Rushing is stressful. You might think you can get more done by rushing, but in reality, you’re more likely to make mistakes and feel frazzled overall. A go-go-go mentality isn’t helping you achieve success any faster.

In fact, it just might be costing you your health and happiness.

Joel Garfinkle, a renowned leadership expert, says today’s culture is obsessed with rushing, which negatively impacts the ability to lead and damages your mind and body. If you feel like you’re always working in rush mode, read on. In this issue of PromoPro Daily, we share Garfinkle’s actionable ways you can break out of this cycle and relieve your work stress in the year ahead.

  1. Quit multitasking. When you try to do too much at one time, you’ll likely end up with several unfinished tasks instead of a couple of completed items. Instead, Garfinkle recommends moving from one item on your to-do list to the next, giving each one your full attention. It’s OK to take a small break like checking your phone or getting up to stretch before moving on to the next item. At the end of the day, you’ll probably feel happier and more successful than if you tried to tackle everything all at once.

  2. Don’t let the big projects intimidate you. It can feel overwhelming beginning a project that may take hours, days or longer. If you usually force yourself to relentlessly hammer away at it, Garfinkle says you are associating negativity with the work and stifling your creativity. It’s a better idea to break down as much as possible into smaller tasks. This allows you to feel progress and take small breaks with each milestone.

  3. Don’t allow interruptions. These could come from others or yourself. A colleague could interrupt you with a quick check-in, or you could interrupt yourself if you stop mid-task to respond to a message. Instead, practice good habits by setting boundaries. Give yourself uninterrupted time to concentrate. Garfinkle says you’ll end up feeling less stressed and less hurried overall.

  4. Stop stressing over the details. If you constantly nitpick every last detail of your work or others’ work, Garfinkle says you might be wasting your time. All that time spent in the details can make you feel rushed as you try to catch up on the day. He recommends looking at the big picture. Ask yourself what really matters.

  5. Don’t neglect yourself. In an effort to maximize productivity, you might skip lunch from time to time or go too long without taking a break. If you’re not taking care of your overall health and well-being, you won’t be working at your best. Garfinkle says it’s important to take breaks, eat well and stretch or walk often to improve your productivity and reduce stress.

  6. Remember that you’re human. You shouldn’t expect yourself to arrive early and stay late every workday. Recognize that achieving success in your role extends beyond tirelessly working at maximum capacity, Garfinkle says. If you tend to overwork, set boundaries for yourself. You’ll end up being more productive in the long run.

Remember that not everything is urgent. You don’t need to work from a place of perpetual frenzy. When you let go of the need to rush from one task to the next, you give yourself the ability to lead more effectively and think more creatively.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: Joel Garfinkle has been named one of the nation’s top 50 personal leadership coaches. He’s a keynote speaker, corporate trainer and author.