Sometimes the clock at work seems to move faster than the one at home, and your work tasks can’t help but bleed into your personal life. And while we all need to start early or work late a few days a year, making this a habit is a great way to burn yourself out. What causes so many people to bring their jobs home with them? According to surveys conducted by America Online and Survey.com, the answer is productivity. These surveys showed that Americans waste about 2.9 hours every eight-hour workday — a third of their time! Even more shocking is that 89% of workers admit to doing it. Many people don’t realize they’ve wasted so much time until the end of the day arrives, and their tasks are unfinished. So, if you need to catch up at work, here are three tips to increase productivity. MAKE A 1–3–5 TO-DO LIST. An easy way to get ahead of your day is to make a list, but for some people, any old list won’t do the trick. That’s why we recommend making a 1-3-5 list, which takes the difficulty of each task into account when making it. It works by choosing one large or difficult task, three medium-sized tasks, and five small tasks to complete in your workday. LEAVE WORK WHERE IT BELONGS! 3 PRODUCTIVITY TRICKS YOU CAN BRING TO WORK
TIME-BOX YOUR TASKS. Once your list is made, the next step is to give yourself a time limit for each task. This is called time-boxing, and when you give yourself deadlines, ensure they’re attainable. Don’t say you’ll complete an entire project in just an hour, but be reasonable so that you can reward yourself when you complete it within your time frame! TAKE BREAKS! Scrambling from one task to the next with no time to regroup is a surefire way to decrease your productivity and the quality of your work. Take regular breaks throughout your workday where you have time for yourself, not your job. Try working in 90-minute cycles followed by 15-minute breaks. Take a walk around the parking lot, grab a drink, or turn on a quick meditation! Whether you try just one or all three of these hacks, what’s important is that you try. You may not find success the first day, but if you reassess and continue to work toward your productivity goals, you can keep work where it belongs.
Wash Clothes on Cold to Save the Planet Keep It Cool! Institute, washing 4 out of 5 loads on cold-water settings can reduce carbon emissions by 864 pounds a year. To put those numbers into perspective, that’s the equivalent of planting 0.37 acres of forest!
Every home has a few appliances that are habitual climate-crisis offenders, and washing machines are usually at the top of the list. However, we understand that washing machines aren’t going anywhere anytime soon — they’re too convenient. Luckily, one thing anyone can do to benefit the environment while using their washing machine is to use cold water! If you didn’t know, about 90% of a washing machine’s energy goes toward heating the water, resulting in a more expensive energy bill and increased carbon emissions. Carbon emissions are “the main driver of climate change and associated extreme weather, which will affect climate for thousands of years through polar
Aside from the carbon emissions, washing your clothes in cold water has also been proven to reduce the number of microfibers released into the water system. Microfibers are tiny fibers that fall off every time we wash our clothes. These little threads are dangerous to small aquatic organisms that may eat them, and they also release toxic chemicals into our oceans over time. For those who need a more practical push toward sustainability, cold water washes are often better for your clothes, too. Washing your clothes in cold water can help them last longer and avoid shrinkage or colors from fading. So, the next time you toss your dirty clothes into the washing machine, set the dial to cold. The environment, your energy bill, and your clothing will thank you!
ice loss, ocean warming, and sea level rise,” according to the World Meteorological Organization. So, if helping the environment is on your laundry list, an easy way to start is by switching your washer settings to cold water. The best part is that you can still run warm wash cycles occasionally if you need the sanitation benefits. According to the American Cleaning
2 | WrigleyvilleDental.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator