What do all nonprofit employees have in common?
The answer: Stress and burnout.
Nonprofit employees experience high levels of stress and even
burnout due to the huge workload that normally comes with a nonprofit
job. They come to work in the morning because they love their jobs, but
by the end of the day they are very exhausted and don't have the stamina
to be productive.
According to a recent post "Get Organized", time management is key. The article offers six easy tips that promise to make you more
productive.
Want it
Taking time to figure out how to juggle it all can be tough. If you
had time to spare, you wouldn't need to think about how to manage it in
the first place. But getting your life in order is worth the trouble,
says Dr. Estela Lopez, Vice Chancellor of the Connecticut State
University System. "The balancing act is a skill you will use all your
life - in college, when you have a family, and in your career."
Prioritize
You really can't do everything, and you shouldn't feel like
you have to. Never shortchange your studies. Beyond that, pick the
things you truly care about. Start by limiting yourself to one
volunteer opportunity a week, for instance, or whatever is comfortable
for you. Feel free to try new things, but don't say yes to every
opportunity that comes your way.
Have a System
You'll be amazed how much time is gained when you don't have to
search for your stuff, or when you know exactly what your plans are
ahead of time," explains author Jessie Morgenstern-Colon. Organize
everything you'll need for the day, from your work shoes to your
briefcase, the night before. Morgenstern-Colon also suggests having -
and sticking to!-- a color-coded schedule for every day of the week.
Just Do it
Sometimes you get nervous about all the things you have to get done,
and end up spending two hours checking your email instead of working.
Then you stress about how now you reallydon't have time to
finish anything, which leaves you feeling anxious and drained. It takes
will power to stop this cycle, but doing so will make your days go a
lot better. Don't spend time and energy stressing over how you have no
time---just do what needs to get done.
Take Care of Yourself
You yawn during meetings. Your mind wanders at your desk. Your eyes
glaze as soon as you get home from work. Chances are you're not taking
good care of your body. That Diet Coke and Milky Way bar may give you a
momentary boast, but they'll actually make you feel worse in the long
run. Those late night sessions so you can catch up on work also take
their toll.
Maybe you're thinking, "I already don't have enough time to
do what I want and need to do, and you want me to take more time to eat
and sleep?" But the fact is you would feel sharper and more energetic -
in other words, be able to do more stuff in the same amount of
time---if you just gave your body what it needs.
Parting Words: Make it a habit!
Sticking to a schedule can be tough at first, but it’s worth the
trouble. After about three weeks of doing something steadily, it will
become second nature.
Thanks to Suite101 for these helpful tips!