How can you make your work healthier?
I'm not going to talk about the "longevity" trend.
I'm talking about simple, practical hints that can make your life and work a little better.
Here are a few things that have improved my daily routine as a social media manager (sedentary work):
No electronics first thing in the morning – otherwise, I'll end up spending the next two hours scrolling Reels, checking emails, reading articles, and getting distracted.
A 15 – 30 minute walk in the morning – to get some sunlight and vitamin D, especially since I've been dealing with hair loss.
Changing my working position throughout the day – a standing desk and sometimes even working while lying on my stomach in the sphinx pose to give my back a break.
Working on a laptop instead of my phone – constantly staring at a tiny screen isn't doing my eyes any favours, it is better to have a big screen.
Alternating work with physical activity – luckily, I have a flexible schedule, so after a couple of hours, I'll get up to exercise or do something away from the screen.
What small habit has helped you stay focused and also take better care of your body?
Replies
Scarlett.
For me the biggest improvement has been creating clearer boundaries around work.
1. Spending time with my family helps me disconnect and recharge.
2. I also try to check my phone only at specific times instead of reacting to every notification throughout the day.
3. Another thing that helps is working in dedicated blocks for different tasks. When each type of work has its own time slot, it becomes much easier to stay focused and avoid constantly switching between things.
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@byalexai how much time do you spend over work daily?
Amazing @busmark_w_nika For me, it's blocking the first hour of the day for deep work before opening Slack, LinkedIn, or email. That one habit has probably saved me more hours than any productivity tool.
but will surely plan a detailed list, to feel more in control
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@arshita_sharma I am happy that another person is aware of how important it is to focus since the morning :)
I love the 'go for a walk'/'work on yourself' type suggestions - but I personally really struggle to do that if I have a to-do list looming, it'll occupy my mind and I get frustrated as opposed to calm.
I often need to get one achievement ticked off, one thing from the list DONE before I can start to orchestrate the rest of the day better. It's like an itch otherwise.
Saying that, if you can, I completely agree. Some of my best brain waves have come whilst doing exercise etc. It's a road hump I wish I could navigate better. Physical activity is undeniably a wonder-drug when it comes to productivity if you can get disciplined with it.
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@danielboardman the thing is that when I do not have anything to do, I always create something because I like to have my mind busy. I think that I have a workaholic problem. :D
@busmark_w_nika haha, relatable! :)
The "phone in another room" idea is something I started doing recently too. I used to keep it face-down on my desk, but I'd still end up checking every notification.
One thing that's helped me is blocking out an hour where I only work on one problem before looking at messages or emails. I get a lot more done than when I'm constantly switching contexts.
It's funny how the biggest productivity improvements often come from changing habits rather than buying new tools.
@pranay19 Nice! Simple habit, but surprisingly effective.
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@vijaykanna56 It is cool with phones, but what about laptops? Because 95% of my work is done there :D
@busmark_w_nika That's a great point . If you could remove just one thing from your laptop for a week—Slack, email, browser tabs, or social media—which do you think would improve your focus the most?
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@vijaykanna56 I think that social media for sure :D LinkedIn sometimes takes me 2 hours per day :D
I'm grateful I have a beautiful backyard and gardens that I can enjoy. I take a few small breaks throughout the day - I take the dogs out with me, go feed the chickens, harvest some veggies, and enjoy the sunshine :)
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@anna_ludwinowski This is not so often (in my circles at least), and I honestly admire anybody who has these hobbies :)
@anna_ludwinowski Chickens, gardens, dogs, and still coaching Founders through their pricing and positioning while building your own bizdev tool, that is already a lot to watch before September adds a fourth thing to the list. With 33 years of fixing other people's business foundations, I would guess you already have a sharp eye for the one signal that tells you a client is quietly stuck versus just slow. Genuinely curious whether that same instinct works pointed at your own businesses, or whether it is easier to catch the warning sign in someone else's numbers than in your own. I built FounderFlow after noticing I was better at diagnosing that gap for other founders in conversation than for my own three businesses staring at a spreadsheet, curious if coaches run into the same blind spot with their own operations.
RunEvr
@busmark_w_nika Love this list! It turns out we have quite a few habits in common))
Like you, I avoid small screens whenever possible - I work either on my PC or with my laptop connected to a large monitor. I find it much easier to stay focused and navigate everything without getting frustrated.
I'm also a big believer in balancing work with movement. I spend about 1.5 hours a day exercising, and although it takes time away from work, I'm far more productive during the hours I do work.
Another one I'd add is staying hydrated. Having a big glass of water next to my keyboard helps me stay focused throughout the day.
I never scroll social media - not before bed, not after waking up, and not during the workday.
Protecting my sleep quality is another non-negotiable for me.
It's interesting how many of these "small" habits end up having such a big impact.
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@adana To be honest... I scroll a lot, but what can I do? Scrolling is a part of my job? :DD
RunEvr
@busmark_w_nika Haha, actually, while writing that part about scrolling, I was thinking about your role specifically.
In your case, scrolling is not just scrolling - it’s part of the job.
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@adana right, I am paid for that :D
Love this! One small habit that has helped me is taking short movement breaks between focused work sessions. It helps me avoid getting stuck in front of the screen for hours and usually makes me come back with better focus.
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@stephanie_t0317 They are the best for refreshing our minds! :D :)
@busmark_w_nika Exactly!
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@new_user___15220260fd153a4893b7802 GL with the building! :)
@busmark_w_nika
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@new_user___15220260fd153a4893b7802 Thank you so much :)
Here are a few things that have worked for me:
Reading in the morning, instead of using technology.
Doing a few jumping jacks, push-ups, or squats between each completed task.
Taking a 5-minute break for every 30 minutes of productivity or a 10-minute break for every hour. This helps keep you from becoming so focused that you lose interest, but not too distracted. You can experiment with different times to see which ratio works.
Spending time with family/friends to cool down and reset.
These seem to help me stay active and productive, although sometimes I don't stick with them.
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@jett_bialek Love your whole productivity schedule – especially the point 2! :D What book are you reading right now! :)
@busmark_w_nika Thank you! The book I am reading is the Bible.
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@jett_bialek Aaaa, new or old order? :)
@busmark_w_nika I'm reading from the Old Testament :)
minimalist phone: reduce your screentime
@pranay19 I am trying to optimise my life just by doing what I love! :)