Boost Productivity
By Chef K.T. Murphy
Wouldn’t you love to end your workday with everything finished on time and handed in?
Maybe even get a head start on tomorrow’s work? That probably sounds more of a fantasy than reality. But being more productive throughout the day means one of two things: either you have special powers and can add extra hours to the day, or you’re willing to learn how to manage your time wisely and efficiently.
Since you’re probably like the rest of us and want to know more about the latter, read on for some helpful tips.
1. Stay Organized
Keeping everything in its place will save a lot of time searching. It’s a greatly underrated productivity booster. It’ll save you time and energy wasted on looking for things. And it’ll make your workspace look neater and better to look at it which is a major stress-buster.
2. “5 Before 11”
In an effort to maintain a high level of productivity throughout the day, try picking 5 things you can get done before 11 am. Choose the things that will boost your sense of accomplishment and output. Breaking things down reduces the feeling of being overwhelmed and lost under files, memos and deadlines.
3. Go for a Walk
Instead of eating lunch at your desk, scrunched over more paperwork, go for a walk outside. Getting some fresh air will help you clear your head, give you some perspective and a more positive outlook. Plus, it’s great physical exercise, and a change of scenery will do wonders for your creative juices. If you absolutely can’t leave your work area, go for a walk indoors. Studies prove that going for a walk, even a short one, can boost efficiency by 60%.
4. Stop Multitasking
Some people think that juggling multiple things at once means they’re boosting their work rate. But, studies have found that multitasking could do more harm than good because you’re not giving each task the time and effort it deserves. Distractions like that impact negatively on the quality of your work, and leave you feeling drained and frazzled. Try giving each task enough time to complete it before moving onto something else.
5. Give yourself self-imposed deadlines
In general, the word ‘deadline’ is enough to give you heart palpitations, headaches, dizzy spells. But when you’re the one setting the deadline for yourself, you won’t feel the pressure in a negative way. But you will feel obligated to respect the deadline you’ve set. We’re creatures of habit, so go easy on yourself at first. The point is to acknowledge that you have a set time after which you’ll be held accountable for your work. When you do meet your deadline, give yourself a pat on the back and a reward for getting the job done on time.
6. Beautify your Surroundings
Attractive furniture and office decor, such as candles, plants, vases, can be pleasing to look at. Moreover, they turn a boring space into something beautiful and functional with an added personal touch. They can also help increase productivity, as studies show, by up to 15%.
Choose whatever makes you feel happy and comfortable, as long as they meet office regulations. By surrounding yourself with things that are aesthetically pleasing, you’ll be boosting production rate, creative outlet, along with your ability to focus on the task at hand.
Boosting productivity means working smarter, not harder. So, try to resist the temptation to stuff your calendar with more work-related commitments or put in longer hours at the office.
All the best, Good Food makes For Better Decisions.
Chef Murph
