Productivity gains increase over time. A few minutes here and a couple of minutes there add up significantly if you focus on maintaining your efforts. Imagine doing 10 percent of your job one percent better every day — the difference in production would be massive.
With the calendar rapidly flipping toward the second half of the year, now is an ideal time to focus on what you can do better at work over the third and fourth quarters that will set you up for success in 2019 and beyond.Here are some tips on how you can maximize your productivity gains over time.
Take Breaks
While spending time not working may seem counterintuitive, taking breaks from your work can ensure you stay fresh, focused and productive. Breaks keep you from getting bored as the human brain just wasn’t built for the extended focus we ask of it. Go for a hike or walk, schedule some time to read, hang out with interesting folks outside your organization. All you need is a brief interruption to get back on track.
Enhance Your Energy with Why
The most productive people appear to be brimming with energy, enthused by every single task. Unfortunately, that energy and enthusiasm doesn’t come naturally to everyone. In order to enhance your energy levels, spend a moment every morning writing down the reason why you’re pursuing your current purpose. This serves as an excellent reminder as to why you’re giving your all at work and can provide that motivational energy boost you need to keep plugging away.
Learn, Learn, Learn
Make time to learn new things. No matter your position in a company, there’s always room to grow. Acquiring new skills and perspectives oftentimes allows you to work more effectively and efficiently. If a new capability increases your productivity, then work to gain it. You can learn anything you want, and you can get better at quickly performing tasks that will increase your productivity.
Create Goals, Make Lists
List what you want to accomplish every day, every month, every year. Begin and end each day with something you can make tangible progress on. Choose the goals that matter most and set a completion date. Continue to calculate variable improvements until the goals are met. If you take the time to make lists and prioritize your goals, you will generate momentum and increase your productivity.
Do What You Love
Last but certainly not least, do what you love to do! It’s difficult to remain productive working on tasks and projects that don’t inspire you. According to Steve Jobs, “the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” If you can, delegate the tasks you’re not crazy about to avoid losing momentum.
As your inbox fills up while you dash from meeting to meeting, spending hours working every day only to feel as though no progress has been made, consider these tips to help make the most of your time. At Thrive Workplace, we strive to provide all of our members with the tools they need in order to get work done efficiently and effectively, ultimately allowing them to succeed — no matter the industry.
