Being productive at work can be challenging, especially if you’re working from home or in a hybrid work arrangement. You often start with a plan to get so many tasks done, but you often see yourself distracted in the middle of the day. Most of the time, you focus on accomplishing low-priority tasks and end up procrastinating. In fact, according to a report, most employees work for an average of fewer than three hours.
There are only so many hours in a day, so making the most of your time is essential. To improve productivity and efficiency at work, you need to plan and manage your time wisely. However, it might be hard for you to know where to start.
Organizational skills and proper time management can usually be correlated to productivity at work. Implementing simple strategies can increase your efficiency, boosting the chance of developing and improving your product output. Strategies such as prioritizing your tasks by order of importance and applying the two-minute rule can greatly affect your efficiency at work.
6 Ways to Improve Your Productivity at Work
Usually, companies provide programs that can help improve employee efficiency. However, the most effective way for you to improve productivity and efficiency at work is by having your own set of rules yourself. The following tips can help you boost your efficiency and productivity.
1. Work on tasks one at a time
Based on research, multitasking can actually hurt your productivity by 40% instead of increasing it. While you may be able to get things done when you juggle tasks, working on tasks one at a time may actually improve productivity and efficiency.
Multitasking can cause problems such as leaving more tasks unfinished or providing low-quality performance.
Staying focused on one task at a time will help you to concentrate better since you will be setting a single objective at once instead of many. You will be motivated to complete one task before moving on to the next. Focus on a single task at a time, and you’ll actually end up completing it faster.
2. Have a to-do list
A to-do list is a great productivity aid because it is nothing but a list of tasks you need to complete in a day or in a certain period of time. It helps you get organized and allows you to see which tasks should be your top priority.
To-do lists give you an idea of how heavy your workload is for the day. You’ll have the time to plan on how you will manage your time to be able to finish all tasks. Furthermore, it offers you the satisfaction of checking off things that you’ve accomplished.
3. Take scheduled breaks
You might think that working longer hours means that you are getting more tasks done. However, it is important to keep in mind that you cannot be productive if you feel burnt out with your work.
Studies show taking regular breaks helps with concentration. It can lessen your stress levels, allowing you to re-focus easily when returning to work. This way, you can maintain a constant level of performance and provide the best result.
Simple breaks like having a fifteen-minute walk to grab some coffee or spending five minutes stretching your body can help you stay awake and productive.
4. Set self-imposed deadlines
Having a deadline for yourself can actually help you focus more and reach your target results. You might think that this can be stressful. However, having a manageable level of self-imposed stress can make you work efficiently.
Giving yourself deadlines, especially for tasks that are open-ended, will allow you to concentrate until you finish the job. You might be surprised at how productive you’ve been working.
5. Have small goals
Large goals can sometimes be overwhelming for you since they might require a longer amount of time to achieve. That’s why it would be better to set small goals for yourself daily.
You may consider having small objectives throughout your day to keep you motivated. For example, respond to client emails or file the required paperwork. This way, you’ll feel more accomplished because you get to finish every little task.
Make your small objectives more attainable. When you have a big project, try to divide the tasks into small parts and work on them one at a time. This way, you’ll be able to complete all tasks faster and more conveniently.
6. Eliminate distractions
Focus is an important factor when working. But staying focused is also one of the most common challenges for employees, especially for those working at home.
In order to improve productivity and efficiency, you need to remove all possible distractions. Turn off your email and phone notifications if you need full concentration. Try to only use social media during your break time and when needed. Allow yourself to browse your social media feed for just a certain amount of time and then get back to work.
Key Takeaway
The two most common reasons why employees fail to be productive and efficient are because of bad habits and being reactive. Instead of immediately working towards the goal, employees tend to wait until the last minute and procrastinate their way out of tasks.
That’s why it is important for you to have your own strategies. Manage your time wisely and learn to plan things ahead. Stay focused on your goals and ensure that you are always providing the best quality performance.
Avoid being stressed and rushing tasks, sacrificing the quality of work in the end. Focus on your goals, know what needs to be prioritized, and set goals for yourself.
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With the long list of tasks that need to be accomplished, it might be difficult to stay productive and efficient all the time. So, it is important to learn how to prioritize tasks and find a company that can help you improve your time management.
In Support Services Group, we ensure that our employees get to work in an environment where they are comfortable. We provide the right tools and resources that would help them improve their productivity and efficiency at work.
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