PRODUCTIVITY SPECIAL .....Struggling With Productivity in the Workplace? 12 Tips to Get More Done PART I

Struggling With Productivity in the Workplace? 12 Tips to Get More Done

PART I

Struggling with productivity in the workplace can be frustrating at best and job-threatening at worst, and that’s a position no one wants to be in when trying to succeed.

If you’ve found yourself in this situation, you’re definitely not alone. Everyone goes through a productivity slump at some point in their career, whether they’re just starting out or are veterans (or even experts) in their field.

But don’t worry, you’re in luck:

Becoming more productive is only a matter of effective time management and can be done by making just a few changes to your routine. The best part is, you can start right now and see results the same day.

If you’re ready to take control of your time and enhance productivity at work, then let’s jump into the 12 tips that will help you get back on track and get more done.

1. Keep a junk journal to declutter your task list

During a busy work day, it’s not unusual for unexpected tasks and requests to pop up and ruin your concentration and delay your project. That’s where a junk journal, notebook or even a Word document can take the frustration out of interruptions.

Why this works?

Giving into coworker requests and new tasks in the middle of your work forces you to pause what you’re doing, complete the requested task, and then get refocused on what you were previously working on. This causes large blocks of time spent on non-critical items instead of on your current priority, which delays your work and decreases productivity.

Using the junk journal method, whenever a non-critical request or task comes up in the middle of your current work, you simply jot it down in your notebook or file, effectively saving it for later, and continue working on the task at hand.

Then, once your priority task is finished, you can revisit the junk journal and begin working on the extra tasks.

This method will help you keep your focus on what’s important, still complete unexpected tasks, and keep your productive flow throughout the day.

2. Stop multitasking to get more done (Yes, really!)

We often find ourselves multitasking from the moment we clock in. Perhaps you’re making calls, checking email, and working on projects all at once. While this common skill is often favored by your boss, it can actually be a detriment to productivity.

When we multitask, we’re actually “task-switching.” This is much less working on two tasks simultaneously and closer to switching our focus between several tasks at once, with each task getting very little focus spread among them.

Sure, this method of attack can get more done in a shorter time, but the tasks might not be done well. In fact, multitasking has been shown to harm our ability to accomplish important tasks or to distinguish priorities from distractions.^[1]

When we become used to rapidly changing our attention from one thing to the next, we give everything a piece of our attention until focusing becomes difficult and productivity inevitably suffers.

To boost your productivity and quality of work, make sure to tackle your priorities one task at a time. Bonus points if you file away distractions for later in your junk journal.

3. Your device’s do-not-disturb feature is your new go-to

Let’s be honest, plenty of us put our phone’s text or email notifications on vibrate, only to check the screen at every little buzz—just in case.

The more this pattern continues, the more we end up deep in email or social media while projects sit undone.

Since we dove into how multitasking hurts productivity, now we need to learn how to cut out distractions in ways that actually work to keep us focused on a single task.

Do-not-disturb mode for phones and web browser apps are a modern blessing. They help block distractions during work so our attention isn’t switching between priorities and pesky notifications.

But the real tip here isn’t just “silence your devices” but “stick to silencing your devices.” To do this, maybe you need to put your phone face-down, in a drawer or bag, or turn a second computer screen off.

Whatever it is that works for you, be sure to do it and stick to it and keep your attention focused.

I’ve found that it helps tremendously to set a time every few hours or so to allow a quick 5-minute glimpse at notifications and other distractions, as long as you keep to that time and return your focus to priorities afterward.

4. Honor your priorities

So, how do you know what tasks you should be focusing on? How about when to focus on them?

Easy: you set priorities, with time in mind.

You’ve probably heard how setting priorities is crucial for productivity, but instead of focusing on how to set priorities, we’ll be focusing on when to accomplish those priorities.

For maximum productivity, break up your priorities into three segments: morning, mid-day, and late afternoon. This allows dedicated time to focus and also leaves blocks of time in between priority tasks to handle any unexpected issues that arise.

This method boosts productivity in the workplace since it allows you to tackle priorities and provides time to work on other time-sensitive or important projects.

5. Schedule uninterrupted time every day to improve focus

As we discussed above, setting dedicated time to complete your most important tasks can give you a huge boost in overall productivity.

Unfortunately, few people are immune to meetings, client calls, or other events that tear you away from your work.

This is why scheduling that time is so important, and here’s how to do it effectively:

Each morning, give your work calendar or a schedule a good look-over. Schedule your priority tasks in empty spots on your calendar, according to how long you estimate them to take.

Make sure to account for any meetings that can pull you away from your priority projects, and remember to leave time to tackle those unexpected tasks that are sure to pop up during the day.

Next, let everyone know this will be your uninterrupted time. This might feel weird at first, but trust me, this communication is the key to ensuring your uninterrupted time stays uninterrupted.

The better you get at sticking to this time (and that includes your coworkers respecting this time) the more productive you can be throughout the day.

CONTINUES IN PART II