A UK study revealed office employees average two and a half hours of productivity in an 8-hour workday.
You may not think this applies to you, but we’re all a victim of distraction. Lower productivity in an office can lower profits, lower employee morale, and create a toxic work environment.
Help contribute to your company’s success by improving productivity. All you have to do is implement these 5 simple tips!
1. Minimizing Distractions & Improving Productivity
Distractions can be huge productivity killers. One of the biggest distractions we encounter in the workplace is the phone.
You should implement an organized workspace and removing your phone. Keeping distractions on your desk and within reach make them a constant temptation. Checking a notification on our phone can turn into hours of browsing on social media.
Be strategic about your computer view as well by utilizing one tab at a time. Having multiple tabs open is another temptation to click onto a different site stealing your focus from the task at hand.
For the most time-consuming of sites, experiment with blocking or setting time limits.
2. Sleep
Sleepiness can magnify the distractions we work so hard to minimize. Our brains don’t function or communicate as effectively when we’re sleep-deprived. We are more likely to move slowly and make more mistakes.
With enough sleep, you can complete the items on your to-do list with efficiency and accuracy.
To get more sleep, try going to bed earlier, incorporating exercise, avoiding caffeine or alcohol later in the day, and reducing screen exposure before bedtime. Most importantly, build a comfortable sleep environment. High quality sleep can be achieved with one quick trip to the mattress store.
3. Do the Worst FIRST
Delaying our productivity is made easier when we have a daunting task ahead of us. Our instinct might lead us to save the worst task to be completed last. However, doing it first may be more beneficial.
Starting with this task jump-starts your productivity and getting it out of the way will make the rest of your day easier.
4. Use a Schedule
Knowing how to prioritize your day is the key to improving productivity. Start by making a schedule or to-do list so you know the deadlines for what has to be completed. Having a schedule can help you stay accountable.
Similar to accountability, a schedule can make it easier to say “No.” to other activities that may pop up during the day, such as breaks with co-workers or friends, or unnecessary meetings.
However, saying no doesn’t mean cutting out other activities completely.
Incorporate breaks in your schedule such as lunch with a friend or 15 minutes on social media. Allowing yourselves time away from work will make it easier to stay disciplined throughout the day.
5. Keep it Entertaining
It’s harder to stay productive and avoid distractions when the tasks at hand are boring. Incorporate a fun element into your work environment to boost productivity. This can be done with an upbeat playlist or an episode of your favorite podcast.
Getting Stuff Done
When we ask ourselves how to improve productivity, we must first acknowledge the root of our ineffectiveness. Whether you struggle with distractions, meeting deadlines, or sleepiness, incorporating these tips and tricks can be super helpful.
If you want more help improving productivity or you’re interested in other lifestyle tips and advice, check out the rest of our site!
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