The mindful productivity audit: 10 questions to improve your well-being at work
Embarking on a journey of mindful productivity can transform your work experience. This exploration begins with ten critical questions, designed to enhance your well-being and efficiency in the workplace. Let's delve into this introspective audit and unlock a healthier, more productive you.
Tim mindful productivity audit
A way to assess your current systems so you can perform better in your work while taking care of your mind
- Cover crucial areas of mindful productivity such as time management, metacognition, and mental energy
- To make the most of your audit, block at least one hour of quiet time, and grab a notebook or open your note-taking app
- Because everyone is different, the audit won’t give you easy answers to fix what’s broken in your personal productivity systems
How do I cultivate my curiosity?
Read, learn, and explore new ideas
- Go on an information diet
- Curate your inbox with high-quality content
- Join learning communities
- Attend educational events
- Take notes after interesting conversations
- Playful exploration
- Experiment
Is my physical workspace setting me up for success?
Assess how your physical workspace is affecting your productivity, creativity, and mental health.
- Is the chair comfortable, my posture, my screen at eye level, and how enjoyable is my workspace in general? Have a dedicated space for working.
How do I know the work day is over?
Assess how you currently decide when to stop working
- A common approach is a hard stop at a specific time
- Another approach is to give yourself a certain number of work hours per day
- You can shift your focus from time to actual productivity by creating an adequate list of tasks at the beginning of the day
How much time do I dedicate to deep work during a typical day?
Research studies suggest that a knowledge worker should really only strive for four hours of deep creative work per day-the kind of focused, highly productive, and output-driven work that’s mentally demanding but highly rewarding.
- Four hours of creative work a day is about the limit for a mathematician.
What is the last thing I do in the evening?
Winding down before you go to bed will help you sleep better, manage unnecessary stress, and prepare your mind for the next day.
- Other best practices
- Spend some time writing down everything you usually do during the last hour of a typical day
- Ban devices from the bedroom
How many breaks do I take during a typical day?
Short breaks (5 to 10 minutes) every hour or so
- Longer breaks (at least 30 minutes)every two to four hours
- Use these breaks for moving your body, doing a short meditation or deep breathing session, letting your mind wander, chatting with peers, going outside to get some sunlight, exercise, etc.
Do I have space for self-reflection during the week?
A weekly review is one of the most powerful ways to direct your life with intention
- Another way to reflect is journaling, which is less structured and goal-oriented but offers added mental health benefits
- Pick a consistent day, time, and place to reflect
What is the first thing I do in the morning?
Review your morning routine
- A routine you have consciously designed around your goals is always going to be better than one based on deeply ingrained habits you haven’t taken the time to think about
- Think about what could be improved
How do I manage my calendar?
Open your calendar application, and review a typical week.
- How many events are there? What events were created by you versus invitations received from others? Could any of these meetings have been replaced by an email, a shared document, or another format?
- Be especially careful to notice any patterns of passive face time.
Is my digital workspace setting me up for success?
Being proactive when it comes to our digital workspace can reduce our cognitive load, and positively impact our creativity, productivity, and mental health.
- Perform an audit of your digital workspace
- What apps are currently installed? Which ones do I regularly use? What tools do I use?