Do you ever feel like you’re wrestling with your workload, weighed down by expectations and and like you are surrounded by an avalanche of what you’re NOT getting done? We’ve all been there, and it’s a stressful state to live in. So, what’s the secret for knowing how to be more productive at work? We’ve put together a list of 4 ways that you can instantly maximize your productivity and decrease work-related anxiety.
1) Write down a list of your top priority tasks the day before.
The last 10 minutes of your day should consist of preparing for the next day. List 3-5 important projects and schedule time blocks to work on them the next day. It’s crucial that you write these projects down, rather than just mentally noting them. This only take a few minutes and it can save a substantial amount of time and stress the next day.
2) Complete the projects on the list before you open your emails, so you don’t get distracted.
Resist the urge to open your emails first thing in the morning. No one is going to communicate a true emergency to you over an email, and answering emails first thing in the morning can throw off your entire day. Not only can answering emails in the morning be time consuming, but it can also distract you from the sense of urgency that you should have towards your top priority projects. Try to put off opening your inbox until at least noon.
3) Do creative and strategical tasks in the morning, and repetitive tasks in the afternoon.
If you do the most difficult projects in the morning, the rest of your workload will seem much less burdensome after that. Music helps make repetitive tasks easier and more productive, but it’s best not to listen to music during tasks that require strategizing and creativity because music can distract from learning.
4) Take time to recharge.
This could mean dividing your day into bite sized chunks by taking a 5 minute walk every 3 hours or leaving the office for lunch. If possible, go to sleep early, and don’t check work emails after work. If you try to continually push yourself until you stretch yourself thin, you can’t expect to have the energy or even mental ability to be productive everyday. By doing less, you can actually do more.