How To Become More Productive at Work
Improving your time management and organisational skills can boost your overall productivity at work. There are certain techniques that you can implement to make your days at work more efficient and introduce different methods to help you better manage your time. These simple changes can make a big impact on your productivity and help to enhance your working day.
What you do out of work will also have a noticeable impact on your productivity in work. For example, if you are in financial trouble, this will play on your mind and will distract you whilst at work. Thus, being able to budget properly when you need to can make a big difference to your performance at work, much like exercising outside of work hours can help you maintain a clear mind when at your desk.
1. Tackle your biggest tasks first
If you focus on your largest and most time-consuming tasks first it can help you stay more focused and help you tackle your workload head on. When organising your workload, make a list and assign the most time to the bigger tasks. Make sure that you are dealing with these at the start of your working day when you are the most switched on and focused.
2. Limit interruptions
Interruptions can kill work productivity and it is easy to quickly lose track of time. Whether you are back in the office and distracted by chatting to your co-workers, or you are working from home and are sidetracked by domestic distractions. These little interruptions, though they may seem brief, can actually disrupt your workflow and limit your overall productivity.
It can be difficult to limit interruptions but there are different ways to do this. For example, if you are working in an open-office environment or coworking space, you could use noise-cancelling headphones. These will limit the external sound and help you focus. If you are wearing headphones, people are less likely to come up to you and distract you.
3. Block time out in your schedule
Using time blocks to create your schedule is a great way to boost your productivity at work. Think about the time you need to get on with certain tasks; for example, 90-minute or 60-minute time blocks where you work on particular tasks or projects. If you are a more visual person, you can even block these out in your calendar or as a printed out schedule. This helps you keep track of time and exactly what you are working on. Not only does this method help you focus your time, it makes you accountable to finish a task within a certain time frame. Always be realistic about how long these tasks should take you so that you do not become unmotivated.
4. Focus on one task at a time
Juggling projects or tasks can make you feel like you are getting a lot done; however, focusing on one task at a time can actually help you to be more productive. If we are focusing all of our attention and energy on one task, we can usually get it done quicker, rather than wasting time switching between tasks. Also, when we focus on one task at a time, we are likely to be producing more high quality work.
This will also depend on what you do when at work. For example, if you are working in property, you may not be able to focus on a single task or project, such is the nature of the industry. However, where possible, try and keep things simple and straightforward and this will help you overall productivity.
Concentrating on one task at a time until it is complete can be a good habit to get into. It allows you to work efficiently through a list of tasks and set one goal at a time. This can be a more motivating way to work and encourages you to finish something at a high standard before moving on to the next task. If you are multitasking, consider prioritising your tasks based on size of the task and their relative importance. You can get your most demanding tasks out of the way first before focusing on smaller, less time-consuming tasks.
5. Take regular breaks
Taking regular breaks should not be a luxury but a necessity. Regular breaks can actually boost overall productivity as they prevent burn-out or fatigue. Left long term, this can be detrimental to your physical and mental health and can impact your energy or motivation to work. Think about taking multiple short breaks across the workday; for example 5 to 10 minute breaks after a few hours of work. Short breaks can allow you to recharge your batteries, rest and mentally prepare to take on your next task.
