shift | Journey

Making the Most of the First Two Hours in the Day

By Rachel Rudisill on Thursday, December 20, 2012

First Two Hours at Work Maybe you’re a morning person, so being happy and productive earlier in the day comes naturally to you. Or maybe you are a night owl who has been lucky enough to find a job that fits more easily with your body’s internal clock. No matter what time your day begins, check out these tips to start the day happy and productive?

Do Something You Enjoy
Even if you can’t control when your day starts, you can do things to make it better. Having something to look forward too can make getting out of bed much easier. For example, maybe there is a talk show you enjoy that can play on your radio or TV. Or maybe you need to change up your breakfast routine, enticing yourself with an omelet or yogurt parfait. If you can, allow 20 minutes for a hobby like reading or exercising, it could be just the enjoyment you need to start your day with a smile. Consider a reward system. For example, reward yourself with a specialty coffee or a $5 contribution toward a “Fun Night Out” fund if you’re on time for four days in a row.

Do Something You Need to Get Done
Maybe you don’t want to get started with your day because you’re dreading a task. Try to turn this feeling around into an accomplishment by knocking out a task that has been hanging over your head. Maybe it’s getting caught up on bills or doing some much needed cleaning. You might want to take care of a conversation you’ve been meaning to have, or just simply need to schedule an appointment. Whatever it is, pick something small and dreaded on your to-do list and get it done. Once you do, you’ll feel like you’ve already had a great day and the rest of your day is icing on the cake.

Just Do Something
Not having a plan can be exhausting. If you don’t know where to start or don’t have a handle on your to-do list, it can all be overwhelming enough to put off starting your day. However, having a to-do list can let your day get started with less thought. When possible spend some time the day before preparing for the next day, giving yourself a clear plan to follow. When your day gets started you can simply dive into your list and before you know it, you’ve had some accomplishments from the start. Who can’t feel good about that?

How do you make sure your day starts right? Share your go-to ideas to making the most of your morning, whenever that is, in the comments section below.

At Work Cube Life

Don’t Clock Out Until You’ve Done These 3 Things

By Jared Cole on Thursday, October 18, 2012

Have you ever been at work when you notice there’s only 30 minutes left in your shift? It’s usually not enough time to start a new project, but it’s also too early for you to go home, so you watch your clock as it slowly ticks away until it’s time to leave. This happens more often than not, but what can you do to finish out your workday on a positive and productive note?

How you finish your workday is critical as it holds a large impact on your work, productivity, and attitude. Take time at the end of your shift to get you ready for tomorrow. So here are three ways you can end your workday better and stronger.

Review and Plan
The first thing you to do is look over your to-do list to find out if you’re where you need to be. There might be some assignments you’ve overlooked or a reminder of what needs to be finished before you leave. If you don’t like your progress, plan what you need to do and when you’ll get it done so you don’t get further behind.

This is your chance to reflect. Think about what you’ve accomplished and how good it feels to be productive. If you’ve fallen short on some tasks, take the time to make a new to-do list. Determine what needs to be finished tomorrow and how you’re going to do it. If you have a new to-do list, you’ll have a head start the next day and be more productive.

Check-In and Check-Out
Depending on the type of working relationship you have with your manager, visit with one or all of your supervisors to discuss the progress of any tasks you’re working on. This way, you can get caught up on any updates or changes that need to be made. Check in with co-workers to get any updates from them and to make sure everyone is one the same page.

Talking to your boss and colleagues will not only help everybody stay on task easier, but there are real emotional benefits from saying goodbye to people before leaving. Most people think it’s important to say hello in the morning, but it’s just as vital to say goodbye instead of silently heading out the door. By giving proper farewells or even an honest compliment, you are showing co-workers and managers that you care and can improve everybody’s mood throughout the day.

Tidy up and Shut Down
It’s rather defeating to walk away from a big mess after a busy day, which confronts you in the morning or after a fun weekend. Before leaving, clean your workplace by organizing your desk, throwing away trash, or cleaning and storing your tools. When you come to a clean workplace in the morning, it gives you a feeling of starting the day off fresh.

If you work in an office setting, you can use the last of your time to clean your email inbox of forwards, newsletters, and any other old messages. Emails can back up quickly increasing your chance of missing important information.

It’s also important to shut down when leaving. Leave your stress and worries at work. Turn everything off and disconnect yourself from your network. Turn off your smart phone or disable email alerts and enjoy your time off to recharge.

If you use your last few minutes to end your workday right, you’ll be more productive and will be less likely to feel drained and burned out. What are some ways you have made the most out of the end of your workday?

At Work New Job Tips Workplace Relationships

The Boss That Binds: Building Trust With Your Manager

By Jared Cole on Tuesday, February 7, 2012

There are many reasons you could start working with a new boss. You’ve started a new job, and you’re ready to serve your new supervisor. Or maybe a few years into your job, the management shifts and you have to start working for a new team leader. Whatever the reason, there may be a situation where you want to start building trust with a manager.

Unfortunately, trust isn’t earned overnight. Building trust is like growing a flower. It takes time and attention to grow properly, and needs to have strong roots to keep it from toppling over. If just starting out, it can be difficult to find a place to start or know what to do. Take a deep breath and take a look at these three helpful hints to build trust with your boss.

Under Promise and Over Deliver

Too often, new employees are very eager to impress their supervisors by taking on extra responsibilities and tasks in a shorter amount of time. While it does showcase your enthusiasm and drive, you could also set yourself up for failure. If you want your boss to see your strengths and talents in the long run, make obtainable goals for yourself and aim to accomplish more.

When you strive to finish your projects early, you have the opportunity to let your manager review your final product. This way, your boss will see that you are taking an active interest in your manager’s opinions and have the ambition to create better work quality.

Be Open, Honest, and Ready

Your boss may have different managing styles; some are more hands-on while others are more inclined to delegate and expect occasional updates. No matter how your boss works, you should try to match their style. Set up a schedule of updates for your active supervisor. If you have a more hands-off manager, have your accomplishments, plans, and ideas ready for when your boss wants an update. If you’re not sure, try a scheduled 30-minute meeting with your supervisor every week or every other week to make sure you are up to date with each other.

It’s also important to explain challenges or mistakes you’ve made. Mistakes happen and a good manager will understand and work with you to get the job done. That kind of honesty can go a long way in building trust with your boss because you will be known for being honest when asking for feedback and opinions.

Go Beyond the Shift

Take some time to learn more about your boss on a casual basis. Learning more about your manager as a person can help develop a stronger rapport, which can help strengthen communication. By getting to know a manager on a more personal level, trust is built by connecting with their points of interest. Try going out to lunch a few times to get a glimpse of how your boss is outside of work and find out more about them. When the personal connection and trust has been built, ask for feedback during informal meetings. Developing relationships can create more trust with the relationship.

Building trust with your supervisor doesn’t have to be difficult, but it does take time and patience. Trust isn’t something that can be automatically granted. You have to earn it. If you follow these simple tips on how to build that trust, it can happen naturally, and you can become a better employee at the same time. What are some stories of how you and your boss have built trust?

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