6 Top Tricks To Improve Your Productivity

tips improve business productivity boost company efficiency

Productivity is a buzzword used in some capacity in just about every industry worldwide. Executives and employees alike are continuously looking for ways their teams can increase productivity at work. So what is this buzzword? Harvard Business Review explains, “Productivity is about doing more with the same. Growth in labor productivity is measured by the change in output per labor hour over a defined period of time.” 

With the digital options available today, staying on-task and turning off distractions is more difficult than ever. There are endless social media platforms and direct messaging platforms-- syncing across multiple devices and fueling the “always on” mindset in our culture. It can be difficult to manage in the short-term but finding a strategy for increasing productivity long-term can help you feel more accomplished, improve job satisfaction and even help you advance in your career. Here’s six tips to improve your productivity: 

1. Figure Out Your Unique Rhythm 

First and foremost, you have to figure out what your strengths and weaknesses are in relation to productivity. Everyone has their own routine that works for them – so you simply have to take a step back, dig deep and figure it out. It’ll take some practice to really understand what drives you to be productive or what hinders you. 

For example, maybe you’re a morning person, and you’ve noticed you work best 2-3 hours after you wake up. So you start setting your alarm earlier, waking up and getting to work before everyone else. Or maybe you know that you can’t function as an early morning person – you’re more of a late afternoon type. In that case, save your biggest tasks and milestones for that time of day. 

2. To Do Lists 

Even if you’re not a list person, be open to giving it a try. There’s tons of fun ways to make a list and keep up with it – from your calendar or iPhone reminders to services such as Todoist. Some people even prefer the traditional pen to paper. The key is to find what works best for you and something you can stick to. 

Pro Tip: make your to do list for the next day in the evenings-- or before you officially sign-off for the day. If you proactively take steps to make a list before you mentally check-out, the next morning you’ll be able to have something in front of you as a starting point. People often waste time in the mornings trying to figure out where they left off the day before. 

3. Make Alerts Work For You 

In a world full of endless digital communication methods, set up your apps or alerts to work smarter for you. If you know you perform your best during a set time of day – set all of your alerts to be silent on a recurring basis. You can finish the task(s) you’re focused on and then check all of your apps/notifications. Team communication apps such as Slack, have a great feature that allows you to turn on ‘Do Not Disturb’– so your teams know you’ve signed off and are not checking notifications. It’s a nice way to let them know without having to respond and they aren’t left wondering why they aren’t getting a response. 

4. Manage Distractions 

According to Gloria Mark’s research on digital distraction, it takes us around 25 minutes to return to an original task after an interruption. Distractions not only pull you away from what you’re doing but it impacts your mental progress after-the-fact. Make yourself stick to what you’re doing for at least 45 minutes – even if you have to set a timer for tasks such as checking your email or starting another conversation with a coworker. 

Having multiple distractions in an hour can be very unproductive for most people. In addition, it can be damaging to your emotional state as well. The New York Times reports attention distraction can lead to higher stress, a bad mood and lower productivity. 

5. Practice Rest 

Don’t get so caught up in what you’re doing that you convince yourself you don’t need rest. Even the most successful people need it and over time, not getting enough of it can actually hinder your productivity. If you’re overworked and stressed, it can be especially hard to focus. 

Figure out time of day you can unplug, unwind and relax. Maybe it’s taking time away from the screen at your lunch break to attend a yoga class or even play an online game. Chumba Casino reports, “In a recent survey, our participants definitely seem to believe that online gaming fosters productivity. 54 percent of participants have played online games at work, 15 percent have played at school, and 14 percent have played at both work and school.” 

Whatever it is that gives you rest – find it and practice it daily. Once you can distinguish when you need a break, you’ll be more productive when you are plugged in because you’ll have a clear head. 

6. Prioritize Health And Wellness 

In order to be ultra productive, you have to feel good. Taking care of your body and mind is essential to maximum health and wellness. Be sure you are properly fueling your body. If you know you’re about to have a really long day, start your morning off with a hearty breakfast. 

Make sure you hydrate throughout the day. Sometimes if you are really focused on a task, hours can go by without taking a break to nourish or hydrate. As a rule of thumb, keep water or other hydrating fluids on your desk or nearby. If you are traveling, be sure you plan your meals accordingly. If you are stressed and anxiety ridden about your workload, your immune system can crumble – making you less productive! 

Power Up Your Productivity

When people are productive, they tend to feel more satisfied and can even experience a euphoric emotion. Follow these tips to practice being productive – it can open up a whole new world!

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