Laser Focus

John Von Arnim on Essential Strategies for a More Productive Work Day.

Unproductive busyness has become the scourge of our times. According to a Harvard study, many of the things we choose to do are merely justifications to keep ourselves busy. What’s the answer as you exhaust yourself with a day job, a podcast, a start-up business on the side or anything else you decide to squeeze into your life as evidence of a successful working life? Start with taking the time to reflect and getting rid of habits that sabotage everything you do.

1 DE-QUASIMODO

Everywhere you look people are locked into Hunchback of Notre Dame slumps as they peer at computer screens and smartphones. A habit that’s not only bad for body alignment, it can lead to tension headaches, neck and back pain. Correcting your posture doesn’t begin and end with looking taller and more dominant, it means developing a neutral spine to reinforce the three natural hollows of your body – at the base of the neck, the middle and lower back. Calling time on slouching boosts mental performance and concentration because it increases testosterone production and improves your ability to relax and focus on problems.

2 PAY DOWN YOUR SLEEP DEFICIT