How to be More Productive at Work

1. MAKE A LIST

This sounds old fashioned, but creating lists (whether on paper or on an electronic device) is a great way of getting a realistic picture of what needs to be done for the day. Seeing the tasks you have to complete will help you to allocate your time accordingly to get ensure all the items are achieved.

2. SAY NO!

Sounds pretty harsh, but once you have created your list of tasks, avoid being sidetracked by last minute requests. Going off course can stop you from meeting your targets and can cause you stress. Encourage your team members and managers to plan and advise you in advance of the items they need completed (only take on projects and meetings that you have the time for or are absolutely unavoidable).

3. PRIORITIZE

Seems pretty obvious but most people fail at efficiently carrying this out. Examine your goals or tasks and determine which ones are the most urgent for your project and plan accordingly. Having a notice board or this list posted in a visible area will keep you focused on a daily basis.

4. PLAN AHEAD

Trust me! This tip would save you plenty of time especially when you are running late for work on mornings. For example, planning your outfits for the week (ironing included) and setting them out in an easily accessible area on the weekend. This lessen the likelihood of you being indecisive in the mornings, which can make you late for work.

5. PUT DOWN YOUR PHONE

Don’t have a heart attack…You read that correctly. I know it seems impossible as some of you are always glued to your phone to the point where it seems to be a part of your anatomy. I’ve been there. This addiction can cause you to be distracted and can severely limit productivity. You can go on Facebook to look at one post and end up scrolling and clicking for hours... (slight confession).

You get the point put the phone down until you are nearing the end of your list.

6. SLEEP

Get some rest. For those of us who were taught that sleep is just a concept in college, that is a myth! A good night’s rest will leave you feeling invincible in the morning.

7. SET GOALS

Knowing what you want to achieve at the end of the week/month/year is important to help you to stay focused on your daily tasks.

8. EXERCISE

Look, I hate going to the gym as much as everyone else …but maintaining my health is important because I am less efficient if I am sick. Exercising for at least 30 minutes, four times a week will reduce stress and keep you a healthy endorphin filled powerhouse.

9. REFLECT & STRATEGIZE

At the end of the day, look back on all the tasks you have completed, including the ones you didn’t quite nail. Strategize on how you will tackle those the next day or if a greater amount of time is required to tackle those goals.

10. CREATE A STIMULATING MUSIC PLAYLIST

This has to be my go to tip for productivity! If you are like me and live by a good playlist, try downloading some of your favorite songs to keep you going through the day especially through those tedious tasks and your work outs.

My go-to playlists are from DJ Private Ryan...(Yes GAWD!)

11. EXTEND YOUR DAYS

Waking up earlier will give you a head start on that to-do-list we talked about before. Sometimes you feel as though you don’t have enough hours in your day and getting that extra hour in to work on your tasks can make the world of a difference.

12. GOOGLE IT

Why try to reinvent the wheel? Let me tell you what ever you a struggling with,there is a solution somewhere out there. Google will help you to find what you need and you can tailor it to your situation...

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