Being more productive at work makes your job endlessly more fulfilling, along with impressing your superiors and edging you ever closer to a promotion or a hearty raise. Unfortunately, maximizing productivity can often prove a lot more challenging than you anticipate! Here are some tips to take things up a notch.
Don’t remain stationary all day
There are countless studies that show that sitting behind a desk for eight solid hours a day is bad for your physical and mental health. Further to this, it is also known to be extremely demotivating — a fact which can, in turn, hinder your productivity. But how will you be able to get more work done if you aren’t spending time at your desk? The good news is that the solution doesn’t have to mean leaving your workspace; it just means using it differently.
A standing desk is a wonderful option to consider. Recent research published in the British Medical Journal concluded that standing desks have the potential to boost your daily output, all the while reducing your risks of suffering from musculoskeletal problems.
A standing desk is just the tip of the iceberg, though. You can take it all one step further by investing in a mini treadmill for under your desk. An under desk treadmill can be slid effortlessly under your standing desk, allowing you to walk or run while you work. Talk about multitasking and truly making the most of your day!
Follow the ‘two-minute rule’
You might find that little tasks pop up here and there throughout your workday. These small tasks can start to pile up pretty quickly and leave you feeling stressed and overwhelmed as you try to tackle your larger assignments and responsibilities. A good rule to follow, as suggested by countless productive business professionals, is the ‘two-minute rule’.
In short, if you are slapped with a new task that can be completed in two minutes or less, do it immediately rather than adding it to your to-do list. The premise is that the fewer small tasks you have on your list, the clearer your mind will be and the more work you will be able to get done overall.
Think twice before scheduling a meeting
How many hours do you spend sitting in meetings every single week? How many of those meetings seem to be completely unnecessary? Before you follow suit, ask yourself whether the information that you wish to discuss in a meeting can be communicated via email, over the phone, or through a quick, informal chat in the cafeteria at lunch instead. If the answer is yes, you will save yourself and your colleagues a massive chunk of time that can be better spent on other important tasks.
Take breaks
Taking regular breaks — every 45 minutes or so — can drastically improve your focus, your mood, and the quality of your work. Ensure that you spend these breaks away from your desk and preferably outside in the sunshine and fresh air.
Put these tips into practice and you are sure to notice a significant change in the amount of work that you will manage to get through each day, each week, and each month. You’re welcome!