Do you always wonder why you haven’t finished the report you started out in the morning by the end of your workday? Being productive at work is one of the most sought-after skills in our easily distracted world today. Below are 5 ways on how to be more productive at work and be more focus throughout the day.
Tip 1: First things first
Get your priority to-do list done just as soon as you get into the office. Do not get trap by checking your emails first thing in the morning except if you are waiting for an urgent reply. Aside from that, start your day by prioritizing your tasks. Setting priorities will gear your mind in the right direction and help set the right tone for the rest of your day. As a general rule, tackle tasks that are most important or require more concentration at the start of the day. This way, you will ensure that the higher priority tasks get checked off on your list by end of day. As a side note though, there are people who are more productive after lunch so work to your strengths.
Tip 2: Limit multitasking
Experts advised against multitasking even though juggling multiple tasks can mislead you into feeling more productive. When you multitask, you aren’t entirely concentrating on any one task, and that disrupts your flow of thought. Research has shown it takes an individual a good 15 minutes to get back into the flow of an assignment. Jumping from one task to another does not only distract you but you will also be more prone to making mistakes. At the end of the day, you will find that you have started numerous tasks, but none of them truly complete. So, do yourself a favor and concentrate on getting one thing done at a time.
Tip 3: Work in block time
This tip might not work for everyone but this concept asks you to fully work in the allocated time and do not allow distractions. As an example, if you are a writer you are required to write for 30 to 40 minutes without a break. You are required to fully concentrate on doing the task at hand, which may be writing a webpage or a press release. This concept works well with most occupation.
Tip 4: Social media pause
Unless your role requires you to monitor social media platforms, it’s best to put the social media interaction on a break especially when you need to concentrate on a task. One quick tip is to disable notifications for your block work time. Not seeing or hearing your notifications will help eliminate the curiosity to check in on what’s happening.
Tip 5: Take a break
Reward yourself when you managed to stick to your block time work hours (see Tip 3) or hit a deadline successfully. All work and no play makes anyone dull. You can take a 15-minute break as a reward and choose to do anything you fancy. This is time where you can go on social media or decide to say hello to your colleagues and catch up with them over coffee. With a reward system in place, it’s much more fun and you will find the motivation to completing the tasks without much prompting.
With all that, you are ready to put your best foot forward and be productive at work!
