7 Ways To Jumpstart Productivity
When there’s only so much time in the day, making the most of it to be productive is important (especially if you’re a Kelowna Accountant). To-do lists can easily pile up, so managing them in a way that doesn’t cause stress can really improve your work-life balance, especially if you’re a small company.
However, it can be challenging to consistently stay productive when each day has its own quirks. Especially when events from the previous day seep into your current one. So the big question to answer is how to combat this and minimize the impact. The list below has handy tips for managing your life to get the most out of those precious work-day seconds without being overwhelmed.
1. Track Your To-Do Lists
It’s great to have an online record of all the tasks you’ve accomplished, especially if you have to go back and remember if you’ve already done it. It can also be helpful to separate large tasks into smaller sub-tasks to make it seem less daunting to accomplish. In addition, it’s much easier to visualize what pieces actually need to get done first. Apps and software that can help with this include Asana, Trello, and Teamwork (if you have larger projects and need to have more of a “pipeline” workflow). All of these are free to use although you’ll need to pay if you want more features. However, you can also use Google Keep or the Notes app on Mac if you’d like a simpler option that’s 100% free.
2. Stop Trying To Multitask (If You Can Avoid It)
While some jobs may require multi-tasking (and it’s actually possible to do at your work) nine times out of ten it’s better to just stick to one job and get it done. Plus, by multitasking you consistently have to go back and remember how far into something you got before you switched to a different task. It might seem like you’re getting more done by doing more at once, but really you’re just taking productivity away from more tasks than just getting one done and out of the way.
3. Work In An Environment That Works For You
Again, this may not be doable depending on where you work, and what hours you have to be there for. However, if you have more of an open space workplace, finding the spot you can work best is important. Maybe you’re better at getting reports done at your work desk and analyzing data on the couch. Find the place that works best for you.
4. Get Work Done At The Best Time
If you have more flexible work hours consider shifting the 9am-5pm grind to maybe 6am-2pm if you work better in mornings or 12pm- 8pm if you work better in evenings. Even consider taking split shifts if you work better in the early mornings or late evenings. The point of this is that you’re able to get the most done at the hours you feel the most productive.
5. Take Regular Breaks
Some people might claim to be able to never take breaks and they’re super productive, and while that may be true for very few people, the vast majority of us need to take regular breaks. This is not just lunchtime breaks either. Research has shown that taking small breaks helps boost creativity and engagement. Stay in the zone by getting out of it when you’re feeling stuck and engage another part of your brain by doing something else.
6. Switch Tasks
Staying focused on one task instead of multitasking is great, but if you’re feeling frustrated from the task you’re working on, it’s a good idea to switch to another task. You’re only going to increase your frustration if you continue to stay the course.
Bear in mind that this isn’t always a solution if there’s a deadline you need to meet for that specific task, but more of an option if you have multiple things on the go that need to get done.
7. Don’t Chase The Illusion Of Perfection
Most tasks can always be done slightly better, but chasing that is only going to give you headaches. Instead, get tasks done to the best of your abilities, but don’t spend time once they’ve been done, editing every little part to perfection. That’s also only going to dig into time that could’ve been better spent on getting more tasks done.
Feeling like you have a better grip on how to accomplish more? Great! One more thing to keep in mind is that you’re not going to be 100% productive every single day of the week. Things happen in our lives that prevent us from getting things done. Just take them in stride and do the best you can in the time you have.
