Enjoy More Productive Workdays With These Strategies

By Elize Fisher

Some of us get a lot more done at work than others. If you’re one of those people, who never accomplish as much as you should, you need new strategies.

Be the most productive person in your company with these strategies:

· A productive workday starts the day before. Take 10 minutes before you leave work to create a preliminary plan for the following day. Do this while the day is still fresh in your mind. Consider the tasks you failed to complete and what is most important to address tomorrow.

- You can think about it some more on your drive home. When you get home, alter your plan accordingly.

Before you go to bed, finalise your plan for tomorrow and make a concrete list of tasks to follow.

· Avoid multitasking. Studies show that you can accomplish more by focusing on a single task, rather than switching back and forth between two or more. Use this information to your advantage. You’ll get more done with less stress.

· Have a morning routine that gets you primed for work. This includes your wake-up time, morning grooming routine and breakfast. You might want to glance at your to-do list too. Exercise is also a good idea.

- Create your routine with an emphasis on preparing yourself physically and mentally for work.

· Hit the ground running. Rather than easing into your day, get started on get started on the items on your list ASAP. If you’re ahead of schedule, you can relax later in the day. A good morning start ensures that you will have a productive day.

· Eliminate distractions. You already know how you distract yourself at work. Make the necessary adjustments. If people interrupt you politely ask them what they need and inform that you have a lot of work to do.

· Get help. If you have anyone available to lighten your load, ask them for assistance. One thing that will allow you to accomplish more is making the most of your resources. That includes the people around you.

· Keep meeting to a minimum. Schedule as few meetings as possible and keep them short. Most meeting are too long and ineffective. No one likes them and they ruin everyone’s momentum.

· Take regular breaks. No one accomplishes more by never taking a break. Regular breaks are necessary for your mind and body. At least once each hour, get up and walk around for 5 to 10 minutes. Say “hi’ to a colleague and and then get back to work. These short breaks will allow you to get more done over day. You’ll still feel fresh in the afternoon too.

Being productive is about preparation and good habits.