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There is so much going on in our world today! As someone who has a billion things going on in her life and a billion more thoughts filling her head, staying organized and on top of my schedule is one of my #1 priorities. This workload also means staying mindful of my capacity and the attention needed for each project. I’m sure that many of us have multiple tasks and deadlines to fulfill right now, and though that has its positives it also has its negatives, did you know that multitasking has actually been proven to have adverse effects on our overall productivity?
According to this article by Very Well Mind, multitasking is not only distracting, but it can also slow you down, create more mistakes and lead to impaired cognitive ability over time. Such changes in how your brain handles cognitions can cause more impulsivity, lower levels of focus, and lower executive control over time. On the flip side however, practicing mindfulness can lead to positive benefits in and outside of the workplace. According to this article by Positive Psychology, practicing mindfulness can lead to better task performance, stronger social relationships, more job satisfaction and motivation, and less workplace stress.
For me, organization and mindfulness go hand-in-hand. Having my work laid-out has helped keep my thoughts at bay while I recenter. As we continue to move into a more digital age, the list of resources we can use to stay on top of things and practice healthier refocusing also continues to grow. My work as a peer mental health educator and organizer for multiple organizations has gifted me with the knowledge of resources that can help with both. Here’s a list of (lucky number) seven FREE resources for re-centering yourself and keeping your thoughts organized!
This is for my fellow workaholics out there!
Organizational Tools:
The following resources are organizational tools that I’ve used throughout different jobs and extracurriculars. These platforms are also collaborative, which means they’re not only useful for personal tasks but also for ones that span across your team or organization. All platforms feature a free version, though for more extensive use you can also begin a paid plan.
Notion is a software that helps blend your work applications into one. It boasts the ability to help you manage your different responsibilities through simple note-taking, task management, project management, information sharing, and personal management. It’s attractive interface, many features and ease of use encourages both individual and collaborative work.
Trello is another platform that can act as a centralized information and task management hub. It relies more on visuals and the information you collect here is compiled into lists. These lists are then placed on cards on different boards so you can lay out your plans and easily ideate, plan, and manage projects. This is for less heavy-duty projects than the previously mentioned platforms but their free plan still covers resources useful for task management and workflow with customizable assets. If you want things to be a little more straightforward and simple in your next marketing plan, Trello is a great resource to consider!
Breaking tasks down and creating an outline for our work is something we should also commonly practice. Mind 42 is a site that allows you to create a “mind map” or map where you can create different points and connect them, with the option to include links at each point. This is a great tool for creating an outline before beginning your next project. This tool would be great for drafting a basic skeleton of your next marketing or public relations campaign!
Now that you’ve got your tasks more organized, it’s time we practiced mindfulness to keep this healthy train of thought chugging!
Practicing Mindfulness:
The following resources are sites aimed at increasing productivity in a healthy way. As public relations, marketing, or communication agents, we are always on the move. However, although we might easily get swept up in other things we still need to be mindful of our capacity in order to create our best works. When you feel like you are ramming your creativity gene into a brick wall, the campaign can wait just a few minutes for you to recenter. Here are a few resources which include sites appealing to your senses as well.
Had a busy day? Meetings scheduled back-to-back? The Pomodoro Technique is a technique designed to maximize your productivity without burning you out. Users can visit the site to take charge of their focus in a healthier way by timing themselves in 25 minute increments with five to fifteen minute long break after. This will help curb burnout and hold you accountable for your mental health when working. The goal here is less procrastination, more focus, and overall improved productivity!
Easily distracted? Is there so much to do that you can’t focus? In this digital age, it’s easier to click around and open multiple tabs at once. It can feel hard to pay attention to just one thing, however The Quiet Place Project is a site that takes you through a calming 90 second exercise where you cycle through gentle dialogue meant to soothe and reassure
your soul.
Have a hard time sitting still? Need to clear your mind? Then let’s do nothing for 2 minutes! Simply doing nothing for 2 minutes can also be beneficial for our health, especially if we have been working hard and have had our minds full with other things. Instead of doing something 24/7 all day every day, you sit in front of a relaxing ocean and have to focus on just being present in that moment for 2 minutes. It can definitely be a challenge, but there are benefits to doing nothing as well!
A cult classic, Ian’s Messy Desk is an older blog where you can find articles and information for personal development. First founded by Ian McKenzie, articles cover not only self-help topics but also topics involving mentoring, teaching, and coaching. The blog also encourages sharing and acts as a community hub where guests can also submit their own blogs. Here, you can read or join in on the knowledge others are exchanging over this site. Find a new hobby or read a self-affirming post in your down time!
Rain For Me is a sound-based relaxation tool where users can press a button to play the sound of different rainfall, which varies from a light drizzle to a windy storm. If you want ambient sound without distraction, this rainfall can help recreate the magical feeling of watching the rainfall from the window while you are inside of your warm house. It makes you think of raindrops racing each other and of cold days with thick blankets.
(Source: http://rainfor.me/)
Want noise without the distractions? Both an app and a website, this platform allows visitors to choose background noise for work from a variety of different sounds. This site even has the cool feature of being able to adjust each of the sounds individually! They have expanded to include 10 free sounds with an additional 13 available for a fee. So whether you want to feel like you’re in a coffee shop with a little bit of rain, birdsong, and coffee shop audio, or if you want to envision the stars at night as you sit by the campfire with crickets chirping, you can easily be the curator of your own work track!
(Source: A Soft Murmur)
Thank you for reading! I hope that these tools will also be able to aid you on your own journey! Take care and make sure to come back and visit again. Have a good (insert time here)!