What is productivity? It’s difficult to describe productivity. It means different things to different people. To some it means achieving more in less time, to others it means discovering methods to attain better outcomes with smaller resources, and to hard-core businessmen, it could be implementing process improvements to save time and money. Though, measuring productivity isn’t always easy especially, if the consequences aren’t straightaway tangible.
Many modern lifestyle gurus and smart business experts claim to know “productivity hacks”. According to them, you get more done in less time by using these hacks. But be careful about toxic productivity. It’s just a new term for being a workaholic. But there are certainly some rational tools you can engage with to be more productive, like – small breaks between work, creating achievable to-do lists, setting small goals, and more. By incorporating some of these habits into your daily lifestyle, you’re taking the correct steps toward achieving more productivity.
Now, consider the following ways and strategies to become more productive in your day-to-day life and workdays –
- Discontinue Multitasking
Multitasking is an appealing concept to many. Juggling and managing various jobs at any one time can make you feel like a superhero. There’s a feeling of productivity that can be deceptive. It hardly yields the best results. If you concentrate on one task at a time, you will complete the task in a shorter time yet the standard will stay intact. Also, this smooth completion will let you move effortlessly to the next task without any delays.
- Reorganize Your Workspace
Before starting your workday, take some time every day to organize, readjust, and declutter your workstation. A clutter-free work setting helps you to rejuvenate your thinking process and yield superior results.
- Manage the Toughest Thing First
There’s this tendency in human beings to avoid problematic, laborious, and time-consuming tasks. We tend to focus on easier and uncomplicated tasks more. Though, by attending to challenging things at the beginning only, you energise, and increase your stimulus and focus throughout the day. Reflect on prioritising the toughest tasks at the start of the day, or when you are most useful.
- Take Small Breaks
During a long workday, your productivity diminishes further. So, to maintain it go for coffee at your favourite coffee shop, glance through a magazine, or chat with a friend over the phone. Pursue things that are completely unconnected to your work. This can bring an enormous transformation in your performance. At a point, when your body and mind just cannot yield anymore you need breaks to improve for workday productivity.
- Use Time Blocking
Time blocks are a conventional and familiar productivity-increasing approach. By forming time block frames in your workday timetable, you make a mindful resolution to pledge a block of time to a certain job. These time blocks are usually for 60 – 90 minutes. It helps to build a visual guide for your workday and you get a clear idea about what you have achieved in a day.
- Minimize Distractions
Distraction is very normal. But concentration doesn’t always come as expected. In fact, most of the time it’s missing while working. Nevertheless, it is an expertise that can be developed and nurtured. During functioning, hours keep away from social media as much as possible. Turn off your email notifications. If possible, switch your phone to aeroplane mode, or utilise any productivity application to boost your output.
- Identify Your Most Productive Spell at Work
Every human being is different so they differ with regard to when they are most productive. For example, are you a morning or a night person? Are you comfortable with the usual working hours? It’s essential to ascertain the time of the day you feel most ready to act and focussed, and then invest those hours in your most crucial tasks. This is a very beneficial tactic especially when working from home is the new normal for regular office goers. So, try creating a timetable around your most productive hours, and arrange your workday priorities for the best results.
- Delegation
It’s important. If you’re part of a team, consider your daily responsibilities, and if any can be delegated to other team members, give them the task. Frequently, you take on a task that is outside your sphere of activity or can be completed more efficiently and swiftly by others.
In fact, delegation isn’t unburdening. It’s about making sure that everybody is occupied with tasks that are most appropriately suited to their abilities and availability.
- Beautify Your Workspace
Make your workplace or cubicle more colourful. Add plants and increase the greenery. Place your personal bits and pieces like photos of your children, a well-framed motivational prayer, awards, etc. that support you in your troublesome moments, help you to stay relaxed, and boost your productivity.
- Exercise
Exercise nourishes both your body and mind. Also, regular work-out can have a positive effect on your workday performance. Try going for a run, walking, or doing yoga in the morning before starting your day. It’s also useful to do some exercise in your breaks between meetings and work. It re-energizes you and increases your efficiency.
- Listen to Music
Keeping your headphones on doesn’t mean that you’re distracted. While working, listening to your much-loved music can help you feel more motivated which, in turn, can aid you to complete your tough to-do list for the day.
The above pointers elaborate on ways of increasing productivity at the workplace and in your day-to-day life. So, try out one or two of these ways and ease pressure and maximise our professional and private objectives.
