You're facing a high-stress workday ahead. How can you ensure your focus and productivity stay intact?

One thing I have found useful is trying as much as possible to set realistic goals by breaking your work or tasks into achievable chunks and setting a separate and specific goal for each chunk.

Make ‘me time’ a priority in the morning. Without exception. No matter how early your business obligations need you to get up. Get up 45 minutes early. Take a walk. Do nothing. Observe your thoughts. After that, join the circus.

Be prepared for all possible escenarios! That is one thing that makes me feel confident, since I try to have a plan that can be set for the situations that the day will bring. Things can go to the extreme, sure, but I have rehearsed In my mind for the many possibilities that can arise. Set your mind since you wake up: your morning rutine should include a moment to pray, meditate, or exercise, anything that makes you feel centered. Easier said than done, but it will work wonders for you.

The awareness of the breath and the body, for me, it's a good way. Exhale can release tensions. The focus on the body's feelings can prevent tensions, specially in the shoulders. Feel your breath. Exhale (inhale)Feel your shoulder Exhale and relax

One thing I have found helpful is focusing on small, attainable tasks will definitely build momentum and boost motivation throughout the day. It’s like creating a chain of success that keeps you moving forward.

One practice that I've found helpful is Transcendental Meditation (TM) which can be found on tm.org. I spend twenty minutes, twice a day, quieting my mind by focusing on the sound or vibration that I learned through TM. This, along with reading the Word, prayer, and long walks, helps me focus on my purpose, maintain a balanced mind, and release any stress that might arise. These practices, combined with healthy eating habits, proper hydration, and a restful night's sleep, all contribute to living a purposeful life and tapping into our full potential.

Prioritize Tasks: Start by listing all the tasks you need to complete and prioritize them. Focus on the most critical tasks first. Break Tasks into Smaller Steps: Breaking larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps can make them feel less overwhelming and easier to tackle. Take Regular Breaks: Short breaks can help you recharge and maintain focus throughout the day. Consider techniques like the Pomodoro Technique, which involves working for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break. Practice Mindfulness: Incorporating mindfulness practices, such as deep breathing or meditation, can help reduce stress and improve concentration3. Stay Hydrated and Eat Well. Use of EFT technology which releases stress from meridian points.

Begin your day with a purposeful morning routine to cultivate focus, clarity, and productivity. Start with a brief 5-10 minute meditation or deep breathing exercise to calm your mind, center yourself, and set intentions. This mindfulness practice helps quiet mental chatter, reduces stress, and boosts mental clarity, preparing you to tackle financial risk analysis tasks with precision, creativity, and confidence. By starting your day with mindfulness, you'll establish a positive tone and unlock your full potential.

To maintain focus and productivity during a high-stress workday, start by setting clear priorities and breaking tasks into manageable chunks. Practice mindfulness by taking short breaks to breathe deeply or meditate, which helps reset your mind and reduce stress. Stay hydrated, and fuel your body with healthy snacks to keep your energy up. Finally, embrace a positive mindset, reminding yourself that you can handle the challenges ahead, and focus on one task at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Ein strukturierter Start in den Tag kann Wunder wirken. Planen Sie Ihre Aufgaben und bereiten Sie alles vor, was Sie benötigen, um den Tag reibungslos zu beginnen.

One day at a time, one task at a time. Start with the hardest task to simplest-easiest task OR prioritize most important and urgent task to least important not-urgent task.

For those days that one’s own life arrests your attention I find Kriya breath work practice to be a great tool in regrounding energy to a calm composure …and inspiring a more positive loving attitude

Prioritizing tasks and tackling them one at a time can be a useful strategy, but it’s also important to remember you most likely have good resources including colleagues. It’s easy as a conscientious person to feel the weight of responsibility on a personal level. Are you literally alone in whatever lies ahead? Question if that’s 100% true. Additionally, connecting is one of the most valuable ways to lower stress and is a proven strategy for hacking the nervous system, aka calming your nerves.

Prioritize tasks to maximize productivity and minimize stress. Identify critical items on your to-do list, focusing on high-impact, time-sensitive, or complex tasks. Tackle these challenging tasks first, when your energy and concentration are highest. By addressing critical tasks upfront, you'll make significant progress, reduce stress, and create momentum for the rest of your day, setting yourself up for success in financial risk analysis and other demanding tasks.

Nutzen Sie Methoden wie die Eisenhower-Matrix, um wichtige und dringende Aufgaben zu identifizieren und zuerst zu erledigen. Das hilft, den Überblick zu behalten und Stress zu reduzieren.

Have you ever thought about how and when you work best? When are you most efficient and on it? We've all experienced these moments but we don't always lock them in to be used for us in the most meaningul manner. Whilst I agree you can prioritise tasks, Eat the Frog etc...they are based on motivation which is fickle and reset every day. If you lock into the hours of the day and the routine and the location of where you are most productive and repeat this, most days won't feel high stress. For me, I work best during the hours of 9.30am to 1pm. I am most efficient and productive. I use this time to dive deep into focused work and tasks. I prep the 9.30am with 1 hour of routine = hydration, breathwork, mobility and journalling.

To manage a high-stress workday as a working mum and CLIL teacher/trainer, I focus on a few key strategies: start with a calming morning routine, organize tasks and delegate where possible, set realistic goals, break down complex tasks, take short mindful breaks, remain adaptable, stay connected with colleagues, and practice self-compassion. These strategies help me balance the demands of both teaching and motherhood while maintaining focus and productivity.

The key component here is not to take any information in during your break. The moment you process any information (even a LinkedIn post or a podcast) your brain is in work mode. Only when your not taking in any information a part of our brain is activated (the Default Mode Network) and that part is crucial for recharging your brain. TLDR: a break with your phone is not a break but merely a change of topic but still work. For our brain there is no difference between Excel and Instagram 😄

Check out the tips in my #deskercise series. Simple, quick & useful quick fixes at work. The key though is actually TAKING the time to do it. So set a timer! 3mins every hour. Make things simple.

Take regular breaks to recharge and maintain peak productivity. Every 90 minutes, step away from your desk to stretch, move around, and refresh your mind. This brief pause helps reduce mental fatigue, prevent burnout, and increase focus. Use this time to grab a snack, chat with colleagues, or practice relaxation techniques, returning to your financial risk analysis tasks with renewed energy, clarity, and accuracy.

Regelmäßige Pausen sind wichtig, um den Geist frisch zu halten. Kurze Spaziergänge oder einfache Dehnübungen können helfen, die Konzentration wiederherzustellen.

Je suggère d’ajouter à ces temps de pauses très importants en extérieur des respirations profondes et régulièrement afin d’apporter suffisamment d’oxygène aux cellules, d’apaiser le système nerveux et de booster l’activité nerveuse.

One thing very helpful during these breaks is using some chi grounding. Slightly relaxing knees while standing upright and consciously sinking your energy creates a great energy gain as well as clearing up thinking and organizing.

De fato, um período de pausa durante o dia é extremamente necessário para que possamos reorganizar nossas ideias e tomar decisões acertadas em situações difíceis ou ao enfrentar problemas. Como analista bioenergética, recomendo exercícios de grounding que auxiliam na autopercepção e no reconhecimento da realidade, o que nos remete a soluções criativas e assertivas. Outra sugestão é a massagem bioenergética, que seria ideal se realizada por um profissional treinado no próprio ambiente de trabalho. No entanto, na ausência dessa possibilidade, existe também a automassagem bioenergética que, associada aos exercícios de grounding, pode nos trazer bastante conforto.

Breaks are essential for getting managing a difficult day. I advise my clients to plan their lily pads! You’re swimming in mucky, unclear water and aren’t sure how you’ll get to the other side. You don’t have to swim across the pond, you just have to make it to the next resting place. Then dive back in and repeat.

Hydration is essential for both cognitive performance and stress reduction. Have a bottle of water on your desk and take frequent sips from it. Fatigue and trouble focussing can result from dehydration, which exacerbates stress. Maintaining proper hydration will help your body handle stress better and keep your mind focused on the activities at hand.

Funny! Staying hydrated is something I emphasize as a counselor too. When my clients are super stressed, I always tell them to keep it simple and drink enough water! Staying hydrated isn't just good for you; it also forces you to take much-needed bio-breaks. Let's be real, stepping away from a stressful task for a bathroom break can do wonders for your focus and stamina. So, when the pressure’s on, stick with the basics—sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference!

A regular habit of staying hydrated maintains optimal focus and creativity. Also attending to anxiety and stress promotes indications when breath work comes in handy. One great habit is stomach breathing through the nose on a count of four and exhale breathing through the mouth for a count of eight. Focusing on where your body is holding tension while doing this kind of breathing assures release, freeing up cognitive abilities.

Stay hydrated to optimize stress resilience and cognitive performance. Keep a water bottle at your desk and sip regularly throughout the day. Dehydration can impair focus, memory, and mood, exacerbating stress. Drinking water helps maintain blood flow, oxygenation, and nutrient delivery to the brain, supporting clear thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Prioritize hydration to perform at your best in financial risk analysis and other demanding tasks, and reduce stress and fatigue.

Ausreichend Wasser zu trinken ist entscheidend für die körperliche und geistige Leistungsfähigkeit. Halten Sie immer eine Wasserflasche griffbereit.

Je suggère d’aborder également la question de la nutrition : de potentielles carences en nutriments peuvent mettre le corps et l’esprit en état de tension et accentuer les états de stress.

Klare und effektive Kommunikation kann Missverständnisse vermeiden und die Zusammenarbeit verbessern. Nehmen Sie sich Zeit, um Ihre Gedanken zu ordnen und klar zu kommunizieren.

Clear and respectful communication is vital to minimizing workplace stress. By actively listening, clarifying expectations, and expressing yourself assertively, you can prevent misunderstandings and conflicts. Regularly check-in with colleagues, ask questions, and confirm understanding to ensure everyone is on the same page. Effective communication fosters a positive work environment, builds trust, and reduces stress, allowing you to focus on financial risk analysis and other tasks with confidence and collaboration.

On a high-stress workday, start by taking a few quiet moments to reflect on what’s most important. Set clear, manageable goals for yourself and breathe deeply or do a quick meditation to calm your mind. Break your tasks into smaller chunks and handle them one at a time, making sure to take short breaks to refresh. This mindful approach helps you stay focused and keep your productivity high, even when the pressure is on.

Am Ende des Tages kurz innezuhalten und über das Erreichte nachzudenken, kann helfen, den Tag abzuschließen und sich auf den nächsten vorzubereiten. Achtsamkeitstechniken wie Meditation können ebenfalls nützlich sein.

Think about your environment. Check in with yourself, is it too dark, light, noisy or even too quiet? Too hot or cold? Does it smell nice? Are you comfortable at your desk? Use your senses to create a great environment to not only take a break in but also to help you stay focused and increase productivity when you are working.