No matter where you work, you're probably familiar with tiredness and distractions. Many people feel as though they aren't being as productive as they could be. This can lead to slow work, frustrations with coworkers, and even issues with your boss.On the other hand, increased productivity makes you feel better and helps you get the recognition you deserve. These are five simple ways to increase your productivity at work.
1. Track Your Time
Do you keep track of how much time you spend doing different tasks? You might want to start. Spend about a week or two tracking everything you do, along with the amount of time spent on each task. You might be surprised by the disproportional amount of time you spend on certain tasks.Studies indicate that many people can't accurately estimate how much time is passing. In fact, our perception of time varies widely. There's some truth to the idea that time "slows down" when we do things we don't want to do.If you track your time at work, you'll be able to budget your precious minutes more effectively.
2. Breaks Are Your Friend
The idea of taking more breaks might surprise you. After all, if you spend more time not working, won't that lower your overall productivity? The answer is actually no.One thing you should keep in mind is that your brain is a muscle. It needs a lot of energy. Brains use glucose as an energy source. When you take breaks, you're feeding your brain.When you focus on one thing for hours without stopping, your brain becomes
drained. On the other hand, timing your breaks will help make your mind more energized, focused, and sharp.Studies indicate that breaks should be taken after you work for between 60 and 90 minutes. This is the maximum amount of time that brains can focus on one activity. If you work longer than this, you'll overtax your brain.Related:
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6 Tips to Help You Stay Focused at Work this Holiday Season 3. Prioritize Sleep
You might be
wondering how much sleep do I need? The answer might surprise you. You've probably heard that 6 to 8 hours is the ideal amount of sleep for any person. However, different people have different sleep needs. Also, "catching up" on sleep on the weekends won't actually help combat your sleep deprivation.Teenagers need to sleep from
8 to 10 hoursper night. For young adults, typically 7 to 9 hours of sleep is necessary. Adults from the age of 26 to 64 tend to need 7 to 9 hours, while older adults have a sleep range of 7 to 8 hours.It's important to get as much sleep as possible. This helps sharpen your alertness and can also aid in preventing many medical conditions.
4. Minimize Multitasking
You might think that multitasking increases your productivity. However, this doesn't tend to be the case. When you try to do many tasks at one time, you aren't giving your full attention to any one of them. This can cause you to lose time and lower your overall productivity. Instead of doing several tasks at once, try switching between tasks every twenty minutes or so. Give one task your full attention for that time span.
5. Don't Aim for Perfection
Perfectionism is the enemy of productivity. Sometimes it's better for something to be done than to be done perfectly. Nothing will ever be completely perfect. Rather than obsessing about perfection, move on from a completed task. Use that energy to work on something else.
Conclusion
When it comes to productivity at work, the most important thing is to take care of yourself. You need a healthy body and mind to work at peak performance. As long as you listen to your body's needs, take breaks when you need them, and get enough sleep, you should be well on your way to success in your career.
