Some work weeks tend to feel much longer than others. You might have more to do, your work might be more difficult, or you might just feel more exhausted for no particular reason. If you find yourself yearning for the weekend before your lunch break on Monday, it’s time to take action. Here are four ways to keep your energy up during a long work week.
Get Enough Sleep
You might think that feeling groggy is just part of being an adult. It’s understandable, since most of us have busy schedules, family obligations, and other tasks to complete. However, many of us get too little for no good reason. You need between seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Make sure you have a regular bed and wake up time. The consistency will help keep your energy at a more constant level as well.
Eat Right
Are you eating too much of the wrong things, and not enough of the right things? If so, you’re likely paying for it with your energy. Good, nutritious food provides us with the energy we need to succeed. Start making your own meals with as many fruits and vegetables as possible. If tempted to make the wrong choice, ask yourself if you’ll be happy about it in the future. You need to do a favor to your future self, whether it’s five years in the future, or five hours. Start by planning your meals and snack throughout the day. Looking for anything to eat when you get hungry can often lead to fast, cheap options. Learn more about your body and see if you can’t unlock some of your untapped energy by meditating, exercising more, and doing a little self-reflection.
Pace Yourself
No matter what kind of field you’re in, you’re going to exert energy. It could be mental, physical or a combination. Make sure that you are pacing yourself and not doing more than you can at one time. It’s also important to work ahead. Avoid procrastination by starting on assignments when they’re given to you and planning the work you’ll do within a day or week at a time.
Stay on Task
You know the expression “a watched pot never boils”? Well, a watched weekend never comes. Or, it arrives very slowly. Don’t let yourself rue the work week. Instead, you should get on your tasks as soon as possible. If you have trouble staying productive, try the Pomodoro technique. With this method, you work for intervals of 25 minutes, with five-minute breaks in between. After four rounds, you take a 25-minute long break and then start again.
Feeling short of energy at work is entirely understandable. It’s just important to know when you need help. Don’t let pride get the best of you and cause problems. To keep your energy up during a long work week, you need to take all the help you can get. It’s also important to prepare properly and have the best attitude possible.