Start your day with positivity

Take a minute to list out three things you are grateful for—that could be as simple as a great night’s sleep or the latte you had. You can do this while you drink said latte or when you first get to your desk

Gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. So, it’s important to wake up and reset your compass before you start your day, and definitely before you get to work. 

Plan your day, but don’t overbook yourself

Knowing what you’re doing during the workday can go a long way to helping you actually get stuff done. We’ve known for a while that to-do lists can be a powerful tool, but why? Researchers from Florida State University found, committing to a specific plan for a goal may therefore not only facilitate attainment of the goal but may also free cognitive resources for other pursuits.

But to-do lists can do more than just setting your work tasks for the day—they can also be used to plan breaks. Along with identifying three things you want to accomplish today, in between each on your calendar, list three different ways you can take a break from work.

Research shows that even a five-minute break taken at the right time has big benefits. If you’ve already planned what you want to do during that time, you can just dive right in and enjoy that break.

Make time for curiosity

It’s so easy to get caught up in day-to-day, hour-to-hour work. So, you have to find time to be curious. Helps us learn about our clients and their industries, ultimately leading to creative solutions. That’s why I always encourage my employees to take time to explore and go deeper.

According to research, students who are curious have been found to perform better in school, and curious people tend to come up with more creative solutions in the workplace. The research shows that piquing people’s curiosity can influence their choices by steering them away from tempting desires, like unhealthy foods or taking the elevator, and toward less tempting, but healthier options, such as buying more fresh produce or taking the stairs. So make a conscious effort to explore, research, and think.