Do you ever wonder if you could be more productive in your tasks? Have you been trying to increase your output but it feels like there's no change? For instance, you get into a new project or task and your productivity starts dropping along the line. You start to wonder if you have lost your skill or you don't just have it anymore.
I usually experience that and it takes a lot of work to get back to your optimal results. After trying a lot of methods and reading a couple of articles, here are some tips that helped me improve my productivity.
You don't have to apply all of them. This is no shortcut but minor changes that compound into your desired objectives
Organize Your Workspace
As a kid, I never had the habit of arranging my room until someone told me to do that. This reflected itself in my way of doing things. I tend to be very disorganized when it comes to working. Due to this disorder, I tend not to work because the environment was not attractive.
This has made me start a lot of uncompleted projects and my research has been random. Each time I would start a project I won't revise it because of the disorder and confusion.
In order to fix this, I started by organizing my room every day and putting all of my frequently used items on my table and others on a shelf. Classifying my pens by colour and books by usage. This decluttered my working desk and has helped me to spend more hours concentrated without moving.
You could as well as start by rearranging the documents and software on your computer before moving to your physical environment. This will redirect your ideas and activities towards your daily activities
Set Goals
Goals act like guidelines or checkpoints that help you stay on track while working. By setting goals to help you focus on what has to be done will prevent you from getting into unnecessary activities that will hold you back from completing what has to be done.
When I have a task to do I split it into small achievable goals. This will help me distinguish what has to be done and when it has to be done so as to avoid being behind schedule.
The aim here is not to make you underlook your task but for you to know what has to be done in a way that will improve your productivity.
For a start, it could be 4 tasks a day. There is no need to compare to those who do 10 tasks because your skills are different. Start small and slowly progress.
Keep Records
As said earlier, you have to find what works for you and start implementing. Don't go for fast results as this might prevent you from seeing the gradual steps you have taken in making you more productive.
Keeping records will help you see if there are changes. I say changes because even if your productivity reduces, it is a sign that something is happening and it has to be changed for the better. It is important to notice such changes as they help you stay aware of your progress.
If you notice that your productivity increases, note the little changes you have made to your lifestyle and try maintaining them.
Make it Fun
With time work becomes boring and you don't feel like doing it anymore. You start seeking distractions just to keep yourself going and this, in turn, plays on your productivity. A simple way to overcome this is by making your activity fun. Give yourself a reason to keep going or relate it to an activity that you usually do.
For instance, when I have to write an article I usually listen to music. The type of music depends on the type of article I'm writing.
Another method could be giving yourself a reward after achieving one of your objectives. By so doing your mind ties the activity to the reward.
Take Breaks
It is important to take a break after work. This gives time to your mind to recover and remember forgotten details.
Your break could be taking a walk, sipping a cup of coffee or anything that you like doing. It is important for your break to be brief else it will become a distraction and you will end up losing focus.
Hope this was helpful.
If you have any questions or suggestions I'll like to get them in the comments or you could DM me on Twitter
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