5 Techniques to Try to Boost Your Productivity in the Workplace
Productivity in the workplace requires cooperation from everyone— employees and employers all have to work together to ensure that everyone is working to the best of their ability. Here are a few tips to try and boost productivity in the workplace.
#1: Plan Your Tasks Ahead of Time
If your job is pretty routine and you know what you’re going to be doing every day (or at least have a good idea of what will take place), then it will be easy to plan what you’re going to do and when. Planning takes the stress out of not being prepared and guessing what will come next. Of course, not every single detail of the day can be planned, and sometimes unexpected things do occur. But planning helps you to be better prepared for any mishaps.
Another part of planning is time management. When you plan out how you are going to use your time throughout the day, you will be more productive. Managing your time properly allows for a better quality of work, fewer mistakes, and less stress.
#2: Take Breaks
When planning and managing your time, schedule some time for breaks. As an employer, it is important to realize that breaks actually make your employees more productive. Both physical and mental rest are necessary to avoid constant mistakes and a decrease in quality of work. Of course, all employees shouldn’t take breaks at the same time, but it’s important to ensure that each employee gets a 10-15 minute break to prevent burnout.
If you work for yourself, remember that you don’t have to push too hard to be successful. Taking a break is necessary for both entrepreneurs and people who work from home. Just like in a traditional work setting, taking a break allows you to feel recharged and helps you to focus better.
#3: Don’t Multitask
Multitasking may seem like the best way to become more productive, but most of the time it makes things worse. When we try to do more than one thing at a time, our brains are not giving full attention to any of the tasks we’re trying to take on. Even if we try to do only two things at once, we can end up making a mistake.
While there are some instances where you can multitask and become more productive, it’s better to focus on just one task, especially if you’re working in an industry where a small error can result in someone getting hurt or worse.
#4: Make Sure That Your Workplace/Space is Comfortable
If you’re not comfortable, you’re not likely to be productive. This can apply to someone working in an office and also someone who is on their feet all day. When you’re working in an office, whether it’s at home or outside of the home, it’s important to have a comfortable chair, good lighting, and your desk at a proper height. On the other hand, a waiter/waitress or retail worker would benefit from wearing comfortable shoes and clothing. A well-organized and visually pleasing workspace also helps with productivity.
#5: Change Your Workplace/Space
Unfortunately, sometimes the place you’re working isn’t the right match for you. Though similar job titles require the same type of work, the actual work environment can make all the difference. This is why it’s important to search job sites that match you with your specialty, or niche job sites.
These types of job search sites typically have listings from employers who want someone who is passionate about their work, but they also want to help them develop and grow.
A similar strategy can be done by people working from home. Maybe the room you’re working in has too many distractions, like a bedroom or living room. Since the pandemic has caused many people to work from home, more and more people are creating spaces in their homes, or even within another room to function as a home office.
The key to productivity is to always be prepared and not take on more than you can handle. An unpredictable workday leads to stress, and stress can lead to burnout. Excessive stress and burnout are what lead to less than optimal productivity.
