We all want to make the best use of our time. When it’s work time we want to get things done, check tasks off the list and achieve our goals so when it’s not work time, we can get on with enjoying all the other parts of our life.
Whether our current work day is a typical 9-5 or a two-hour block, here are 5 tips to help us stay productive during our working time:
Stay in touch with your “why” – remember your passion, your motivation and your reason for choosing the career that you do
If you’re working in an industry that you love, using skills that you enjoy, that’s awesome! Well done you for finding that passion.
However, many of us work jobs that maybe aren’t what we dreamed of when we were small. But that doesn’t mean we can’t find joy and purpose in what we are currently doing. Sometimes our “why” can be as simple as ‘I go to work so I can take care of my family’s needs’ – that’s valuable and meaningful.
Remembering our “why” can motivate, inspire and strengthen us to keep going, through the highs and lows, the fun projects and the challenges.
Have clear, defined tasks – ask yourself “what needs to be done next to get this project done?”, make a list and be reasonable with your schedule
It’s difficult to be productive if you don’t actually know or understand what you’re doing or need to do. Planning is your friend! Spending just 5 minutes at the beginning of your work day to make a list of tasks and block out a schedule will assist you to spend your time actually doing productive and useful tasks, instead of losing time wondering what needs to happen next.
Be accountable – don’t stop until it’s finished, which is why setting realistic goals is important
You have to be accountable to yourself. Relying on someone else to keep you on track is not nearly as motivating as caring yourself. Do you want to be known as a hard worker? Do you want to be successful? Do you want to hit a specific target?
You can see how these tips begin to work together – remembering your why will keep you focused all the way through to the end of a task and setting a plan for your work day will help you to avoid stressing out about an unreasonable work load.
Set check-in times – for looking at emails, messages, social media etc. Don’t leave them open all day
Communication is an important part of business. However, it can also be a distraction and a time waste if we don’t manage it. Stopping our tasks to respond immediately to every email, message or alert that pops up through the day prevents us from getting into a productive work flow.
Instead, we could try setting specific times to answer our communications. Personally, I like to begin my day clearing my inbox, check in again at the halfway point of my work time and finish by spending the last half hour or so clearing it again. In between those times, closing my email and message apps and browsers helps me to stay focused and achieve more with my precious time.
Don’t bring it home – when you get home, relax. When you come back to work, your mind will be refreshed
This is possibly the most valuable tip. Our lives are more than just work. We have families, friends, homes, hobbies, fun, travel and all kinds of things. We also need to take care of our physical health, emotional well-being and other responsibilities. Allowing our work to take over, to spill out until it consumes every aspect of our lives – this is a path to burn out.
Staying productive all day long doesn’t mean working all day long. It means using our time wisely so we have room for all the important things and we can prioritise what matters to us – the things that make us happy and fill up our cup.
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!