Handy tools for better focus

You probably know it; a full agenda, you run from consultation to team call, the deadlines are looming over your working day and you 'have' to 'do' everything at home too. What sustainable tools can you use to get more job satisfaction?

In this blog, I'll give you a number of tricks to gauge your work experience and reduce stress. More insight into your work experience helps you focus on the positive things about your work. After all, our brain prefers to focus on the negative things. You can also take action where necessary, instead of just getting carried away by the issues of the day.

Create categories

First of all, you will categorize the things you experience into two groups: obstacles and resources. Obstacles are aspects of your work experience that stand in the way of a positive experience. Raw materials are aspects of the same work experience that actually fuel your positive work experience.

The goal is to lower or even remove the obstacles as much as possible while increasing and expanding resources.

Obstacles and resources

Within the obstacles and resources, there are four categories into which you can subdivide them. These categories help you get started but are not rigid frameworks. Don't hesitate too much about which category something belongs to and don't try to write something in each category at all costs. Sometimes something is there and sometimes it isn't.

These categories are task, relational, organizational, and personal.

Examples of task hurdles/raw materials include:

• Customer contact
• Administrative jobs
• Deadlines
• Be creative
• Variety
• Challenge

These can all be raw materials that give you a positive work experience. But they can also be an obstacle. For example, where administration is an obstacle for one person, it can be a raw material for another.

1. Relationalobstacles and raw materials are aspects related to our contact with other people.

• Contact with customers
• compliments
• Negative relationship with your supervisor
• Friendly team
• Good cooperation

2. Organizational barriers and raw materials are aspects of the organization that can fuel or hinder your work experience.

• Good software packages
• Stuck computers
• Organization values and standards
• Personal development

3. The last category is personally. Our personal life has a major impact on our work experience. If we can recognize and map this, we can deal with it much better.

• Confidence
• Work-life balance
• Sleep deprivation
• Physical and mental health

Handles:

The table below provides you with tools to assess your own work experience. In the different categories (if they apply), enter what you experience in your work.

Once you have completed these parts of your work experience, you can visit them one by one and see if you can do anything with them. For example, could you trade tasks with a colleague that gives you energy and they don't, expanding your resources? Or can you talk to management about a new software package that will help you perform your tasks better? Does your personal insecurity stand in your way? Maybe there is room for a coach who can help you get started with this? In the OOPKOP marketplace, you will find countless experts who can help you.

TIP:

Above all, don't forget the human parts of your work. Research indicates that these social aspects have the biggest (negative and positive) impact on your work experience. So don't shy away from resolving a conflict and invest an extra ten minutes in a cup of coffee or a walk with a colleague.

The power of repetition

Schedule half an hour per month to repeat this process. You'll find that this is getting easier and that you're also better able to identify these aspects of your work experience as you experience them. This allows you to respond more quickly and a positive work experience remains always your focus.

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