Issue #1: Stress Less and Achieve More With Time-Saving Hacks for a Healthier Workday
Unlock Productivity with Calendar Blocking, Leadership Tips to Reduce Stress, and a Quick Desk Workout!
Managing Workplace Stress & Time-Saving Hacks
📌 Tip of the Week
Mastering Calendar Blocking for Stress-Free Productivity
Feeling overwhelmed by your workload? Try calendar blocking! Allocate specific time slots for each task, ensuring you prioritize what's essential. You minimize distractions and boost productivity by dedicating uninterrupted blocks for focused work.
Asses your weekly tasks
Prioritize your work
Estimate time for each task and create time blocks
Include buffer time and be aware of areas of flexibility
Review, and adjust weekly
Managers Must Create The Path to Reduce Workplace Stress
Look around your company, whether you’re walking into an office today or jumping on your 3rd Zoom meeting of the morning - look around.
Are people’s shoulders up around their ears, tight with tension, does everyone appear tired or rundown? Are they - well - stressed?
How about you?
In a February 2023 survey completed by Harvard Business Review, 82% of respondents agreed that workplace stress is a problem in their organization, and an incredible 72% state stress is directly contributing to employee burnout.
So how are organizations combating this? Companies like Zendesk and their leaders are working to battle work-related stress and burnout by:
Taking a proactive approach to mental health awareness and support
Adding additional manager training to build up self-awareness and teach managers how to better support their teams and reduce stress
Encouraging and adding mental health breaks into their workday to improve productivity and reduce overall stress
While these steps have proven helpful at companies like Zendesk several organizations don’t have the ability or capacity to implement such programs.
This means direct managers are often pushed to the forefront to resolve workplace burnout, decreased productivity, and mental health challenges among their teams and organizations.
“Manager-led cultural change is critical to creating a workplace where employees believe their mental health is prioritized, and to generating better mental health outcomes and workplace productivity.” 1
As a leader, here are 5 key actions you can take to help yourself, your team and your organization battle burnout and increase productivity.
Lead by example. Don’t just say, do - demonstrate the behaviors and values you want to see in your team, such as open communication, balance between work and life, and respect for others.
Prioritize mental health and overall well-being through implementing initiatives such as mental health days or breaks. Something as simple as a weekly coffee chat with the team to practice mindful interaction can do the trick and serve as a team-building activity.
Promote and encourage transparency in your organization. Open communication, including active listening, will set your team up for success.
Set boundaries for your team and encourage a real work-life balance. Often times as a leader you have to push this and be clear about expectations for your team in creating and maintaining a healthy balance between work and personal life.
Lastly, it is important to regularly acknowledge and reward employees who exemplify their cultural values. Be sure to celebrate team achievements and individuals. The weekly coffee chat may be a great time to do this!
When managers actively lead efforts to prioritize mental health, it not only improves their well-being but those of their employees, coworkers, and organization, all while improving productivity.
Leader Spotlight
Meet Sara Zalowitz, a seasoned product leader with over two decades of experience, including roles as Rent the Runway’s first Chief Product Officer, VP of Product at WeddingWire, and VP of Digital Innovation at Marriott. Passionate about mentorship, Sara transitioned to Prodify where she has spent over 4 years as Senior Advisor, Coach, and Managing Director, working with 20+ clients on strategic planning, goal setting, customer research, prioritization, roadmapping, and execution. See how Sara balances work and life and supports her team:
“Time management and work-life balance have always been something critical for me. It’s essential to protect my time to clear my mind and find personal happiness, whether that means spending time with family, working out, or diving into a hobby. I’ve also found that my team often thanks me for setting an example of how to balance work and life. Teams tend to mirror their leader's work style, assuming it’s the expectation. By modeling a healthy balance, you can positively influence your team's culture and boost their overall happiness.”
Productivity Hacks That Actually Save Time
To tap into your natural productivity rhythm there are several things you can do - from identifying your high-energy moments to prioritizing crucial tasks and blocking out any distractions. Below are some quick wins to be more productive and save you time.
Manage Your Energy, Not Just Your Time:
💡 Identify your most energized moments during the day
💡 Allocate complex or creative tasks to these peak times
💡 Save routine or menial tasks for when your energy dips
Build a Better To-Do List:
💡Prioritize quality over quantity
💡 Choose 2-3 crucial tasks for the day
💡Avoid overwhelming yourself with an extensive list
Tune Out Distractions:
💡Create focused work blocks by minimizing interruptions
💡Protect your time to maintain concentration
Remember, small adjustments can lead to significant productivity gains!
Supported by: Prodify
Schedule a call with Sara, to learn more about how Prodify can support you as a product leader.
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Wellness Corner
The 3-Minute Quick Desk Workout
Sitting for long periods can take a toll on your body. Here are some quick desk exercises to keep you active:
Chair squats: Stand up and sit down without using your hands for support, engaging your leg muscles.
Seated torso twists: Sit up straight and twist your torso to each side, holding for a few seconds.
Wrist stretches: Extend your arm and gently pull back on your fingers to stretch your wrists and forearms.
👉 These simple movements can help alleviate stiffness, boost circulation, and refresh your focus.*
Community Insight
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Until next time, stay well.
𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅.𝒃𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎
1https://hbr.org/resources/pdfs/comm/calmbusiness/TheBattleAgainstWorkplaceStress.pdf
* Consult Your Doctor First: Before starting any new exercise routines, wellness plans, or making significant changes to your diet, it’s important to consult with your doctor or healthcare provider. They can help ensure that any new practices are safe and appropriate for your individual health needs. Your well-being is our top priority, so please take this step before making any changes.