Ruth Klein

Are You Working to Integrate or to Suffocate?

Have you got too many deadlines and too much multi-tasking to make them happen? You can learn to integrate your activities and by weaving some fun into your way-too-long To-Do List, create both enjoyment and productivity.

Don't let multi-tasking rule your work day in today's already high-stress workplace where longer work weeks, fewer raises, and too few vacation days have become the norm. You owe it to yourself to find new ways to make your life both enjoyable and productive.

If you don't integrate more enjoyment into your work load, you will suffocate!

That dreaded phrase, multi-tasking, is translating into new responsibilities piled way too high upon way too many demanding deadlines for today's already overworked labor force. Multi-tasking does not allow you to focus on any one project because you're trying to do too much at once: talk on your cell phone, check email and look at reports while someone walking by waves because they want some time with you as well. It makes you want to pull your hair out!

If you can't interject some enjoyment, you're left with Suffocating, and you won't want that. You can integrate enjoyable activities into your work routine, instead. You can effectively create a more manageable, more simple way to handle the hours in your day, to avoid all that stress and achieve both focus and productivity.

Here are Nine Ways to Integrate vs. Suffocate

Take a walk outside the office or up and down the stairs to other floors (yes, you can read this as: exercise) while poring over assignments or proof reading completed work. Do discreet stretching exercises while on the phone with a client. Take the kids and a spouse or caretaker along on an out-of-town business trip. Schedule a fun activity for them while you're working and meet them later for a fun dinner in a new place that each of you can enjoy.

You might want to consider visiting an old friend who lives close by with one of your out-of-town meetings. Spend a few extra minutes each morning just planning your day. Try spending a few extra minutes each morning incorporating fun "to do" activities with your "To Do" work list. Pick one night a week to schedule a fun activity with your friends, and keep one weekend day open just to regroup.

The point is this: if you intentionally set out to integrate any activity that is fun or healthy for you into your work day, you won't feel yourself getting stressed out about the mountain of work ahead of you. You're always going to have a big workload, so if you spend time balancing your more enjoyable lifestyle in with your work, you'll look forward to weaving more enjoyment into your work activities.

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