Get Away with Slacking with These Strategies
Are you feeling overwhelmed? Are you overwhelmed by the busybody attitude of the corporate world, and need a little help getting away with downtime? If so, you may wonder how you can get away with “relaxing” while still looking productive.
Well, rest assured that you are not alone. Many working professionals and students can relate. The key is to find ways to look busy, while actually doing little to no actual work.
This article will detail 10 simple, yet effective ways to look busy while also loosening up and relieving stress. With a few of these tips, you’ll be able to emulate a productive mindset and tackle the world while feeling stress-free!
1. Use Online Collaboration Tools
Online collaboration tools are a great way to stay productive and on task. Tools like Slack and Trello help you organize, prioritize, and effectively communicate with coworkers and colleagues. This keeps you on task, as you can keep up with projects and deadlines. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for in-person meetings, which can help cut down on exhaustion. Additionally, you can pretend to type away on a virtual workspace, adding to the perception that you are hard at work.
2. Take Notes
Writing notes and organizing data is a great way to “look busy”. While having your head down and pen in hand can convey an image of productivity, the real benefit is that it creates the opportunity for you to review and learn from the day’s activities. Documenting meeting notes, brainstorming ideas, and writing out potential projects will not only make it look like you’re hard at work, it will also help you stay organized and productive.
3. Network
Networking and building relationships can help you look busy while still taking a break from stressful work. Reach out to colleagues, explore LinkedIn, and connect with professionals and businesses within your area of interest. This helps to build relationships and camaraderie that can help boost your personal and professional goals. Meeting new contacts also keeps your mind fresh and thinking about a wide range of topics.
4. Catch up on Sleep
A tired brain is not a productive brain. Making sure that you set aside time for rest and sleep will ensure that you’re in high spirits and ready to tackle the day’s workload. Don’t be afraid to take a few minutes throughout the day to relax and reset. It can help to reduce stress, maintain focus, and keep your day full of energy.
5. Listen to Audio Books
Listening to audio books is a great way to relax and absorb valuable knowledge at the same time. You can find audio books on a variety of subjects that can teach you more and give you a break from the work day. Audio books let you revisit favorite and newly discovered authors while learning something new.
6. Find an Interesting Task
Set yourself up with a task that you can pour your energy and focus into throughout the day. Identify a project that you care about and work on it. This can help you relax and clear your mind at the same time.
7. Mindfulness
Mindfulness activities and exercises can help you to take a break and give your mind the rest it needs from work. Try listening to an ambient soundscape, or simply take a few minutes to close your eyes and think about something pleasant.
8. Utilize Available Resources
Take advantage of the resources available to you. A few resources that may be helpful are: looking up research about an industry or topic you’re interested in, reading books about relevant topics, or watching Youtube videos about a new skill. Not only can this use of resources help increase your knowledge, but it also looks productive from an outsider’s perspective.
9. Take Short Walks
Taking a few short walks throughout the day can help you generate more mental clarity and energy. Whether that’s around your office building, your neighborhood, or even just your own room–a short walk helps clear your head between tasks and rejuvenates you. Plus, if someone sees you walk by they can assume you’re hard at work.
10. Find a Hobby
Find an interesting hobby that you can do in short bursts throughout the day. This could be knitting, drawing, origami, or any number of creative activities. Hobbies provide an outlet for creativity while keeping you organized and on task. Not only that, but if someone sees you engaged in a hobby they can assume you are busy and productive.
No matter what job or role you take on, it’s important to look and feel productive. Utilizing online collaboration tools, taking notes, networking, catching up on sleep, listening to audio books, finding an interesting task, using available resources, and engaging in a hobby are all great strategies to stay productive while taking a break from work. Finding activities and exercises that help you unwind and refresh while still enacting a degree of productivity can help keep the day enjoyable and energized. The key is finding the right balance between productivity and relaxation that works best for you – and with these strategies, you can make sure that you’re making the most of your day.
