1) Get yourself organized! Nothing starts a day off on a bad note like running behind schedule in the morning. Take fifteen minutes before bed to think about what you have to do the next morning. Consider what clothes you might wear, what you'll pack for lunch and if there are any work-related items you need to bring. Mentally located them all in your head for a smoother morning.
2) Set your alarm to go off fifteen minutes before you have to get up. Not many people are able to leap out of bed in the morning and hitting the snooze 5 times will leave you rushing to catch up once you do get out of bed. By setting your alarm early you'll still get to hit snooze but you'll be able to get up when you're actually supposed to.
3) If you pack a lunch for work (and you should! It's healthier for you and cost effective) put it together the night before if possible and leave it in a spot you'll remember to bring it. Aim for a nutritious, filling meal.
4) Bring healthy snacks. A handful of nuts, some dried fruit and carrot sticks are easy to bring to work and will help keep that 3:00 hunger at bay.
5) Take short breaks. If you work at a computer or have to read a lot your eyes will get strained and cause headaches. Every half an hour take some deep breaths, close your eyes for a few seconds and stretch. Not only will your body thank you for the increased oxygen and tense-releasing exercise but you're head will be clearer leaving you in a better mental state to tackle tasks.
6) Time manage. As rudimentary as it might seem, writing out a task-completion chart is a great way to keep yourself on track and prioritize. With so many things buzzing through our heads each day it's easy to lose sight of your work. Write out all of your tasks and how much time should be devoted to each. It feels great to tick things off a to-do list!
By staying organized and calm you will find that your work days will become a lot less stressful and easier to manage.
