7 Simple Tips to Improve Your Productivity at Work

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There is only a finite amount of time in a day, and it is important to make the most of it, both in your personal and professional life. The benefits of being more productive are endless; increased sense of fulfilment, better focus within the workplace, and so on. Whether you're someone who has felt unmotivated at work or someone who is simply looking to be more productive during the day, we're here to help you find a solution to your problem.

Being more productive isn't as hard as it seems, but there are a few simple ways you can increase your productivity levels. Throughout this article, we will discuss 7 ways you can improve your productivity levels to truly thrive in your career and make the most of your time, all of which are free.

1. Find a Mentor

The role of a mentor is to guide, support, and teach their mentee, but did you know that mentors are also great for helping you improve productivity? From increased job satisfaction to higher chances of career progression, mentors are truly an underrated and important relationship we need if we want to succeed within our role.

Your mentor could work with you to explore new ways to manage your time, teaching you new software that could reduce your workload by 50%. There are many ways in which a mentor could help us prosper within our roles.

If you want to find out more about mentoring or find one for free, click here to join our open network of over 75,000+ professionals.

2. Make a To-Do List

Aim to spend 10 minutes each day writing a to-do list, either in your planner or digitally, whatever method works best for you. Take a few minutes to really analyse your workload and see what tasks are a priority and what things are less urgent.

Making a to-do list promotes productivity because it helps you keep track of your daily goals and prevents the overwhelming feeling that can occur when you have too many tasks to complete. When you cross off a task, you're filled with a sense of empowerment that motivates you to continue.

3. Take Regular Breaks

When we think about being productive, we usually think about the number of things we can get done. However, it might seem strange to tell you to take breaks at work to be more productive, but it can reduce burn-out, improve motivation, and decrease stress.

It is important to take short breaks every few hours to recharge your batteries, move your body, and clear your mind. It's essential to take breaks from your desk, or else you'll soon find yourself unable to make progress and feeling fatigued.

4. Focus On One Task at a Time

Being able to multitask is often talked about as a critical skill, and we agree, but there's a time and a place for it. Setting out to do several tasks at once is tempting, however, it can lead to a decrease in productivity and also directly impacts the quality of the work you produce.

When you focus on one task at a time, you’re able to complete it to a higher standard and in a shorter amount of time. It is essential to be able to focus on one task, so make it a habit to only start another piece of work if the previous is completed.

5. Set Realistic Goals

Setting goals is an essential part of any job, whether you're looking to get promoted or you simply just want to be more organised. Setting goals is a great way to keep us motivated and on track to getting what we want.

When we set goals, it provides us with a milestone to reach and an opportunity for us to reward ourselves. We are not suggesting that you should go out and buy a new car simply because you have achieved a simple goal. However, even treating yourself to a drink or snack once you have completed a work goal is a great way to help you stay focused.

Remember, it is important to set realistic goals, which is why we propose using SMART goals. This will help you put in place realistic and achievable goals, to avoid being disappointed.

6. Review Your Week Every Friday

One of the best things to do if you want to be more productive at work is to review your week every Friday. Planning ahead and reviewing your current diary allows you to make changes that will significantly improve your productivity.

We recommend reviewing your weekly diary to see if there were any instances in which you could have spent your time doing a different task. You should also review tasks that took longer than you originally thought they would. This allows you to better plan for the upcoming week with a clearer understanding of your time commitments.

When you do this on a Friday, you feel prepared and ready to start the work week on Monday morning. It gives you the opportunity to evaluate if you were able to achieve everything you wanted in the previous week, and where you should be prioritising your energy in the future.

7. Set Boundaries

We've all been there, finding ourselves in a situation where we've spent hours responding to our co-workers before even beginning our tasks. You should establish boundaries with co-workers from the very start, or you may find yourself being taken advantage of and taking on tasks that aren't part of your role.

It's important to maintain healthy relationships with co-workers and help them in times of need, but you also need boundaries in place so you can prioritise your workload before helping others. It is not beneficial for your own productivity and well-being to be overwhelmed with the number of tasks you have left because you have been helping members of the team. We recommend blocking off time to complete your tasks or setting restrictions on when co-workers can ask you questions.

Final Thoughts

Throughout this article, we have discussed many ways you can promote maximum productivity during your workday and the numerous benefits that come with it. Although these tips are specifically for the workplace, they can also be applied to everyday life to increase productivity and provide a greater sense of achievement.