Recreation workers are potentially some of the busiest healthcare professionals there are. A great deal of expectation is put upon them, especially during the COVID- 19 pandemic. Recreation workers and professionals have never been more overworked, stressed, and ironically… isolated. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is paramount to keep stress levels, anxieties, and frustrations at bay. On top of all this, Recreation workers are often more prone to saying yes to everything. They want to support and care for the clients so say yes to everything as a way of pleasing and caring for clients, family, and management. But what happens when workplace stress is too much to handle?
Creating and planning recreation programs and activities for isolated clients can be challenging nowadays. We want nothing but the best for our clients, to run successful programs care for both ourselves, our clients, and the community. But how do we define success? We don’t! We don’t have to define it, as the definition of success varies for each person. But ONE common thing about successful people, and programs, is that they take charge of their time and energy and know what to focus on. That’s what differs them from unsuccessful people.
In this article, we will highlight the tips and strategies on how to keep your head above water so you can create the best recreation programs for your clients. Consequently, making you feel inspired, free and in control during this turbulent time.
Creating and planning recreation programs for isolated clients is a challenging duty. We want nothing but the best for our clients and the community. A successful program is made by successful people who take charge of their time and energy. These kinds of people have a clear idea of what their goals are and what to focus on.
What are the chances that the busiest people are the most productive? Most people believe that being busy is synonymous with being productive. They work hard to finish a lot of tasks and yet they don’t get any closer to the finish line. The inability to meet deadlines and produce efficient outputs results in unwanted stress and pressure. Subsequently, taking a toll on our mental health.
Productivity is all about being mindful of what to focus on. Productive people, and recreation workers, use their time and resources wisely to achieve their goals without compromising their wellbeing.
Here are three simple and highly effective steps to boost your productivity.
Three Steps to Being More Productive
Step 1: Set Up Clear Goals!
Identify your north star and prioritize the goals that help you achieve it. Your north star is the personal mission that you want to achieve. It might help to sit and write down all your goals. It could be having a safe and encouraging community, more time to plan and create activities, hiring more staff and volunteers, or maintaining a healthy work-life balance. It will be easier to accomplish these goals if you know exactly what matters to you.
Step 2: Plan Your Strategy!
A successful program comes from successful planning. Take baby steps and make one positive choice after another. Furthermore, look for the little victories you achieve along the way. These “mini-victories” are simple, easily achievable goals that you can see tangible progress rather quickly. If you see fast results, you will feel a sense of accomplishment and will be inspired to take on the next goals.
I see recreation workers, in their endless motivation, skip this step and just get started. They forget to stop, plan and strategize. It’s something I’ve had to learn over time but it’s a process that continues to pay off!
Step 3: Get There Effortlessly!
The key to attaining a successful recreation program effortlessly is an efficient planning strategy. Focus on the important things that can help you get where you want to be instead of trying to do everything at once.
Below are tips to identify what is worth focusing on:
1. Take a Step Back
Take a step back and see the whole situation with a bird’s eye view. Identify the things that aren’t helping you achieve your goals. This will allow you to let go of the unnecessary things that could cause distractions. In addition, taking a step back can help you re-direct your path towards achieving your goal.
2. Ask Questions
Know the right questions to ask yourself. What is your key goal? What do you really need? What is the simplest way to do the tasks at hand? Who is the best person to ask? Has someone already done this before me? What is the ONE thing that I can do that will make everything else easier?
As the saying goes, the quality of your questions determines the quality of your life. Most of the time, whenever I work with Recreation Leaders, I ask them to clarify the questions they’re asking themselves. It’s a matter of being clear on what you’re searching for and knowing how to ask it.
When in doubt, don’t hesitate to ask your friends or colleagues for some feedback. It’s hard to criticize your own work as it’s still too familiar. Sometimes, it’s helpful to add some fresh eyes to assess your work.
3. Take Inspiration From Others
Take inspiration from the people you look up to. Get some fresh ideas from the people who share the same passion as yours. Observe how they think, listen to what they say, and find out the exact steps on how they achieved their goals. Take inspiration and then incorporate your own ideas and you’re good to go!
Most importantly, never underestimate the power of seeking help from experts. I have encountered many people getting the best results after getting help from people who have mastered their expertise in creating successful programs. There is value in learning from someone who is great in their field.
Don’t worry or get frustrated, simply observe your habits, and look for ways to become more productive over time.
Your workload is one of the important things that you have control over. You can decide on what to focus on every day. Each day presents a new opportunity to grow and move forward with your success. Be mindful of what your goals are and take the necessary steps to reach them without compromising your physical and mental health
Thank you for reading my post on Productivity!
No matter what you took away from this, the most important thing to remember is to take control of what you CAN control. And you will be surprised by how much you can take control of it!
It IS a journey, and it’s not going to happen overnight!
Please leave your comments below, I would love to hear from you.