Every day starts almost the same, with a promise to be much more productive today, finish all our daily tasks and finish the day satisfied.
But what actually happens is another day passes and we barely did half the things we wanted to do.
How do we get out of the slow routine and pick up our productivity? Here’s some tips to do that!
How to stay productive – Set your daily goals
You woke up? Had some coffee with your morning news? Awesome, before you head out to your busy day take a few minutes and do a review of your day.
Check your schedule and emails and see what tasks and appointments you have for the day and make a short priority list of your daily endeavors for the day to help you focus on the urgent stuff first.
- Important and urgent tasks: Things you have to do today and can’t postpone them.
- Important but not urgent tasks: Things you have to do, but don’t have to finish today.
- Non important tasks: Things that aren’t urgent or important and can be delayed for another time.
Making such a daily list will help you make a structure for your day and with scheduling any thing you have to do during the day.
What’s the Schedule?
Setting your daily goals is one thing, sure it would’ve been fine to have ‘clean the house’ and not have any tasks for the next day, but we know that’s not the case.
Alongside our small daily tasks, we will sometimes have long and more complex tasks we might not finish in one day, be it some hobby art project or work-related activities that we will probably drag out.
In such cases it is important to set a finish date for those tasks and here a few tips on how to know when to do it:
- Know your task – Make sure you know how to actually finish it, in all its steps, so you’ll be sure you don’t miss a thing.
- Does it include anyone else in finishing it – Some tasks and projects, especially work related, will involve cooperation with others. Do they know what they need to do? Are your schedules aligned? When doing a group project, it’s recommended to have a small meeting and set your expectations.
- Dividing the work stages – It is best to break down a long task or project to different phases and set a schedule for each one to have time to complete them and also keep track on progress and any hiccups along the way.
- Flexibility – Expect the unexpected. Setting a schedule should include any unexpected events such as getting sick or something more urgent popping up, and update anyone involved about any sudden surprises.
Keeping up the pace
Setting your daily goals and making a schedule is critical for productivity at work, but can you keep up with your schedule?
Setting time frames for your schedules is not an arbitrary task.
Each task has a different requirements and different means of accomplishment, so your work schedule should fit the time frames it takes for each task to be completed.
How do you measure the time for each task to be done? Reading emails can take 20 minutes of your day, but making a presentation might take all day.
To know how much time to set for each task you should keep track of how long general things you do during the day and make an approximated timeline for each task.
You can keep track by writing down how long it takes or use some phone app that helps to keep track.
That is of course an ongoing process but in relatively short time you should be able to get a clear picture of how long each task takes you, and once you have that info you would have a much easier time to plan your daily work schedule and set realistic time frames for your work projects and finish the day feeling satisfied.
Staying focused at work
Sometimes it’s hard to stay focused at work and it can really impede your work schedule.
So how do I stay focused? Here’s some tips:
- Take breaks
It’s important to take regular breaks throughout the day to recharge and refocus. Taking a break doesn’t mean scrolling through social media or checking your email.
Instead, take a short walk, stretch your legs, or simply close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Taking regular breaks will help you stay focused and productive throughout the day.
- Stay hydrated and nourished
Drinking enough water and eating nutritious food is crucial for staying focused and productive at work.
Dehydration can cause fatigue and reduce cognitive function, making it difficult to concentrate. Make sure to drink water throughout the day and avoid sugary drinks like soda and energy drinks.
Additionally, eat nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean protein to fuel your body and brain.
- Use coffee to stay focused
Coffee is a popular beverage in workplaces around the world, and for good reason.
Studies have shown that caffeine can improve cognitive function and boost alertness, making it easier to stay focused and productive.
However, it’s important to drink coffee in moderation, as too much caffeine can cause jitters and anxiety.
Try limiting your coffee intake to one or two cups per day and drink it earlier in the day to avoid interfering with your sleep.
Minimize distractions
Distractions can be a major productivity killer, so it’s important to minimize them as much as possible.
If you work in an open office environment, try using noise-cancelling headphones to block out distracting noise.
Additionally, turn off notifications on your phone and computer and close unnecessary tabs on your browser.
By minimizing distractions, you’ll be able to stay focused and get more done.
In conclusion, staying productive at work is essential for achieving your goals and advancing in your career.
By starting your day with a plan, taking breaks, staying hydrated and nourished, using technology to your advantage, prioritizing your tasks, using coffee to stay focused, minimizing distractions, and setting realistic goals, you can increase your productivity and achieve success.
Coffee can play a role in keeping you focused and alert, but it’s important to use it in moderation and not rely on it as the sole solution for productivity.
While caffeine can boost cognitive function, it’s also important to address the underlying causes of distraction and lack of focus, such as poor sleep or stress.
In addition to the tips mentioned above, it’s also important to take care of your mental health.
Stress and burnout can have a major impact on productivity and overall well-being. Make sure to take time for self-care activities like exercise, meditation, or spending time with loved ones.
Remember that staying productive at work is not just about working harder, but working smarter.
By implementing these tips and taking care of your mental and physical health, you can stay focused, productive, and achieve success in your career.
