5 Ways to Improve Your Productivity at Work
January 29th, 2016 by
There’s a difference between going through the motions of the workday and actually getting things done. Productivity takes strategy – and constant reevaluation. Take a look at these five ways you can improve the productivity on the job and what you should probably stop doing to get there.
1. Hire expert help
Small business owners are especially notorious for having an “I can do it all” mentality. While it seems noble in theory, tackling every task single-handedly is actually counter-productive. As a business owner, you need to focus on the big-picture and find ways to delegate or completely outsource other tasks – especially the ones you don’t have expertise in handling. If you want to zero in on your target audience for marketing, hire a data firm to give you direction. If you want to sell more products on your website, hire a search engine optimization company to make that happen. If you simply want to have a better content, hire a content marketing firm to make your messaging stand out. Doing everything yourself isn’t productive, but asking for expert help can be.
2. Take a break
This may sound like the opposite of what you need to do in order to get things done but research shows that overworked employees actual accomplish less than those who are well-rested. A “break” can mean everything from walking away from your desk for five minutes every hour to eating lunch away from your computer to actually booking a week-long trip somewhere exotic. Every person knows what he or she needs to recharge – tap into that in order to heighten your productivity when you are on the clock.
3. Close your email tab
And go ahead and put your smartphone away too. Did you know that the average worker wastes 40 percent of the workday reading internal company emails? One in four workers admits to wasting an hour each workday on personal electronics doing menial, non-necessary tasks. The combination of constantly checking notifications on phones and through email can add up to a lot of wasted moments during the work day. Set aside scheduled times during the day to check your email and texts (and Facebook/Twitter/Instagram notifications) and respond. Then close out your email tab and put your phone away until that next scheduled time rolls around.
4. Get physical (off the clock)
Moderate exercise can actually boost your energy throughout the rest of the day, and lead to better sleep at night. Both things are a boon for productivity at work. The endorphins released during exercise are also part of what makes human touch so enjoyable. Lynn Brown Rosenberg, health advisor to the Sinclair Institute says, “If you were intimate the night before, the next day you’re going to feel more powerful. Energized. Balanced. We are less stressed and more able to be productive.” So squeeze in some time to hit the gym, and cozy up to that special someone, and you’ll see your productivity improve.
5. Drop pointless tasks
It’s easy to get caught in a cycle of monotony and what is comfortable in the workday. This usually isn’t always what is best for your productivity, though. Evaluate your tasks in a day – and what really makes a difference. The items that aren’t really very helpful should be dropped or adjusted to something that will improve effectiveness. If you work for someone else, don’t be afraid to respectfully share the aspects of your job that you think aren’t benefiting anyone and provide suggestions for change.
Productivity takes constant adjustments and innovative ways at looking at your tasks. Remember to focus on what’s really important – and that includes your own health and well-being – and your work productivity will rise.
