At any job, performance is essential to success and achievement of goals. We often get distracted in today’s world while doing a task at hand. Being Productive doesn’t imply doing many new things all the time. It simply means we should do what we normally do, easier and better than before. Less effort and more accomplishment define productivity. Staying productive at work is not a one-time thing, but a habit that needs to be nurtured and maintained with consistency and efficiency. Remember everybody’s productivity skills are different, that’s why don’t be shy to experiment with different techniques. Productivity is a habit that must be encouraged continuously. Being Productive also focuses on what is important and taking care of yourself and your surroundings in the process. So work smart to increase your productivity. Here are some tips to help you be more productive at work:
- Set clear goals and priorities: Assign and define your goals and priorities clearly for each day or week. Your goals should be reasonable, realistic, and time-bound. This helps you to pay attention to the most urgent tasks and avoid distractions. It also declutters the mind and helps you pave the path to faster success. Create a prioritized to-do list to help you focus on work so that you don’t have to remember all the important things and get stuck in the process. Use calendars, emails, alarms, voice memos, etc to set reminders. Then you become more concerned with getting the job done rather than bothering about what you have to do.
- Time management skills: Improve your time management skills by setting deadlines, organizing task, delegating tasks, creating to-do lists, using apps like trackers and calendars. Try to minimize multitasking as it can be time-consuming and hamper your productivity along with increasing the probability of errors. Instead, do one task at a time and complete it before moving on to the next one or make a set of different but similar tasks as one part and try to manage them one by one taking precautionary breaks. Document everything by carrying a small notepad with you so that you don’t lose time while thinking about your ideas, meetings, etc, and reflect on important things when time permits. Use your commute time as well to catch up with work or plan your day.
- Eliminate burnouts: Taking short breaks of 10 to 15 minutes throughout the day can eliminate distractions, help to stay focused and avoid burnouts and keep you working with enthusiasm. An afternoon nap is a powerful tool to give your body the rest it needs post-lunch, be it for 30 mins or 1 hour. It is a proven way to boost productivity, efficiency, and brain power. Turn off your phone or put it in airplane mode to avoid any disruption during your sleep. Choose a quiet, dimly lit space and avoid artificial light. Burnout is normal, but it should be handled tactfully to reduce stress at work. A Healthy snack of fresh fruit, sprouts, and seeds once or twice a day can help prevent fatigue and increase productivity at work. The Pomodoro technique of working for a set period of time (25 minutes), and then taking a short break also helps. After many Pomodoros, take a long break to refocus.
- Avoid distractions: Avoid social media and email notifications that interrupt your workflow. Avoid unnecessary meetings and phone calls during working hours. Switch off your phone or use an app to limit your screen time, if possible. We are often distracted by procrastination. Break your tasks down into smaller manageable pieces and set deadlines for each piece. Keep your work area organized regularly to avoid unnecessary distractions. Use color-coded folders, file systems, and more to tidy up your workspace. Set boundaries and learn to say no if you are already overloaded, this reduces distraction as it manages stress and increases productivity. Some people work best in the morning, while others are more productive in the afternoon or evening with little or no breaks. Determine when you are most productive and schedule important tasks accordingly. Eliminate tasks that are unnecessary and add no value to your goals.
- Take care of physical and mental health- Health can dramatically increase or decrease workplace productivity, and mental health in particular is often overlooked in the workplace. Do regular exercise to keep your body at its best. An unhealthy body will not help you reach your productivity goals. If feeling overwhelmed before a meeting, or stressed during increments, please take the time to address these issues and seek help when needed. Celebrate small wins to motivate yourself, get enough sleep to refresh and energize, use automation tools to reduce workload, have fun during breaks, use visualizations, and reach your goals, learn how to do it. Avoid attending meetings if it can be sorted through emails or phone calls, also avoid checking your emails constantly, set aside a time for it. Getting feedback from your peers can be very rewarding as it positively impacts your productivity and helps you take the necessary steps to reach your goals effectively. Positive affirmations, motivational quotes, and pictures of loved ones at work can help you feel motivated and confident. Also, eat nutritious food, carry your tiffin or pick healthy less oily options at the counter. Avoid mindless munching.
By following these tips, you can improvise your productivity at work and achieve goals more efficiently on regular basis.
“XOX”
-TriGr
