I’m sure you have heard the saying “work smarter, not harder,” I feel it’s often easier said than done. Just like the average person i would like to get the most out of the time i work instead of putting in more hours, but not everyone understands how to plan their workday for productivity or know which tools to use. Fortunately, there are several ways you can improve your productivity without overloading yourself.
No matter what kind of work you do, check out these great tips on how to increase productivity at work, I had to put this list together has they have done wonders to my time management.
Break It Down
One of the first things you should do if you want to increase productivity at work is to break down tasks into small, manageable chunks, each of which you can tackle in a short period of time. Now the task is no longer too big to handle, and once you get started, it will be easier to keep going.
So, for example, don’t plan on reading an entire management book in a week. Instead, set a goal of reading a chapter a day. This could also work if you’re trying to write a book yourself. Instead of focusing on writing X number of chapters for the day, limit yourself to a number of words you can manage without burning yourself out. This way, you’ll be able to see daily progress, and you won’t experience the same level of stress.
This could also apply to making changes in your life. Suppose you have a number of bad habits you want to address. Don’t try to rearrange your life in one go;instead, make small changes that will add up over time. It could be setting limits on your internet browsing on breaks, cutting back on water cooler chats, or limiting lunches out.
Use To-Do Lists
To-do lists work, and if you’re not using them, you’re doing yourself a huge disservice. You should make a shortlist of important tasks to be done every day. For example, you could create lists of personal errands and professional work that needs to be done. Be realistic, however, and list only as many items as you can get done in a given day. An excessively long to-do list can cause stress and make you feel so overwhelmed that you don’t get any of it done.
Be Accountable
Many people fail to get things done because they procrastinate or waste time. The best solution here is to be accountable. Set deadlines and have weekly check-ins with an accountability partner like a colleague or your manager.
Are you making the progress you expect toward your goals? If not, identify hurdles and how you’ll overcome them. Track your progress to maintain the momentum. Reward yourself when you succeed such as going out for a nice lunch, but also use punishment when you don’t. Punishment could be something as simple as giving up a privilege in your personal life.
Stop Multitasking
Too many people think that multitasking is essential to productivity when the opposite is true. Yes, it is possible to multitask, such as when you go for a walk with friends or family to get exercise while enjoying quality time. However, this is almost impossible when you’re doing serious work that demands concentration and a sustained effort.
When you try to type an email during a phone conversation, you’re more likely to make mistakes in both arenas. If you are constantly interrupted on one project for unrelated phone calls, text messages, and emails, your productivity craters, too. It takes several minutes to get focused again on the main task, and you’re more likely to make mistakes.
The solution is to set dedicated blocks of time where you can work on the task without interruption. Those emails and texts can wait two hours while you get the critical tasks done. Consider scheduling blocks of time for working on major tasks, catching up on correspondence, and relaxing. You’re more creative when you don’t have the interruptions, and you’ll recharge during your breaks if you aren’t pressured to respond to every notification.
Remove Temptation
There are plenty of potential distractions from work you don’t want to do. One solution is to remove them. Clean up your desk, removing everything not related to the project at hand. Put your phone in a drawer or purse and don’t touch it until you’re on break.
You should also try to only work on the computer. Don’t check unrelated social media when you’re working. You could even install anti-distraction programs that limit access to addictive social media sites when you’re supposed to be working. If you’re losing focus, don’t surf the net, but go for a short walk instead.
Hope you follow my productivity tips and get more done each day without working longer or harder. It does, however, require deliberate changes to your work schedule and environment,but it will all pay off in the long run.
