6 Ways to Work More Efficiently
Do you ever feel like there’s just not enough time to get all your work done? Do you sometimes feel like the day slipped by and you should have accomplished much more? Luckily, there are many ways that you can increase your work efficiency, and end the work day knowing that you got a lot done. Not only will these techniques help you get more done, they can also help improve the quality of your work.
Keep your work space clean and organized
If your work space isn’t well organized, you may find yourself spending a lot of time searching for lost items. The best way to stay organized is to select a particular location for everything, and to commit to putting things back where they belong. For a small cost, you could invest in organizing tools, such as pen holders or paper organizers, which make sorting items much simpler. If you keep your work area clean and organized, not only is it easier for you to locate items, but it eliminates the distractions that a cluttered work area can cause.
Stop multitasking
Many people believe that multitasking in the work place is a good way to increase efficiency, but it can actually reduce the amount of work a person gets done. When it comes to working on tasks that require focus and thought, working on more than one task can reduce the quality of the work produced. Going back and forth between different tasks also breaks one’s concentration, making it more difficult to dive back into your original undertaking. If you focus on one task at a time and eliminate distractions, you will increase your work production speed, and produce a higher quality end product.
Have Structure in Your Schedule
If you throw yourself into your work day without any particular order of tasks to complete, you may find it more difficult to get things done efficiently. Setting a schedule for yourself is a great way to keep on track, and to eliminate the temptation of jumping between tasks or taking random breaks. If you also set a time limit for tasks in your daily schedule, you are likely to work more efficiently. You will know exactly how much time you are giving yourself to work on something, and when your next break will be, so you will be likely to work harder in that given time period. If you follow a structured schedule in your work day, you can learn to be more disciplined and productive.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle
Taking care of your body and health is an effective way to improve your workplace productivity. One of the most important things to take care of is getting enough sleep prior to a work day. Exhaustion at work can decrease productivity and reduce the quality of your work. Relying on caffeine alone for your daily energy source isn’t healthy either. If you aim to get at least seven hours of sleep a night, then you’ll be in a much better mindset for work. Exercising can increase your productivity as well. Even a small amount of exercise can improve your mood. If you work at a job where you have to sit for the majority of the day, exercise can also make it easier to sit still for long periods of time. Of course, eating healthy foods will increase your brain function as well, and will give you more energy throughout the day. If you plan to snack throughout the work day, try to choose snacks that will give you energy, such as nuts, fruits, or vegetables. Drinking plenty of water will increase your energy and focus as well, so keep a water bottle in your work space to make sure you’re staying hydrated.
Create a to-do list
Keeping track of all the things that need to get done in a day or week can be quite challenging, so writing a daily or weekly to-do list is a great way to stay on track. Not only does a to-do list keep you from forgetting all of the things that you need to get done, but it is a way to track your progress. Being able to cross completed tasks off the list can give you a sense of accomplishment, and can motivate you to keep working towards crossing more tasks off the list.
Take breaks
Working through the day without taking breaks is not only exhausting, but it can make it more difficult to stay focused. You should try to go beyond just one short lunch break in your work day, and allow yourself periodic short breaks throughout the day. You could step outside for a few minutes of fresh air, go grab a refreshment, or just go on a brief walk around the office to stretch your legs. Regardless of what you do in your short breaks, you should try to step away from your work area for a couple minutes to clear your mind and give yourself a break from the task at hand.