Wouldn’t you like to end your workday with everything finished on time? Maybe even get a headstart on tomorrow’s work? Now that probably sounds more of a fantasy than reality but being more productive throughout the day means one of two things: either you have super powers and can add extra hours to the day, or you’re willing to learn how to manage your time more wisely and efficiently.
Since you’re probably like nearly everyone and want to know more about the latter, read on for some helpful tips to improve your productivity.
Stay Organized
Keeping everything in its place will save a lot of time searching. This tip is a really underrated productivity booster. It will save you time and energy wasted on looking for things and will make your workspace look neater and better to look at it which can be prove to be a major stress-buster.
“3 Before 11”
In an effort to maintain a high level of productivity throughout the day, try picking three things that you can get done before 11am. Choose the things that will boost your sense of accomplishment and output. Breaking things down like this helps to reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed and lost under emails, files, and deadlines.
Go for a Walk
Instead of eating lunch at your desk, while you continue scrunched over doin more paperwork, go for a walk outside. Getting some fresh air will help you clear your head, give you some perspective and a more positive outlook. Walking is also great physical exercise, and a change of scenery will do wonders for your creative juices. If you really can’t leave your work area, at least go for a walk around indoors. Studies prove that going for a walk, even a short one, can boost efficiency by 60%.
Stop Multitasking
Some people think that juggling many things at once means they are boosting their work rate but studies have found that multitasking could actually do more harm than good because you are not giving each task the time and effort it deserves. Distractions from multi-tasking impact negatively on the quality of your work, and will leave you feeling drained and fatigued. Try to give each task enough time to complete it before moving onto something else.
Give yourself self-imposed deadlines
In general, the word ‘deadline’ is enough to give most people heart palpitations, headaches and dizzy spells! When you are the one setting the deadline for yourself, you will not feel the pressure in sucha negative way. Instead, you will feel obligated to respect the deadline you have set for yourself. Humans are creatures of habit, so go easy on yourself at first. The key point is to acknowledge that you have a set time after which you will be held accountable for your work. When you do meet your deadline, give yourself a pat on the back and a reward for getting the job done on time.
Beautify your Surroundings
Attractive furniture and office decor, such as photos, candles, or plants, can be pleasing to look at. They can also turn a boring space into something beautiful and functional with an added personal touch. They can also help increase productivity, as studies show, by up to 15%. Choose whatever makes you feel happy and comfortable (as long as they meet any rules if you are working in a company office). By surrounding yourself with things that are aesthetically pleasing, you can improve your productivity as well asyour ability to focus on the task at hand.
Conclusion
Improving productivity means working smarter, not harder. Try to resist the temptation to stuff your calendar with more work-related commitments or put in longer hours at the office and instead implement one or more of the tips above.
