Every minute of your life is gold. Are you treating it that way?
There are only so many hours in the day, so making the most of your time is critical. There are
two ways increase your output--either put in more hours or work smarter. I don't know about
you, but I prefer the latter.
Being more productive at work isn't rocket science, but it does require being more deliberate
about how you manage your time. This post will walk you through 15 simple but effective
strategies for increasing your productivity at work.
You may think you're pretty good at gauging how much time you're spending on various tasks.
However, some research suggests only around 17 percent of people are able to accurately
estimate the passage of time. A tool like Rescue Time can help by letting you know exactly how
much time you spend on daily tasks, including social media, email, word processing, and apps.
It sounds counterintuitive, but taking scheduled breaks can actually help improve
concentration. Some research has shown that taking short breaks during long tasks helps you to
maintain a constant level of performance; while working at a task without breaks leads to a
steady decline in performance.
While we usually think of a stress as a bad thing, a manageable level of self-imposed stress can
actually be helpful in terms of giving us focus and helping us meet our goals. For open-ended
tasks or projects, try giving yourself a deadline, and then stick to it. You may be surprised to
discover just how focused and productive you can be when you're watching the clock.
Entrepreneur Steve Olenski recommends implementing the "two-minute rule" to make the
most of small windows of time that you have at work. The idea is this: If you see a task or action
that you know can be done in two minutes or less, do it immediately. According to Olenski,
completing the task right away actually takes less time than having to get back to it later.
Implementing this has made him one of the most influential content strategists online.
Meetings are one of the biggest time-sucks around, yet somehow we continue to
unquestioningly book them, attend them and, inevitably, complain about them. According to
Atlassian, the average office worker spends over 31 hours each month in unproductive
meetings. Before booking your next meeting, ask yourself whether you can accomplish the
same goals or tasks via email, phone, or Web-based meeting (which may be slightly more
productive).
If you absolutely must have a meeting, there's some evidence that standing meetings (they're
just what they sound like--everyone stands) can result in increased group arousal, decreased
territoriality, and improved group performance. For those times when meetings are
unavoidable, you may want to check out these 12 unusual ways to spur creativity during
meetings.
While we tend to think of the ability to multitask as an important skill for increasing efficiency,
the opposite may in fact be true. Psychologists have found attempting to do several tasks at
once can result in lost time and productivity. Instead, make a habit of committing to a single
task before moving on to your next project.
This goes for any unexpected "bonus" time you may find on your hands suggests author
Miranda Marquit. Instead of Candy-Crushing or Facebooking, use that time to pound out some
emails, create your daily to-do list, or do some brainstorming.
It's common for entrepreneurs to get hung up on attempting to perfect a task--the reality is
nothing is ever perfect. Rather than wasting time chasing after this illusion, bang out your task
to the best of your ability and move on. It's better to complete the task and move it off your
plate; if need be, you can always come back and adjust or improve it later.
Using work time to exercise may actually help improve productivity, according to a study
published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. If possible, build in set
times during the week for taking a walk or going to the gym. Getting your blood pumping could
be just what's needed to clear your head and get your focus back.
Allowing incoming phone calls and emails to dictate how you spend your day will mean you do
a great job of putting out fires--but that may be all you get accomplished. My friend and
business partner Peter Daisyme from free hosting company Hostt says, "Set aside time for
responding to emails, but don't let them determine what your day is going to look like. Have a
plan of attack at the start of each day, and then do your best to stick to it."
No one can be expected to resist the allure of an email, voicemail, or text notification. During
work hours, turn off your notifications, and instead build in time to check email and messages.
This is all part of being proactive rather than reactive (see number 11).
Researchers at Florida State University have found elite performers (athletes, chess players,
musicians, etc.) who work in intervals of no more than 90 minutes are more productive than
those who work 90 minutes-plus. They also found that top performing subjects tend to work no
more than 4.5 hours per day. Sounds good to me!
It may sound unlikely, but some research shows outfitting an office with aesthetically pleasing
elements--like plants--can increase productivity by up to 15 percent. Jazz up your office space
with pictures, candles, flowers, or anything else that puts a smile on your face. For other ideas
on increasing your happiness quotient at work, see my post 15 Proven Tips to Be Happy at
Work.
Having a colleague pop her head into your office to chat may seem innocuous, but even brief
interruptions appear to produce a change in work pattern and a corresponding drop in
productivity. Minimizing interruptions may mean setting office hours, keeping your door closed,
or working from home for time-sensitive projects.
If you feel the need to increase your productivity at work, resist the temptation put in longer
hours or pack more into your already-full calendar. Instead, take a step back, and think about
ways you can work smarter, not harder