Are you searching for ways to become more productive? This article will allow you to get more work done in a shorter period, allowing your business to expand. Let’s look at a few simple things that your company can implement to help boost productivity.
1. Use a Tickler File System
One of the biggest reasons that things don’t get done is because people lose track of their daily tasks. Without a way of keeping track of projects, it’s easy for things to get overlooked. That’s where a tickler system comes in. In this system, you file every task you need to complete into a particular folder. At the start of each day, you then get reminded about the tasks that you need to do that day, which tickles your memory. This system will keep you focused on the jobs you need to complete that day. It also provides a great place to start for monthly reviews, as you break tasks up into daily chunks at the start of each month. Also, it is a great way to plan long-term projects, breaking them up into smaller tasks to make more manageable while not producing unneccessary overhead like most project management software. The best place to start with this form of task management is here at https://www.fortythree.me/.
2. Use Time Management Software
There are many different time management apps that you can download. These apps will help you better manage your time. These apps can help you spot unproductive habits that you have developed, allowing you to take steps to correct those issues. You might also download a timer to help you divide your time between working and breaks. A timer will enable you to stay focused on one task for a longer time. Finally, you might also want to consider downloading an app that will limit what sites you can visit. Such an app will help you steer clear of sites that you know distract you, allowing you to focus on the current task.
3. Set a Time for Emails and Texts
Another great way to boost productivity is by setting a time to check emails. This tip works because every time you check emails or text messages, it takes you a while before you can re-focus on the task. By checking everything in one big block, it will prevent the little checks you perform and keep you focused on essential duties for a more extended period. Also, it would help if you tried to remove as many pop-up alerts from your computer as possible. Each time one of these messages comes on, it can derail your whole train of thought, taking you a long time to get re-focused again.
4. You Should Change Your Approach to Meetings
Many people have experienced a useless meeting. Getting all your employees together to tell them information that could easily have been conveyed in an email wastes everyone’s time. You should only have meetings when you need real-time face-to-face feedback on an idea. If your situation doesn’t meet these requirements, then you can use another medium. Some studies have shown that online chatrooms where anyone can participate at any time might be one of the most effective ways to get feedback on ideas. When you do have a meeting, make sure that there is an agenda and you try to finish on time. By implementing these suggestions, you’ll stop people wasting their time in meetings, allowing them to spend more time working.
5. Say No to Interruptions
You’ll probably find colleagues coming up to you throughout the day asking for your help on their projects. While you should try to encourage a productive workplace where people can help each other, you need to have some balance. If you spend all your time helping other people, you’ll never get any of your work done. Also, after assisting them, it can take a long time before you can resettle yourself and re-focus. For this reason, you should ask the other person to wait for a few minutes to allow you time to finish your tasks before you help them. Alternatively, you might want to have specific times during the day when you can focus on the most challenging tasks without interruptions.
6. Know Your Habits
Research has shown that different people are most productive in different parts of the day. It would be best if you tried to identify what times you are most productive and structure your day around those times. For example, you might find that you are the most productive in the afternoon. In this case, you might schedule the most straightforward tasks for the morning session and the most challenging activities in the afternoon. Also, you might want to use the morning to help colleagues and use the afternoon to work uninterrupted on your tasks. It would help if you also learned what tasks you don’t like to do. When confronting these tasks, it’s best to do them as quickly as possible. The longer that you wait, the more daunting the task becomes. It might also help if you promised yourself a snack after completing the task. The more you practice completing daunting tasks quickly, the easier it will become.
7. Remember Why You Are Doing Your Job
It’s common for some people to struggle with a lack of motivation at work. Lack of motivation can lead to you to feeling sluggish and not giving the project your all. By remembering what attracted you to the job in the first place, you will be able to increase your motivation levels. It’s best to think about the innate reasons which extend beyond getting a paycheck. For example, if you were a lawyer, your deep motivation might be the ability to help people who have been wrongfully accused. Once you discover what motivates you, place it on a sticky note above your desk.
While many people assume that their productivity level is fixed, this isn’t true. As we’ve discussed, you can use productivity tools, like the tickler file system for better task management, to get more work done. So, use these seven tips to improve your work performance and increase your business’s efficiency.