Productivity at work is never perfect or consistent. Some days you’ve got it all sorted and things are going swimmingly, while others you’re all over the place and achieve the bare minimum. If today just isn’t your day, here are some techniques to help keep you grounded, organised, and help raise your productivity to new heights:
Master e-mail management
The Problem
It’s no secret that one of the most time-consuming activities of any workday is e-mail management. In fact, the average person spends around a quarter of their workday checking e-mails, time that could be better spent working on something more tangible.
The Solution
There are some excellent tips out there on how to reduce inbox-related stress. One of our favourites is ‘Inbox-Zero’. First discussed by Merlin Mann, Inbox Zero looks at e-mail as a source of stress and how to tackle it more efficiently. It’s not actually about having zero emails in your inbox as that’s impossible! It’s more about how to mentally deal with email stress and get more organised. So how does it work? A very quick synopsis of what we’ve learnt would be:
- Quick action – do it and archive it
- Longer action – snooze/flag it for later
Once you get used to this system of do/archive or flag, your inbox should reduce drastically. Give it a try!
Quit your time-wasting
The Problem
With this one, we’re all a little guilty. Around 1/3 of people waste around 30 minutes per day, time that could be spent being more productive. Online distractions, like social media and shopping, are well-known to affect productivity negatively, but co-workers may also be contributing to this.
The Solution
Some might find this to be a bit too drastic, but if online distractions are becoming a cause for concern, we suggest you block them during work hours. As for co-workers, it’s great that you get on well, but keep the chit-chat to a minimum so you can stay focused on the job at hand.
Bruce Kasanoff for Forbes recommends The Repeat Test. At the top of every hour, stop for one minute and consider how you spent the past hour. Was it useful or a waste of time? Would you repeat the same action again, or are you frustrated that it was an incredible waste of time? This helps you examine your habits and remain mindful.
Top Tip: Develop your personal goals and strategies with an online development course.
To-do lists
The Problem
If you think multitasking is doing multiple things at once, you’re doing it wrong. Multitasking means doing multiple things throughout the day.
You could quite often find yourself replying to an e-mail, working on a project, preparing for a meeting, taking a phone call, and the chances are your work will not be up to standard.
The Solution
The Pomodoro Technique helps you multitask efficiently and prioritize to-do lists. Pick a task, set a 25-minute timer, and in that time do your best to complete it. When the 25 minutes are up, take a 5-minute break, then carry on. Focusing on the task at hand is key to performing tasks efficiently.
Increased productivity is not something achieved overnight. It takes discipline and practice to master performing at your very best. Here at Ceek Recruitment, we’re all about helping you to become your best you. If you’re looking for your next career challenge, contact us here at Ceek to find the right match for you.