Top 5 Ways to Increase Your Productivity

working on laptop

Learn why productivity is your most valuable asset as an employee and how to become your most productive self.

Am I a Productive Employee?

Every employee should be asking themselves this question, on a daily basis.

Job security can be a concern for many reasons which are out of your control. However, your level of productivity is always in your control. But to really move the needle, first, you need to understand what productivity actually is.

What Is Productivity?

Productivity is measured by how much work is accomplished in a particular work environment over a period of time. And how much work is accomplished by a particular employee?

Now take a minute and consider how your employer would rate your productivity using the metrics above.

If you need a boost, keep reading to learn how to become more productive at work.

5 Ways to Be a More Productive Employee

1. Work Smarter, Not Harder

You’ve heard this saying a hundred times, but occasionally you need to be reminded of it.

When honing productive work habits, it’s easy to confuse sweat equity with actual accomplishment. Doing more work isn’t necessarily being more productive.

Use your physical or mental fatigue, exhaustion, confusion, etc. as warning signs that you may be confusing working harder with being productive. If you continue on a cycle of spinning your wheels and achieving very little, ultimately you will be less productive. And less valuable to your company.

Perform a self-check, where you analyze your personal workflow. Find ways to minimize any work overload by delegating and eliminating unnecessary tasks. Your goal is not to be busier, but rather to have more impact.

2. Improve Time Management Skills

Some people are able to be more productive, with much less time. How do they do that? It’s all about time management.

Time management is an underappreciated skill set that will ensure productivity.

You only have a set number of hours in a day to work, so time management is all about prioritization and keeping procrastination at bay.

“If you want to be more productive, you need to become the master of your minutes.” — Crystal Paine

There is always something or someone that will attempt to be the “master of your minutes.” Maintaining control of your time and your schedule is vitally important to staying productive.

Having a schedule and sticking to it, is your best tool for staying productive. Whether you have a to-do list on a notepad, or use time management apps, like Monday or Smartsheet, make sure your workday does according to plan; your plan. Your daily goal should be to stay “on task,” to improve your productivity.

3. Create and Complete Short Term Goals

Confidence, high self-esteem, and a sense of accomplishment go a long way to creating momentum for your productivity.

All that productivity leads to more energy and enthusiasm for your job. And the cycle continues.

One extremely effective strategy for maintaining this sense of accomplishment and energy is to create short-term goals.

“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort” — Paul J. Meyer

The benefits of short-term goals are many. Short term goals:

  • Provide a sense of accomplishment
  • Improve your attitude toward your work
  • Prevent distraction
  • Make larger projects more manageable

Stay productive by completing one task at a time. Always be moving forward with your workload, as opposed to in a “holding pattern” juggling multiple tasks. You will be surprised at what you have accomplished in the allotted time just by taking it one step/day/project at a time.

4. Commit to Becoming More Organized

There’s a direct correlation between organization and productivity.

While it may not be the sexiest of all skill sets, the organization is probably the most appreciated. No one wants to work with a disorganized person. Disorganization creates chaos and leads to time-wasting.

It’s hard to be productive when you are disorganized. Personal organization is completely in your control.

5. Take a Break & Step Away from Your Work

Taking breaks is not a luxury, it’s productivity protection.

Some companies even make it mandatory to take 15-minute breaks in the middle of the workday. They realize that employees are not as productive when they overwork themselves or are overly stressed.

Determine what type of break is necessary for you to be productive. Some people require a snack or coffee in the middle of the day to stay alert or energized. Others need a physical break to stretch their legs or get fresh air.

They accomplish both by taking a walk around the building. Use your break times strategically to improve your overall productivity.

Conclusion

Take charge of your career path by improving your productivity.

Apply these principles to any task that comes before you. Employers will certainly notice when you take the necessary measures to better your productivity. Employees that are able to improve their productivity truly become irreplaceable assets.

If you’d like to discuss how to elevate your life by improving your productivity, contact the team at elevanation. We look forward to building relationships through coaching and mentoring that lead you to a better, more fulfilling life.

Originally Published on: elevanation

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