6 ways to increase productivity at work

Work smarter, not harder. As the saying goes, “it’s not the number of hours you put into work, it is the amount of work you put in those hours.” There are only so many hours in the day, so making the most of your time is critical. Being more productive does require being more deliberate about how you manage your time. Here are eight top tips on how to ensure that our productivity is kept to a maximum.


1. Take regular breaks.

​Taking a short break 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. Take a five-minute walk around the office or spend 15 minutes grabbing a cup of coffee. Other than that, using work time to exercise may actually help improve productivity, according to a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Getting your blood pumping could be just what's needed to clear your head and get your focus back.
 

2. Stop 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.  According to neuroscience professor Earl K. Miller, “multitasking is not humanly possible.” We’re fooling ourselves when we say we can easily juggle phone calls, presentations, and eating lunch. Instead, make a habit of committing to a single task before moving on to your next project.
Focus on one task at a time, and you’ll end up completing it faster.
 

3. Turn off notifications

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. Minimizing interruptions may mean setting office hours, keeping your door closed, or working from home for time-sensitive projects.


 4. Give up on the illusion of perfection.

​It's common for peoples 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. You can always come back and adjust or improve it later.
 

5. Set self-imposed deadlines.

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.

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6. Track you task

A good task tracker can help you better assign breaks into your work schedule. This will ensure that you will be focused and stay on task when it is actually time to work. When people are able to take breaks during the day, they will come back more motivated to succeed. 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.
 


Always think about ways you can work smarter, not harder ! Share us your secret to maximizing your productivity !
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