Ever have an off day, where you don’t feel like you’re focused or able to get enough done? Do you find yourself distracted? Or do you think you could be more productive if you had a little advice?
Here are three tips to help you be more productive at work. It’s this simple!
Track your time.
Pick a day this week and make an effort to track how much time you spend doing certain tasks: checking email, answering messages, attending meetings, scrolling social media, etc. Keep a running list of how long you’re spending on each activity. At the end of the day, add it all up. You might be surprised by what you learn! Being distracted by notifications from email or messages can really add up, as every time you turn to respond to them you’re taking yourself, mentally, out of the task you’re working on in that moment. If you find you’re spending too much time on distractions, set limits and alarms to keep yourself focused. Allot yourself a few email breaks each day, every few hours, to check messages and respond to them, and then get back to the task at hand.
Embrace to-do lists.
On Monday mornings, write a list of what needs to get done that week. Each morning, write a list of the most important things to get done that day. As the day goes on, or as new tasks get assigned to you, reassess your priorities and make sure you’re addressing the top priorities first. Don’t put off the big items as you’ll find it will take longer to complete them! Adjust your list as you need to, but also cross off items as you finish them. There’s a great feeling of satisfaction to see your list get shorter.
Take breaks and reward yourself for completing tasks.
To help break up the day and to give your brain a little rest, make sure you take little micro-breaks during the day. When you’ve been working for 45 minutes to an hour, maybe 90 minutes, hit the proverbial pause button. Get up, walk away from your workplace. Get some water. Stretch a little. When you complete a task on your prioritized to-do list, give yourself a little reward — maybe a few minutes to check social media, maybe a little walk around outside to get some fresh air, maybe a coffee break. Your brain needs to recharge from time to time; working for eight hours continuously is a bad idea as you will lose the ability to focus and think clearly without short respites throughout the day.
You can be more productive! It’s not impossible and it can be easy to make a big difference in your day by making a few little changes. Give it a try and see how much more you can get done in a day.
If you’re looking for more advice, or if you have difficulty focusing on work because you think it might be time for a change, contact Debbie’s Staffing. We’re happy to share our expertise with you or, if needed, we’re happy to help you find a new job with a company that will keep you on your toes and holds your interest. Contact Debbie’s Staffing and let’s see where your future can take you.
