It’s 6 p.m. and you are still sitting at your desk with a myriad of remaining tasks. Even though you arrived to work early and worked through lunch, there still wasn’t enough time. If you want to increase your productivity, think about why there may be a lack of productivity in the workplace. Are you often lacking motivation to maximize your potential? Do you often catch yourself losing focus as you’re looking over that final presentation?
Perhaps you are overwhelmed with so many team members to manage that you end up spending more time worrying about what needs to get done rather than doing the work itself.
Stretch time by putting these following tips to practice and increase productivity. Productivity isn’t about working harder and longer hours, but rather working smarter. Spending less time to complete an assignment means you will have more time to focus on other aspects of your career!
Prioritize your to-do list
A to-do list is nothing unheard of in a workplace, but do you have a system of prioritization? Create a ranking system for each item on your to-do list and label them from most to least urgent. This allows you to focus on what is important and to prioritize what is absolutely necessary for completion before your day is over. Multitasking leads to inefficiency so focus on each task one at a time.
Schedule your day based on productivity level
Despite the similarities, making a schedule is different from forming a to-do list. Given your priorities, make a timeline and schedule in your responsibilities based on when you are the most productive. Perhaps the mornings are when you are most alert and concentrated for that long budget report you need to prepare.
Emails should not be the first thing you check in the mornings if you are at your peak level of alertness. Meanwhile, post-lunchtime may be when you lack the needed motivation for that most arduous task. Determine if it is more pragmatic to adjust your work schedule so that you can be at work earlier during the quieter hours to maximize productivity.
Stay Focused
Sitting at your desk all day, does not mean more gets accomplished. Instead, schedule short breaks to let your brain refresh for more creativity. A brisk walk around the office can actually heighten concentration levels and increase engagement and efficiency. Another way to stay focused is by eliminating distractions.
Organize your desk so you know where everything is and so that you aren’t distract by the clutter. Adjust your phone sound settings to preclude it from interrupting your focus each time you receive that non-urgent email.
Exercise Regularly
You’ve heard of the health benefits of exercise, but how can it increase productivity at work? Exercising increases blood flow to your brain, sharpening your awareness. You will feel more energized throughout the day so that you can get more done with increased concentration. Also, when you exercise, your brain releases endorphins leading to improved moods and stress relief – which is always a positive at the workplace.
Utilize Tools
There are also a handful of productivity tools that can help you stay organized at work. If you are more of a visual person, rather than having dozens of post-it notes clutter your workspace, use Trello to organize your to-do lists and ideas.
When managing your team, assign different projects through Asana, instead of email, for a more modern way to communicate. Similar productivity tools can provide an unconventional way of increasing productivity at work for you and your entire team.
We wish you the best success in achieving your productivity to fit your career goals. Do you have any productivity tips that you would like to share with us?