Hey guys it's Alicia here with some new tips! 👀 Today we're going to look at how to find the right balance between productivity and mental health for 2025.
Key points
Prioritise your tasks with the 80/20 method
Adopt an effective morning routine
Cut out digital distractions
Take regular breaks
Cultivate a soothing work environment
Take care of your mental well-being
Introduction
With 2025 just around the corner, knowing how to manage your time better, stay productive and cultivate your well-being is more crucial than ever.
Here are 6 practical tips with concrete examples for applying these principles on a daily basis.
1. Prioritise your tasks with the 80/20 method
Apply the Pareto principle: 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. Identify the tasks that have the greatest impact on your objectives and focus your energy on them. This will enable you to do less, but better, while avoiding overload.
Use a tool like Trello or Notion to classify your tasks as ‘priority’ and ‘non-essential’.
2. Adopt an effective morning routine
A well thought-out morning routine can transform your day. Include activities that boost your energy and clarify your priorities, such as meditation, exercise or simply taking five minutes to plan your day.
For example, you could start your morning with 10 minutes of meditation using an app like Calm or Headspace to calm your mind.
Then, take a moment to quickly define your main goals, either in a notebook or with an app like Todoist, before even checking your emails.
3. Cut out digital distractions
Incessant notifications, low-priority emails and endless scrolling are formidable enemies of productivity. To counter this, create screen-free time slots, and adopt tools like ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode on your phone during your moments of concentration.
You can also use extensions like StayFocusd on your browser to limit access to social networks, so you can stay focused on your essential tasks.
What's more, instead of constantly checking your emails, block off a specific time each day, for example between 11am and 12pm, to deal with your messages all at once, allowing you to stay focused on the rest of your work.
4. Take regular breaks
Productivity is not a never-ending race. Studies show that short but frequent breaks, such as the Pomodoro method (25 minutes work, 5 minutes break), can considerably improve your concentration and reduce mental fatigue.
For example, you could try this method by working for 25 minutes, then taking 5 minutes to stretch, go for a short walk or have a glass of water.
And during your lunch break, get away from your desk, even if it's just to walk outside for 10 minutes. These breaks allow your brain to recharge and tackle the rest of the day more effectively.
5. Cultivate a soothing work environment
A clutter-free, ergonomic workspace can have a positive impact on your mood and efficiency. Add some personal touches: a plant, pleasant lighting or relaxing background music.
6. Take care of your mental well-being
Well-being at work is based on a balance between professional and personal life. To achieve this, it's essential to set clear limits: for example, you can cut off work emails after 7pm to preserve your personal time.
At the same time, include activities that relax you, such as a session of yoga, reading, or even 15 minutes of anti-stress colouring to decompress.
If the stress becomes too intense, practise simple breathing exercises, such as the 4-7-8 technique: inhale for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 7 seconds, then exhale for 8 seconds. These small actions help you keep control of your mental well-being, even during periods of intense pressure.
Conclusion
In 2025, the aim is not just to work more, but to work better. By adopting simple but effective habits, you can not only increase your productivity, but also preserve your mental and physical health.
So, ready to conquer 2025 without sacrificing your peace of mind? 😊