Three productivity tips for you to implement now
Any type of business you are in at any level in any type of workplace, we all want to be more productive. Here are three tips anyone can implement now to become more productive immediately.
First let’s review three myths. Yes remove these from your thought process.
Myth #1: Do we all agree there is no such thing as ‘work-life balance’?
There is life! In life we balance what we do with our time. There is work or business, family, community, faith, personal development and growth, social, working out or fitness and our finances to name a few. Where and on what do we spend our time? Certainly not on ‘work-life balance’ !
Myth #2: It is all about multi-tasking!
The people who are able to multi-task are the clear winners! They are able to do it all! Bull. The reality is multi-tasking people tend to take longer to produce any one single completed project. Often the result in the finished product is not nearly as complete when compared to the person who did only focus on completing this one single project before moving on to another project.
Myth #3: Eating meals at your desk saves time.
Rush into the office with your Starbucks and some type of sandwich or muffin. Start your day as you eat your breakfast. Order in your lunch and eat this at your desk so you may keep working. Then when you are at the office late order in dinner and eat at your desk while you save time.
All of this is no way to be productive! We all need to get up and move around. We all need to socialize with those we work with or other people out in the real world. All sitting at your desk and eating will do is make you less productive and more grumpy!
Three Productivity Tips
Implement These Now To Become More Productive
Tip #1: Track your time and what you are doing each day.
Do this for two or three weeks. Make a decision of what length of time you will track – either every fifteen minutes or every thirty minutes, whatever it is, track it and record it from the time you wake up until the time you go to bed. Seriously. Inspect what you expect. Do you really know what you are spending your time on and more importantly for how long each day?
Review this like your life depended on it after the period of time you agreed to track is completed. Where are the obvious time wasters? Where are there items you should not be doing and delegate these off your plate or hire someone else to do these items for you.
If your time is valued at some dollar amount and there are tasks you are spending time on which are valued at one tenth of your hourly rate – should you be performing these items?
Tip # 2: All interruptions have to be stopped.
Really – as in immediately. These would include, but not be limited to: meetings of any kind, people stopping by your office either to chat or to ask an ‘urgent’ question, emails, social media and everything related to it.
Let’s take on a few of these right now. Unless you are going to learn how to set up and run productive meetings or run this idea up the chain of command, attending useless, unproductive meetings is a total waste of time and therefore money. The immediate response will be – “Well we have always had the 10 AM and 3PM meeting, I am not sure we should change that.” Okay sure, hang on the Merry-Go-Round stopped and my horsie is free now…
If people are coming by your office and creating an interruption you must either keep your office door closed or combine this with a communication of the times of the day when you are available to have people schedule time to see you. Make the time available for that specific purpose every single day when you are in your office.
Tip #3: Take a break and go for a walk.
Optimally there is a gym in your office building. If there are progressive thinking leaders everyone does not need to go to workout at 6 AM or at noon or at 6 PM. Maybe due to time zone differences with your clients or co-workers your local Noon to 1 PM is actually a busy time for you. Going out for a walk or getting in a quick workout gets the blood flowing, the heart pumping and clears your head. All of this will make you much more productive for the remainder of the day.
In conclusion, read through each of these three tips to become more productive and then make them part of your daily routine. You will become more productive as soon as you begin.
Mitch Tublin runs a boutique consulting company with a main focus on leadership coaching, personal development and business advisory services.
Ready to have Mitch work with you and/or your company on how to increase your productivity?
I agree! Especially with both number 3’s.
For sure Liz! Especially this time of year in NYC! We need to enjoy it.