We live in a world of connectivity and inevitable interruption, which can make getting all of our work done seem impossible sometimes.
If you’re looking for ways to become more productive, read our tips on preventing stress and making your work day as dynamic and fruitful as possible.
Set Priorities Each Week
Take the time each Monday morning to set your priorities for the week. This will allow you to schedule time for all the responsibilities you have, and help you accomplish the larger duties that may take you longer. If you block out time to complete the things that need finishing, you’ll know to avoid other commitments like office meetings.
When setting your priorities, list them. Checking off each will relieve you of stress bit by bit, and will make a heavy workload seem more manageable even during your busiest weeks.
Keep a journal with you, as keeping a mental checklist can be more exhausting than you realize. That way, whenever a thought comes up, you can jot it down for further consideration at a less busy time.
No More Smoke Breaks
If you’re a smoker and constantly heading outside to get your fix of nicotine, you likely miss out on a lot of work time and blow your concentration multiple times a day. Besides the obvious health consequences of tobacco products, improved productivity should have you considering switching to vaping.
E-cigs or vape devices filled e-cig juice taste great, are 95% safer than tobacco products, and can be used right at your desk—they don’t produce any smoke. Keep up your productivity and stay indoors during the cold winter months.
Take a Walk
New studies suggest that sitting for eight hours a day can have devastating effects on your health, and a standing desk isn’t always enough to fight the effects of being sedentary for the most of your week.
Every hour, get up and walk around the office or take a walk around the block outside. It will give your mind a break while keeping your body active and you’ll come back to your desk reenergized and ready to get back to work. Get a Fitbit and track your steps during the day. It will make you realize just how little activity you get sitting in the office hour after hour.
Put Your Phone Away
It’s going to be tough, no doubt, but putting your phone away will have a huge effect on your efficiency. Avoiding the allure of pop-up notifications, funny texts, or your Instagram feed will improve your productivity more than you can imagine.
If there really is an emergency, the person trying to get in contact with you will call your office. You can set aside a time where you can grab your phone and check through notifications, social media happenings, and the like—your lunch break would be perfect.
Make Your Desk Alluring
You likely have to spend a minimum of 40 hours a week at your desk, so make sure you’re happy with how it looks. Studies show that outfitting your office space with decorations like plants, pictures of loved ones, and personal décor items will help you stay happy and organized.
A little hint — make sure you add yellow into your décor. This color helps to decrease sleepy hormone melatonin, inspires happiness and alertness, and will help you battle off those afternoon dozes.
Multitasking Isn’t the Answer
Although many say multitasking is the key to success, it can actually have the opposite effect on your productivity. Turning from one task to another interrupts essential brain functions and increases stress. This can make your overall work cloudy and ruin brain cells. Finish one task before moving onto the next task if you can.
Exercise Before Heading to the Office
Head to the gym in the morning. Working out has been proven to improve brain function, especially for the two hours after you sweat it out. Plus, you’ll have your exercise done for the day and not have to worry about convincing yourself to go after a long eight hours (or more) of work.
Make Your Own Deadlines
While following work deadlines imposed by your supervisors is key to maintaining your position, you can actually encourage yourself by setting personal deadlines for the same tasks. Race against your own clock, and you’ll be surprised at the motivation you give yourself.
If you’re looking to make your work day more productive, try out these easy tactics and impress your boss and colleagues with the amount of things you’re able to achieve.
