How To Work When You're Tired

All the tools you need to stay focused throughout the day.

Up late last night? Couldn't get to sleep, or woke up just to stare at the ceiling for hours in the middle of the night? Or are you just plain tired?

We all have days when we just don’t feel energetic and with it. But when you’ve got work to do--whether in your job, building your own business or around the house--you can’t simply go back to bed. You need to stay alert, make the most of your day and avoid getting distracted or making silly mistakes.Here's how to work when you're tired:

Be Clear About What You Want to Accomplish
It's always a good idea to have a clear goal in mind, but especially when you're feeling tired or otherwise sub-par. Sit down and think about what you need to get done today. If you're working on a big project, what exactly are you going to get done? The next chapter? That section with the statistics you need to look up? Even if you're spring cleaning, don't just do whatever catches your eye--make a plan.

It's very easy to start meandering into lots of unrelated tasks, if you don't have a clear focus on what you want to accomplish. I'm sure you've had days where you've looked back and wondered where your time went--well, this is how to make sure you spend your time on something worthwhile.

Get Ruthless About Distractions
Again, this is always good advice--but when you're tired, it counts double. Stay out of your e-mail, don't log into Facebook and don't keep taking breaks from the task at hand. It's easy to get distracted when you're not focusing well, and falling prey to diversions only makes it harder to concentrate.

You know what it's like to "just check Facebook" and spend the next hour looking at your cousin's holidays snaps. Every time your attention wanders, direct it straight back to what you're supposed to be working on.

Drink Plenty of Water

Dehydration saps your concentration, so make sure you're sipping water regularly when you're tired. Although caffeine can supply a temporary boost of energy, try to go easy on the coffee: you'll only crash otherwise. Ditto for sugary sodas.

I like to keep a bottle of water on my desk, within easy reach: because it's next to me, it's easy to remember to drink from it. And because the bottle has a screw cap, there's no chance I'll accidentally tip it into my computer's keyboard.