Home » Blog » Effectiveness » Want to Improve Productivity?

Want to Improve Productivity?

posted in: Effectiveness
Improve Productivity

Start Doing These 11 Things

Productivity level is one of the biggest factors in how successful a person in, both in business and in life. The more you achieve, the more successful you are. If you want to achieve more of your goals and go further, then it is important to work on improving your productivity every day.

Not sure where to start? Here are eleven key points to focus on so that you can start increasing your productivity levels and achieve better results in less time:

1. Write out your goals clearly.

Being clear about what your goals are is the first step in becoming more productive. For a goal to be achieved, it must be realistic. Write out each goal, making sure that it is specific and measurable. They need to be in line with your own core values. Give yourself a time limit for achieving each goal. Being clear about your goals from the start is vital if you want to achieve them in the future.

2. Write out your action plan.

As with your goals, it is important to write out a clear plan of how to accomplish each of them. The better you plan, the less time you spend carrying out those plans. Write down the steps and tasks that must be done in order to complete your goal. Every morning, start your day by writing out which tasks you want to accomplish that day. When you work from a written list, you are more likely to stay on track. You can see a 25% increase in productivity once you make this a habit.

3. Set your priorities.

Before you start tackling your to-do list, go through it and arrange each task in order of priority. Work from your most important tasks down to low priority tasks, because a high priority task can have significant consequences if they are not done whereas the less important tasks will have little to no real impact on reaching your goals.

4. Do not multitask.

While many people feel that they are more productive when they try to juggle multiple tasks at once, this can actual hamper your productivity, causing you to waste more time while you try to complete each task. Instead, focus single-mindedly on your top priority tasks until they are finished. You will work faster and with better results if you do not let yourself get distracted by the other things on your list. You can eliminate time waste by 80% if you start focusing on a single task from start to finish.

5. Balance a longer workday with downtime.

Find ways to give yourself more time at work without eating into your downtime. Many people find that if they start their day earlier, work through lunch, and stay a little later in the day, that they can achieve so much more. Use that time to be your most productive self. Counter this extra work time with intentional downtime. Take your weekends off, schedule vacations, long ones and short ones. When you’re not working, focus on the things that matter most to you outside of work and let yourself relax and enjoy that time away. You need to do this to recharge and maintain your energy so that you can hit the ground running when it’s time to go back to work.

6. Spend your time at work doing work.

It can be easy to get distracted at work with small talk, phone calls and emails, social media, et cetera. This can greatly reduce your productivity level, so instead, keep your head down and get work done while you are there. People find that they can accomplish tasks in half the time when they push through instead of taking time to socialize.

7. Work faster.

Embark on each task with a sense of urgency. Don’t let yourself get sidetracked and start wasting your time at work. Set your pace and stick with it. When you consciously speed up your actions, you will be surprised at how much more you can fit into the time you have at work.

8. Work smarter.

Don’t just focus on the number of hours you spend working. You also want to make sure that you are working to complete those tasks which have the most value for the goals you are trying to reach. More time on high priority tasks means better results at the end of the day.

9. Improve your skills.

You are good at what you do, but there is always room to improve. Find ways to be better at your job. What skills can you find to improve on? When you are running at your peak level, then you will see a greater level of output as you work.

10. Group similar tasks together.

If you have similar tasks to do each day, group them together into a single block. This can include emails, expense reports, or phone calls. Slot a time that is just for getting those tasks done and crossed off your to-do list at once.

11. Consolidate your steps.

You may have several smaller tasks that can be combined into one single task. Eliminate activities that have a low value for the task you are trying to achieve if they are not essential.

More on Effectiveness