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10 Productivity Hacks That Will Change The Way You Work
Productivity is essential, especially if you have a lot on your plate. But the stress of meeting deadlines, managing a business, leading a team to complete a project, or merely ticking repetitive tasks off your list, can make even the simplest of tasks feel so overwhelming.
When your days feel so burned out that you’re finding it harder and harder to get anything done, it’s time to change the way you work. Here are productivity hacks that will make a world of difference to your day to day workflow:
Prepare for Your Day
Juggling different tasks needs preparation. To get into a productive headspace, you have to get ready for the day. Even if you're working from home, you have to wake up at the right time, make breakfast, and get dressed for work. Getting ready for the day changes your mindset while also helping you focus on your tasks. You'll also feel so much better if you've made an effort to get ready for work.
Set a Schedule + Breaks
Some people find it hard to stay productive when working from home. This can be solved easily by setting the work hours and sticking to it. You can maintain the same work hours you have in the office, or you can adjust your work hours at a time you're feeling the most productive. Either way, be sure that you're giving yourself enough time to complete your tasks and then REST during breaks. Remember, resting is just as important as working. You won’t get anything done if your nerves are too frazzled by stress.
Learn to Prioritize Tasks
Your most important tasks should be completed right away. Small, repeated tasks take a huge chunk of time to complete. If you’re focusing too much on the little things, you won’t have the motivation or time to focus on the critical tasks. In many cases, the small tasks will overwhelm the brain, so you’ll end up completing fewer tasks.
To avoid this, outline your first 3 to 4 priority tasks as you plan your day to day schedule. Get these done first, and don’t move forward to other tasks if these aren’t ticked off your to-do list.
Time-Batch Similar Tasks
Scattering the same tasks throughout your work hours is not only tiring, but it can also be distracting too. Think about it, how can you focus on writing a high-quality blog for your website if you keep checking your inbox every 10 minutes? Little tasks take a while to complete, and most times, these tasks keep you from getting anything done.
To make sure you’re staying on track, time-batch similar tasks. Time-batch is the concept of working on one task for a specific period. For example, if answering emails is a critical part of your job, do this at a particular time of the day. You can give yourself at least 30 minutes to 1 hour, answering all emails before moving on to the next task. By time-batching your tasks, you get many things done, and your tasks are organized to boot.
Complete Tasks in Steps
Some tasks take only a minute to complete; other tasks take a longer time. If you have an important project or a big task that you have to complete within the day, we suggest breaking down the entire process into small steps. This way, you can complete your task and stay efficient, minus the stress!
Focus on Every Task
Juggling too many things will do more harm than good. You might end up not finishing anything at all. And if ever you did complete all your tasks, the work's quality isn’t really up to par most times because everything’s rushed. Instead of trying to do everything all at once, work on one task after the other. Do not move on to the other task without finishing what you’re currently working on. This way, you’ll get everything done, and the quality of your work is *chef’s kiss*
Avoid Task Overloading
When you have a lot on your plate, taking more work is just pushing it. Learn to say no if asked to take on too many responsibilities. Do not drown yourself with too many tasks because you’ll only end up stressing yourself and not finishing any of them! Learn to prioritize important tasks and tasks that are non-negotiable. Don’t fill your schedule with unnecessary tasks, and learn how to delegate some of your team members’ work.
Avoid Distractions
It would be best if you had a clear mind free from distraction so you can complete all of your tasks in a day. To make sure you’re working when you’re supposed to, clear your workspace from distraction. That means no mobile phone unless needed, no TV, no video games, no Netflix, no books, etc. Don’t surf the net or engage in lengthy chats with your co-employees or friends when you’re supposed to be working. Do all of these only when you’re on a break or once you’re done with the day’s work.
Give Yourself Mini Deadlines
Just because a task doesn’t have a deadline doesn’t mean you should take your sweet time completing it. Give yourself mini-deadlines to motivate yourself to complete each task. If you’re writing, limit the research to an hour and the writing to two hours. Proofreading your work doesn’t take more than a few minutes. If you’re a graphic designer, give yourself an hour or two to look at inspos and a few hours working on the design.
Take a Break
It’s hard to take a break if you’re a workaholic who’s working from home but stick to your scheduled breaks at all times. Your break time is your time to de-stress and refresh your mind and body. That way, you can continue on your tasks without feeling burned out. Be kind to yourself, rest when you need to, and don’t feel guilty for taking some time off – we all need it.
Staying motivated at work, no matter your current setup is challenging when you have too much on your plate. With these tips, you can motivate yourself to complete all your tasks without going insane with the amount of work you need to do in a day! Try any of these tips today and let us know if they worked for you too.
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