“Why do you think we
work?”
Elbert Hubbard places
a narration to this - “We work to become, not acquire”. Between the words of
this passionate rhapsody lies most of what humans thrive to acquire at
workplace besides the bread and dough! The sense of meaning comes from our
purpose, to be able to give our best, to be able to create and contribute and
to be able to leave our desk by the evening with a sense of satisfaction from
the work we have delivered. In this greater meaning that lies behind each of
our everyday work hustles, it is indeed a frequently raised question on how
really do we accelerate our progress? How do we become more productive at work
yet not become over stressed?
Being more productive
at work can be synonymous to satisfaction and joy for most of us. When we are
able to deliver our best value at workplace, we not just secure our position as
one “top player of the game” worthy of promotion but we pave a success path for
ourselves too, knowing and recognizing our right way to achieve the best for
us. Being productive also ensures that you are ahead of the game, waiting to beat
the next obstacle in line with full vigour and energy instead of dealing with
the stress of not being able to meet deadlines or being overwhelmed with loads
of tasks that are pressing upon your shoulders. Achieving an optimum level of
productivity for yourself at work is more of a process with small steps that
lead to your goal which duly demands discipline, dedication and desire. Here
are some steps that can help you get better at work and increase your
productivity:
Plan, Plan and Plan: The key step to begin with is taking the time
to plan out your work. You might have a big project in line or a huge list of
things to do for a Monday start, but when you begin writing them down, you not
just get time to analyse your work better but save yourself from forgetting
things on your list. Another great tip is to break your bigger tasks into
smaller bits. Very unachievable goals start to look tiny and manageable once
you develop the habit to decompose and fragment.
Create a To-Do-List: This is an important part whilst you are
planning out your tasks for the day. A “To-Do-List” can be a great help in
teaching you to take one day at a time and make the most out of it. Not only do
you avoid your chances of missing out on things with this planner but you can
add step 2 and once the list is made, start prioritizing your work. You can go
about removing things from the list too, which can be pushed to the next day or
those which weren't that important when you truly analysed. Remember to be
realistic here and keep the list confined to achievable goals at a moderate
pace.
Don’t Resort To
Multitasking- This is a lesson to swear by, if you have loads of things to
complete you have to be doing them one after another and not all together.
Productivity demands a great deal of focus and to be able to put your focus
onto something, you have to have one goal at one time. When you start to
nurture this habit, you will start to subconsciously value quality over
quantity, even at the face of tight and demanding schedules. This keeps your
performance on track. Your focus plays a big part in determining your
productivity.
Eat That Frog: In the famous self-help book by Brian Tracy
‘Eat That Frog- 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less
Time’ he talks about the golden rule wherein he describes this hypothetical
situation- if your task for the day is to eat two frogs- one big and ugly and
the other tiny, you start with the bigger one! As absurd and unusual is his way
of explaining, he teaches readers of the importance of getting started with
bigger, more difficult tasks and progressively moving to easier ordeals. This
not just ensures that you get done with the harder work whilst you are at your
best energy but saves you of the stress whilst you are procrastinating and worrying
the entire time it’s not been done.
Communicate,
Collaborate, Convey: Another big part of
increasing productivity also depends on your abilities to mingle with your
workmates. As untrue as this sounds, there is a great deal of time and efforts
you can save when you give the right instructions to the right people,
get your work precisely done, get crisp directions that help you create the
best work in the first draft or work with hands that can indeed help you! You
have to remember that asking for help isn’t a bad thing at all and thus don’t
shy off in the times you need assistance. Discussions and talks really aid one
to become more open, aware and productive.
Work with no
distractions: This step barely needs
an explanation! To be productive, you need to shut down the noise and shoo the
distractions away. Turn off your email and phone notifications if you need full
concentration. Use social media as a reward – a number of minutes browsing
after you accomplish a major task. Shut your devices and media handles off
before getting back to work. This tip can be life changing!
Breaks and Sleep: To be at your true best, you have to indulge
in breaks, regularly and religiously. Allow yourself a small stroll around the
office, go grab some coffee and chit-chat about the day with your colleague or
probably distract yourself for a bit with a mobile game. Breaks are extremely
important to energise your power to bounce back at a greater pace. You should
not compromise on your sleep at any cost- a solid 7-8 hour sleep is necessary
for your brain and your sanity as “Sleep is non-negotiable!”
Optimism and Passion: These two emotions can drive your truck to the
finish mile in no time and in great power! Don’t forget to invest in your
emotional wellbeing, keep making efforts to keep yourself happy and motivated,
reward yourself duly and keep recharging your passion each time you feel a
little off. Placing your alertness to your personal wellness indeed comes back
to you as accelerated work performance and great productivity.
The last tip is to
never stop believing in the importance of work-life
balance. You can’t do a good job if your job is all you do. And thus you
need to remember to never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a
life!