It’s almost time for those clocks to spring ahead for Daylight Saving Time 2016! Sunday, March 13, 2016 we will move our clocks forward, losing one hour of daylight in the morning in exchange for those long summer nights. In general, “losing” an hour in the Spring is harder to adjust to than “gaining” an hour in the Fall for most people.

Are you looking to avoid that groggy, confused, and disheveled feeling that typically accompanies this weekend’s time change? If you’re dreading the inevitable return to work Monday for fear of sleep deprivation and lack of time to complete the day’s tasks then these 7 tips are for you! To help combat the upcoming loss of time, MAU offers these 7 tips to help make the most of your time at work during the Daylight Saving’s transition.

It is important to remember that time is a tool. It can be divided, saved, manipulated, and shared, and it is our responsibility to make the most of it! Help beat the Daylight Saving Time blues with these productivity tips.

Tip1: Set Time Aside to Create a Plan

Poor preparation promotes poor performance (try saying that 5x fast)! Prep for the coming day by taking 10-15 minutes the night before to outline your day. By carving out an allotted amount of time, you can help keep yourself on task without taking away valuable time during your day.

Tip 2: Top Priorities Should be Tackled First

Focus on what really matters. Your top priorities may not be the most enjoyable or quickest to finish, but you have to get them done. By knocking out the top priorities first, you are helping yourself to avoid the dreaded beast that is procrastination.

Tip 3: Download Productivity Apps

For all those times you wish you had a personal assistant to help you manage you day to day activities, remember, “There’s an app for that!” Mobile applications have become a major part of our daily lives. Help yourself improve upon your efficiency, availability, and accuracy with the help of productivity apps. Not sure where to start? Take a look at Wired.com’s recommended list of productivity apps.

Step 4: Don’t be Afraid to Take Breaks

Taking effective breaks can help to increase your productivity. As discussed earlier, when setting time aside to create a plan for the day, don’t forget to schedule breaks. Try taking a walk outside, exercising, or making it a social break. These activities will allow you to recharge and refocus before getting back to work.

Step 5: Avoid Heavy Lunches

How are your eating habits contributing to your productivity at work? First, you must understand that your body naturally diverts blood flow away from the brain to help with the digestive process. When you consume large meals at lunchtime that require your digestive system to put in extra work, you are only adding to your afternoon fatigue. Try eating smaller lunch portions and healthy snacks to help maintain optimal productivity while at work.

Step 6: Make Your Desk Aesthetically Pleasing

Have you ever heard the saying, “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life?” This statement is true, because love and happiness are synonymous. If you can’t love what you do, you should at least love your work space, right? Not only is it important to have a desk / work space that is free from clutter and organized, you should make it aesthetically pleasing. Studies show that a clean, energetic space adds to overall productivity and happiness during the day.

Step 7: Set a Routine Sleep Schedule

Although this last tip may be easier said than done, sleep is vital to your productivity at work. Springing our clocks forward during Daylight Saving Time only makes this task more challenging. If you are like the millions of other people who struggle to set a regular sleep schedule during the time shift, you may want to give this trick a try. Many experts suggest progressively moving clocks forward 10-15 minutes a day leading up to March 13, 2016 to help your body naturally adjust to the time change.

It’s time to stop wondering, “Where did the day go?” and start being deliberate with your time usage! Time management is the key to efficient working. Through organization, prioritizing, and a little planning, you can make the most of your time at work.

Looking to put your new time management skills to work? Find out how you can join the MAU team by applying for our internal positions.

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