Building Better Work Habits Is Key To Your Productivity
Having a productive day at work can be challenging. However, you can maximize efficiency and get more done with the right strategies.
As a result, I will share 12 tips proven to increase work productivity, from starting your day right to finishing strong and everything in between.
Let’s get started.
12 Ways To Be More Productive At Work
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1. Assess The Day’s Requirements And Possibilities
Review your calendar and to-do list for the day ahead. Identify key meetings, pressing deadlines, and highest-priority tasks that must be accomplished.
Write down and visualize what a successful and productive day looks like for you.
Being aware of your daily commitments allows you to be realistic with your time. Then, you can focus your efforts with a clear perspective of the day’s requirements and possibilities.
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2. Prioritize And Plan
Based on your day assessment, make a prioritized list of what needs to get done. However, don’t fall into the trap of unrealistic to-do lists.
Segment tasks and budget your time accordingly.
Prioritize your most important work so emergencies and others don’t derail your day. Having a realistic, prioritized plan keeps you organized and on-task.
3. Make Deadlines and Set Interim Milestones
For longer and more complex projects, get clear on what needs to be done. Break the project into smaller milestones for your day’s to-do list.
Deadlines give you a finish line and target to aim for. Milestones mark your progress along the way. It’s like a roadmap guiding your journey.
Interim checkpoints keep you focused and motivated for the day. Each milestone reached is a victory, propelling you toward the ultimate finish line.
As a result, deadlines and milestones work together, keeping you focused and helping you stay productive.
4. Keep A Clean And Clear Work Space
Productive people know the importance of a clutter-free work area. Thus, remove everything from your desk other than your current priority.
Clutter is distracting, and having other unattended projects in your workspace increases stress.
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5. Tackle And Complete A Task To Start Your Day
With your priorities planned and your work area clear, start working by completing one small to medium task from your to-do list. Choose an important item that is not overly daunting or complex.
Crossing something off your to-do list provides a sense of achievement and builds momentum. Getting an easy win early in the day boosts your motivation and clears your plate for larger projects. Furthermore, actively completing an item begins the day productively.
Conversely, suppose you start your morning reacting to emails and phone messages. In that case, it can quickly feel like you’ve lost control working on everyone else’s priorities rather than yours. Don’t let that happen!
6. Be Decisive And Get Moving
A productive work day means avoiding indecision. Indecision creates stress and wastes time and energy.
Remember to consult your priorities and to-do list.
When confronted with a choice, gather the facts and focus on the activity, not the outcome. Never make snap, reckless decisions with your time since it always pays to gather the facts and consider the alternatives.
After deciding what to work on, get busy and complete the requirements to make it successful. Do not procrastinate, and never look back and second-guess yourself.
Okay. So far, so good. I hope you are enjoying today’s work productivity tips.
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7. Avoid Multi-Tasking
Productive workers focus on one task at a time. Studies have shown that it is virtually impossible to concentrate on two things simultaneously.
Thus, work on one thing at a time. Do that one thing to the best of your ability. Bring the task to a conclusion or logical stopping point before moving on to something new.
Yes, interruptions happen, pulling you off task. I understand that. Handle the interruption, and then return to what you were working on.
8. Don’t Let Perfection Get In The Way Of Progress
To be highly productive, avoid perfection. Rather, set a performance standard equal to expectations and then meet those expectations.
Feeling like you have to go the extra mile will limit your productivity. Waiting for flawless conditions or pursuing the perfect result discourages getting started and creates excuses.
Thus, I recommend you embrace progress. Remember that small, imperfect steps beat perfection paralysis. Action propels you forward. Promote your productivity with continuous effort.
Thus, always keep moving toward your goal. Refine the results later as you see fit. Let your instincts guide you.
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9. Value Your Time And Know When To Say No
Productive people guard their time like a watchdog.
However, we are trained to say yes at a young age. When your Mom or Dad asks you to do something, you learn to say yes and do it.
When asked to take on more work responsibilities, your manager expects you to say “yes.”
But at some point, we can’t say yes to every request.
Highly productive people at work are skilled at identifying when to say yes and when to say no. However, doing so isn’t always easy because we are wired to please others.
Thus, it takes good judgment on when and why to say no.
10. Work Smarter, Not Harder
Productivity relies on you working smart. Value your time and never waste a minute.
I recommend you follow my daily “work smart” productivity formula by asking yourself two questions:
1) Am I working on the right things? and 2) Am I working on those things the right way?”
11. Take Short Breaks
Take short breaks from your work. Your productivity depends on it.
My favorite break is closing my eyes, taking deep breaths, relaxing, and letting the tension drain from my eyes and muscles. I do this for up to a minute several times a day.
Try it. It’s rejuvenating, and a break like this will take you to a better place, if only momentarily. Conversely, fatigue is the enemy of productivity.
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12. Practice Persistence And Finish Strong
Productive people never give up. They work on tasks and projects to completion by finishing strong.
Furthermore, know that the first 80% of any task or project comes easily. However, the final 20% is always the challenge.
So my advice is to finish strong. Complete whatever it is you have started. Finally, determine how to make your work day’s last hour the most productive.
Okay. That’s how to have a productive work day. Please allow me some parting thoughts.
12 Tips For A Productive Day At Work
Work productivity makes you feel good about yourself. It creates energy and makes your leisure time more fulfilling.
So, to have a productive day, build these 12 habits into your work day:
- Assess the day
- Prioritize and plan
- Set deadlines and milestones
- Keep a clear workspace
- Complete a task first thing
- Be decisive
- Never multitask
- Avoid perfectionism
- Say no
- Work smart
- Take short breaks
- Finish strong
That’s all I have. Thanks for reading, and before you go, PIN IT:
Author Bio: Tom Scott founded the consulting and coaching firm Dividends Diversify, LLC. He leverages his expertise and decades of experience in goal setting, relocation assistance, and investing for long-term wealth to help clients reach their full potential.