15 Ways to Increase Productivity at Work

[Farhana Haque]

15 Ways to Increase Productivity at Work

Every minute of our life is gold. Are we 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 our output-either put in more hours or work smarter. We don't know about you, but we prefer the latter.

Being more productive at work isn't rocket science, but it does require being more deliberate about how we manage our time. This post will walk us through 15 simple but effective strategies for increasing our productivity at work.

1. Track and limit how much time We're spending on tasks.
We may think we're pretty good at gauging how much time we'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 us know exactly how much time we spend on daily tasks, including social media, email, word processing, and apps.

2. Take regular breaks.
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.

3. Set self-imposed deadlines.
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 we can be when we're watching the clock.

4. Follow the "two-minute rule."
Entrepreneur Steve Olenski recommends implementing the "two-minute rule" to make the most of small windows of time that we have at work. The idea is this: If we see a task or action that we 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.

5. Just say no to meetings.
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 Atlantis, 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).

6. Hold standing meetings.
If we 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, we may want to check out these 12 unusual ways to spur creativity during meetings.

7. Quit multitasking.
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.

8. Take advantage of your commute.
This goes for any unexpected "bonus" time we may find on your hands suggests author Miranda Marquit. Instead of Candy-Crushing or Facebooking, use that time to pound out some emails, create our daily to-do list, or do some brainstorming.

9. Give up on the illusion of perfection.
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 our ability and move on. It's better to complete the task and move it off our plate; if need be, we can always come back and adjust or improve it later.

10. Take exercise breaks.
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 our blood pumping could be just what's needed to clear yur head and get our focus back.

11. Be proactive, not reactive.
Allowing incoming phone calls and emails to dictate how we spend your day will mean you do a great job of putting out fires--but that may be all our get accomplished. 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 our best to stick to it."

12. Turn off notifications.
No one can be expected to resist the allure of an email, voicemail, or text notification. During work hours, turn off our notifications, and instead build in time to check email and messages. This is all part of being proactive rather than reactive (see number 11).

13. Work in 90-minute intervals.
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!

14. Give yourself something nice to look at.
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.

15. Minimize interruptions (to the best of your ability).
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 we feel the need to increase our productivity at work, resist the temptation put in longer hours or pack more into our already-full calendar. Instead, take a step back, and think about ways we can work smarter, not harder.

https://www.inc.com/john-rampton/15-ways-to-increase-productivity-at-work.html