybe you have always wanted to follow the latest trend in your industry and upgrade your skill, but you are too busy with your project. Now that all the tasks are cleared away, this is the time to expand your professional knowledge. For instance, joining webinars or watching TED videos related to your industry will increase your motivation.
Evaluate your performance
Self-evaluation is an important way to measure your own success in meeting your personal goals and achieving personal growth. When there’s a slow day, you might want to list down any projects and accomplishments you’ve made for a specific period of time. This includes the impacts you’ve brought, obstacles you’ve faced, and how you handled the situation. By doing this, you will know your current skill and use it to perform better.
Get some exercise
When you are preoccupied with work, you may be stuck in your cubicle all the time. Thus, a slow period is the perfect time to do some light exercise at work. For instance, you can go for a walk around the office block. If it’s impossible to do, you can look up desk stretching videos on Youtube. Not only does this make you physically fit, this also will help you think more clearly as well.
Check in with co-workers
If you have nothing to do, take this opportunity to check in with your office mates. You can catch up with them, ask how they have been doing lately, and listen to their stories genuinely. Having lunch or catching a coffee break with your co-workers will improve your professional relationship with them.
Do some personal projects
If you’ve done your responsibilities for the day, you can also pass the time by doing your personal interests. For instance, you can read self-motivational books or do stimulating games like puzzles or crosswords. However, some employers might be opposed to the idea of doing anything else other than work, so you might want to check in with your manager or supervisor first.
Final Thoughts
Depending on the industry, slow days are rare in most working environments. However, even though winding down from a busy routine is good for your professional life, you can use this opportunity to advance yourself by doing self-learning and gaining professional knowledge instead of scrolling down your social media.
Next read: How to Master the Art of Efficient Working and Escape the Overtime Traps
