May 1st, 2019 | Updated on May 23rd, 2023
We all want to work as productively as we can. And that’s because society has picked up the pace ever since new technology has simplified everything. But even if things have become a lot simpler and easier, we still have to deal with the main culprits for underproductivity.
Distractions, stress, and poor time management habits are really taking their toll on the modern-day office worker. These will make it hard for anyone to climb the professional ladder, so it’s always best to find ways on how to get rid of them.
It can be difficult to focus at work, especially when we feel uninspired or distracted. However, it’s important to remember that we often have little choice but to be productive and get on with our tasks. With so much work to plough through, we can’t afford to lose focus or productivity.
Don’t forget to make time for yourself. You can balance all your responsibilities by giving yourself some “me” time. You can take a ten-minute break to meditate, do some breathing exercises or read a chapter from your favorite book. It might not seem like much, but you’ll be surprised how refreshed it’ll make you feel.
There are many ways to stay productive while at work, and here are our top 10 tips to help you focus on your work and get it done on time.
Tips To Keep Yourself Productive At Work
1. Never Avoid Eating Breakfast
Your body needs a healthy breakfast. If you don’t eat anything, you will feel tired and bored. You should eat something good for your body like eggs, fruit and yogurt. Just make sure to have a breakfast that takes a long time to digest because if your food digests quickly you might not be able to focus as well as if the food took longer to digest. It is important to have breakfast every day so you can be focused and productive during the day.
Why should you start your day with a healthy breakfast?
A healthy breakfast provides your body with the energy it needs to stay focused and productive throughout the day. When you skip breakfast or eat unhealthy foods, you will feel tired and unfocused. A nutritious breakfast can help improve your mood, concentration, and overall productivity. Eating a healthy breakfast is the best way to start your day.
2. Get A Good Night’s Sleep
If you’re always having late nights, you’ll regret it the next day because you won’t feel rested or rejuvenated and ready to handle what’s thrown your way. A good night’s sleep will reflect in how productive you feel the next day, so ensure you make sleep a priority.
The best way to get some decent shut-eye every night is to have a bedtime routine of taking a nice hot bath, drinking some hot tea, eating something healthy before bed, reading for at least fifteen minutes away from screens, or doing yoga before bed. You can use our sleeping hygiene checklist on the side of this article for more tips on setting up your nightly routine.
It can be hard to sleep. If you think about things when you’re in bed and it is hard for you to fall asleep, try writing down the thoughts and worries on a piece of paper and put it under your pillow. You can also figure out what might be keeping you awake. For example, if you are working late at night, maybe you need more time to relax your brain before going to bed.
3. Destress Yourself With Exercise
To keep your stress levels down, you should exercise every day. Even if it is just walking for half an hour at lunch time or after school. Exercise will help you clear your mind and stay focused. You may think that sitting at your desk all day will get more things done, but actually sitting all day makes your brain tired and slow.
4. Compartmentalize Your Tasks
Anyone can tell you how the ability to multitask has become such an important skill to have. Then again, it’s impossible to handle different tasks simultaneously.
Experts say that the brain can only handle different tasks one at a time. But constantly switching from one task to another proves to be counterproductive as there’s always the risk of poor quality and, of course, stress. While you can’t always spin more plates than you can actually handle, you might as well handle each task by compartmentalizing it.
This would allow you to focus on one area before you move on to another. Doing so would ensure the quality of your outputs and prevent you from going back to the drawing board due to your poor handiwork.
5. Check Your Emails Only At Certain Times
E-mails are often a productivity killer. That’s a fact. And it’s all too easy to spend hours of your day checking for new messages. However, doing so can mean that you’re spending less time working on your work rather than focusing on emails. Try to check your e-mails only at certain times throughout the day, for example in the morning at 8 AM and then again at 12 PM. This will help to limit the amount of time you spend checking and replying to messages.
6. Keep Your Phone Calls Short
Rewrite the above paragraph explaining why you should turn off your phone when you’re busy.Turn off your phone when you’re busy. It can be hard to talk on the phone and do other things at the same time. If it is someone who is not urgent, tell them that you are “on deadline.” If it is a client, turn off your phone and tell them that you will call them back.
Make sure to have a voicemail message set up that says you are currently unavailable. This will let them know that you are trying to get your work done and will call them back as soon as possible.
7. Visit Social Media Only At Certain Times
It’s important to check your social media profiles only at certain times during the day because if you don’t, they’ll keep interrupting your workflow. Checking them too often can be distracting and take up a lot of time that you could be using to work. Make sure you don’t leave any social media tools open on your desktop, because they’ll just keep popping up and demanding your attention.
8. Use The Pomodoro Method
Do you have a task that’s so time-intensive you will have to finish it sooner than expected? You don’t have to put yourself through so much stress in trying to beat the deadline since it’s still possible to finish your work without over-exhausting yourself.
With the Pomodoro technique, you can manage your tasks easily by working in short bursts with breaks in between. Simply give yourself at least 30 minutes of extensive work.
When the time is up, spend at least 3 to 5 minutes of rest before you start another cycle. You will be able to accomplish your tasks and still look fresh at the end of the shift!
9. Reward Yourself For A Job Well Done
The law of positive reinforcement works just as well in the modern-day office. That’s because you need motivation that will make all your efforts worthwhile.
So, during the weekend, reward yourself for a job well done by going out with your friends or do something that sparks joy, even if it involves decluttering your home the Marie Kondo way!
You can also buy something you have always wanted, like a pair of shoes or that LEGO kit you’ve been eyeing for some time now.
10. Look For Ways To De-stress
Aside from the things that you love, you may also need to go through a much-deserved pampering. Opt for a rejuvenating day at the spa or an acupuncture session that lets you release any negative energy you have collected during the week.
That way, you will be ready for another productive day at the office! With these tips, you’ll become a star employee your company will always depend on. Bet you could get a promotion in no time.
Final Thoughts
The 10 productivity tips listed above aren’t the only way to be productive. You and your company may have other ideas on how to increase and maintain productivity. The 10 ground rules serve as a good foundation because they provide guidance on how to overcome disruption and distraction. They are specific and provide a way for people to understand how to get back on track.
One should start small and be consistent when trying to make changes because developing habits happens gradually. This way, if you slip up, you can just recover in time and give it another try. This approach will help you to gradually make the changes that you need in order to improve your life and stay productive at work.
