Tired of ending each workday feeling as if you could have accomplished more? Workplace distractions, an overloaded schedule, and other factors can impact your productivity at work. Check out these five effective tips for becoming more productive.
Reduce Distractions
According to 4 Ways to Make Your Workweek More Productive, workplace distractions are major hindrances to workplace productivity. Perhaps coworkers are always dropping by your office to chat or maybe your inbox is continually filling with distracting emails. The distractions will continue to hamper your productivity at work unless you do something about them.
Set a workplace standard of signing out of email and setting your out of office message while working on important projects. If coworkers are the top distraction, establish a new routine of closing your office door while working on projects. If you don’t have an office, wear headphones or create another signal that shows coworkers you don’t want to be disturbed. By reducing everyday distractions, you’ll be well on your way to becoming more productive at work.
Create a Routine
Are you a creature of habit or are your workplace routines all over the place from one week to the next? While you don’t want to set a rigid schedule at work, you can create a more structured routine to become more productive.
For example, use the first half hour of each workday to clear your email inbox. You then may want to structure the remainder of your day first to work on top priority projects and to then fit in any lower priority projects when possible. Don’t forget to include time for brief breaks each day. Taking a timeout from your work, even if it’s just for a short stroll to the break room, can help you avoid burnout.
Telecommute
While not all workplace roles are well suited for telecommuting, working from home can be an excellent option for focusing on important projects without distractions. If you feel that you could be more productive working from home one or two days a week, build a case for the shift and present it to your manager. If telecommuting isn’t yet widely adopted in your workplace, your manager may be hesitant to allow the change. But, by building a case for increased productivity, and by easing into the shift, you may be more likely to convince management that occasional telecommuting is a wise option.
Focus on One Task
A workplace myth that still runs wild in many offices is that multitasking leads to increased productivity. The opposite is true. When trying to work on multiple tasks at one time, your attention becomes thinly stretched. This results in your full effort not being put into any of the tasks. The attempt at multitasking can also actually lead to the projects taking longer to complete. Increase your productivity by focusing on one task at a time. Maintaining a checklist of the tasks that you need to complete can be a great way of working on one project at a time.
Set Productivity Goals
How much work do you hope to each today, this week, this month and beyond? Set measurable goals and stay on task by setting productivity goals. These objectives will help focus your mind and will also provide concrete evidence for what you achieve at work.
Feel happy about how much you get done at work each day. Do this by reducing workplace distractions, by setting productivity goals and more. Becoming more productive can ease your stress, help advance your career and more.
