5 Productivity Hacks That Work
At this time of the year it can be difficult to remain productive. With nice weather outside, thoughts can quickly turn to upcoming holidays or even what you plan to do to make the most of the summer sun.
This can take its toll on your productivity in work. To help tackle this, we’ve put together our top 5 productivity hacks to keep you on track:
1. Take a step away from your work
This can often be more productive than ploughing through. If you find things aren’t clicking and you just can’t find it in you to finish the report or the task you’re working on, step away from your desk. Turn to something else.
Start a different task you’ve been meaning to do or even step away from work entirely. Go for a short walk, make yourself some food or simply have a cup of tea. You could even move your work to a different area of the office or a different office entirely. Working away from your usual space can help with the flow of ideas and increase your productivity.
Switching off can help ideas flow. Before you know it you’ll be back at your desk and the task you found so difficult will be completed in no time!
2. Learn to say no
This may go against everything you’ve ever thought about getting ahead in the workplace but sometimes it’s for the best.
Overloading yourself with work can be one of the most unproductive things you can do. You have too much work to do and none of it gets done to the best of your ability. Often these extra tasks aren’t beneficial.
Learning to say no, or at least pausing and thinking before saying yes, can be instrumental to keeping your work and productivity on track.
3. Keep a to do list
Yes, this is one of the most basic things you can do to keep productivity alive, but often, it’s the basic things that are the best. Write down everything you need to do and when it needs to be done by. If something pops up during the day, add it to your list and schedule a completion time.
This prompts you to begin thinking about all the things you need to do before you are able to complete the task. It also helps to keep all of your tasks in one place, allowing you to think about blocking out some time and mentally preparing yourself to complete it.
It’s also okay if you don’t complete everything on your to do list straight away. Simply writing them down makes you aware of them, lets you know what your future tasks are, and what you have to work towards.
4. Make a specific time to check your emails
Unless you’re waiting on an urgent email try not to be constantly working within your inbox. Set a specific time each day to check your emails, maybe two or three times a day.
We all know how much emails can eat into your workday. You’ve received one email and before you know it you’ve organised and gone through your whole inbox and wasted over an hour.
Setting specific times and sticking to them can help save hours in your workday. This is time you can dedicate to more important tasks; tasks which may not have been completed had you been overloaded with emails.
5. Start your day with the hardest task or the easiest
Both methods have their merits.
Yes, coming into work and starting your day with your hardest task is not the most inviting thought but think about the feeling of completing that task. It has an immediate payoff. Once the task is complete, it’s done. You’ve completed the hardest thing you will do today and the rest of the day’s tasks will seem easier.
The second option is also enticing. Starting your day off with easy tasks helps build momentum. It also eases you into the workday and helps prevent procrastination. Try both methods for a while and see what suits you and your levels of productivity.
If you would like to find out more about Glandore Dublin & Belfast, and how we can help your business grow in one of our flexible work spaces, get in touch here.
Our serviced office buildings, along with our membership plans, have been designed to give you the flexibility and scalability to align your workspace with your business needs.
We offer our members more than just office space to let, we strive to create environments that encourage, inspire and support the growth of the companies we house.