One of the biggest problems you face at work is productivity. You might start with a plan, but at the end of the day, your to-do list might be even longer than expected. How do you stay effective, when you are tired, feel low motivation or just don’t like going to work all that much? The truth of the matter is that productivity is a rather complex characteristic, which cannot be easily defined and influenced. Being productive at work doesn’t sound very hard, but it requires special attention when it comes to time management. There is a multitude of factors that play a role in your productivity, and the more you understand them, the better you can perform. Try out our tips to increase the workflow and work smarter.
Here is what you should consider:
- Do you get enough breaks – depending on the type of work you do, you can feel a lot of pressure at times. There is no doubt that office work can tire you out, not physically, but mentally, which is arguably worse. You can recover from physical strain, but when stress and worry start building up, you need to cope with them differently. If you feel like you are working on something that is just sucking your energy away, you should take a break.
Establish a vision and keep it in mind – other than your salary, what does the job give you? Consider whether what it is giving to you is as much as what you are investing in it. Your career is your responsibility, and if you keep the goals of it in mind, you can be much more productive. - Ask yourself what is a better way to do things – whenever you feel frustrated at some job task, you should make a note to analyse it. There is always the option to make some improvements to your work so that you do things better and in a less stressful manner. You should always be looking for things to improve in your work because this will not only make you more productive but also more satisfied with your job.
- Clean around – you spend a good portion of your time at the office. If you want to feel good there, you must not only improve your work, but also the environment around you. Clutter has long been proven to decrease productivity and motivation. How can you be quick to address your work, when you spend so much time searching through piles of paper. There is also dust and bacteria to think about. To clean your office doesn’t mean you should invest half a day cleaning it. You can perhaps address your own desk for a few minutes and leave the rest to your office cleaning company. Making your working environment cleaner can drastically improve your productivity.
- Acknowledge the work and learning you do – do not ever take your hard work for granted. What you do matters to the company and to yourself. There is always something new to learn from the work you do. As you recognise your efforts and the way your job is improving you, you will become more productive.
Establish a vision and keep it in mind – other than your salary, what does the job give you? Consider whether what it is giving to you is as much as what you are investing in it. Your career is your responsibility, and if you keep the goals of it in mind, you can be much more productive. These are all very effective ways of becoming more effective at work. Use them, and you will find how much of a difference they make.
