Use this actionable advice to stay motivated, avoid burnout and make more time for the things you love to do.
Safeguarding your mental health is the key to productivity
Tending to our collective mental health has become a critical priority in the workplace. Over the past few years, I think it’s fair to say that all of us have experienced some kind of mental burnout thanks to the COVID outbreak, civil unrest and the continuing economic and political uncertainty. And now, with the holidays upon us, it can be overwhelming.
As the pace of change in the business world continues to accelerate, it can feel like you can never catch up. It always seems like there’s more to do than the time (and sometimes, motivation) to do it. That only fuels feelings of burnout, along with the heightened anxiety and sleepless nights of those growing to-do lists.
“It’s a lot to navigate, so it’s important for professionals in any industry to prioritize their well-being to manage the balance between work and life,” says LinkedIn Career Expert Andrew McCaskill.
I connected with McCaskill to get his top strategies on how we can all protect our mental health while still getting our work done during the holiday season.
1. Protect your space
One of the most frustrating aspects of the workday can be the never-ending distractions. Whether it’s a co-worker wanting to catch up or something unexpected cropping up just when you thought you were caught up, we all experience the feeling of never getting enough done.
The answer, says McCaskill, is that it’s up to you to find, and protect, your peace at work. That starts with creating an environment that’s conducive to deep work.
“Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need to create this space for yourself, and then protect it!” says McCaskill, noting that could involve working remotely or just having a quiet office space.
It’s also crucial to know when and where you feel most productive. Are you the most creative in the morning? Or are you more productive in the afternoon with your second (or third!) cup of coffee?
“Everyone has their own daily flow, and knowing yours will help you make the most of any time of day,” says McCaskill. “Take the time to identify your own work preferences so that you can focus on certain tasks at the right time, for you, which will help you make the most of the workday.”
McCaskill says you should also go the extra step of blocking time on your calendar to carve out space for autonomous work.
“I sometimes think of this as going ‘invisible’ by turning off your pings and dings so you can fully sink into the work at hand,” he says.
2. Enlist an AI assistant
When ChatGPT made its debut to the public at the end of 2022, it changed the world. Despite a lot of the doom-and-gloom reports of how this technology would steal jobs from humans, both workers and executives say they’re excited to use AI at work to help them be more productive by delegating boring and repetitive tasks to AI.
The opportunity, says McCaskill, is to start thinking of AI as your own assistant that can help take over some of the more routine aspects of your work, like tackling monotonous or time-consuming tasks like drafting emails and sorting your to-do list.
You can also use AI to kickstart more complicated tasks like coming up with creative ideas for a brainstorming session or meeting agenda.
“That can free up more of your time for high-impact and creative work that you probably enjoy more,” says McCaskill. “You can even use AI to help you strengthen your professional network— which many workers say they would focus on if they had more free time because of AI.”
3. Learn to say “No” more
While it wouldn’t be wise to embrace a policy of saying no to everything new or unexpected that comes your way during your workday, you may want to be more selective about the projects and tasks you take on.
“It’s OK to say ‘no’ or at least, ‘not right now,’” says McCaskill. “Saying no to things isn’t a negative reflection on your skills or abilities. My manager often says, ‘This team can do anything, but we cannot do everything.’”
When trying to decide what to take on and what to skip or delegate, McCaskill suggests that you think about which tasks will have the biggest impact on outcomes and then prioritize those.
“Delegate from there, and if you’re struggling to decide, talk to your manager,” he says.
4. Create your “must-do” list
The truth is that regardless of how productive you are, it’s unlikely that you’ll ever be able to check off everything on your to-do list each day. But don’t think of that as a setback; it’s just reality, says McCaskill.
The key, he says, is to create a to-do list with the three most important things that you absolutely must accomplish at the top. And then, once you have identified those, list out the additional tasks that you have more time to complete.
“This way, you won’t use up your initial burst of work time just checking off to-do items, but instead ensure that you get your big projects and important tasks completed before the end of your day,” says McCaskill. “You’ll be less likely to accidentally procrastinate on your most important tasks, and you’ll feel more accomplished and productive at the week’s end.”
5. Give yourself a time-out
While it might feel counterintuitive, sometimes the best way to stay motivated and get more work done is to take a break, says McCaskill.
“Stepping away from work can actually make you more productive, as you’re giving the brain fresh perspective and room to think more positively,” he says. “You can likely accomplish much more in two focused, recharged hours of work than in eight long hours where you’re bound to burn out at some point.”
McCaskill suggests giving yourself permission to take a break, even just for a few minutes, and be proactive about them. For example, you could try time blocking, where you schedule breaks in your calendar to avoid being booked solid with meetings all day.
“Stick to it and stay away from checking email or other work to-dos during this time away,” says McCaskill.
6. Ask for help
McCaskill says that taking care of yourself and prioritizing your mental well-being means that you’re able to show up as your best self—both at work and in your personal life. So, if you’re having trouble feeling motivated or find yourself dreading each work week, it may be time to have a real, open and honest conversation with your manager about how you can improve your mental health at work.
“Be open and candid about the things that aren’t working—whether it’s shorter workdays or weeks, better respect for off-hours, or more time off for mental health days,” says McCaskill.
At the end of the day, we’re all humans, not robots. Especially at this time of year, when we’re often spending more time with family and friends, it’s important to stay productive without burning out. If we want to be our best selves in both our personal and professional lives, we shouldn’t feel ashamed to make the adjustments that will safeguard our mental health—and motivation—during this busy season.
