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As much as they help streamline the modern workplace, technological and social developments are birthing new productivity challenges. You likely feel this deep down if much of your day consists of replying to emails, checking Kanban boards, and trying to get everything done in time despite WFH distractions.
We know what you’re going through, so here are seven productivity hacks to help you overcome various workplace obstacles and do more, better, in the same amount of time.
Plan Ahead
Aimlessly jumping from one task to another is a surefire way to do things messily and lose focus. Instead, get into the habit of planning as many aspects of your professional life as possible. This ranges from long-term advancement and development goals to weekly and daily tasks. Doing so keeps you on track and lets you tackle more manageable goals in pursuit of long-term gains.
Embrace Time Management
If planning big is a winning strategy, time management is the tactic you should use daily to keep racking up victories. Time management means taking stock of specific tasks, assessing their priority, and building schedules to follow.
One way is to break the following day up into blocks. Devote much of your workday to tackling crucial tasks. However, don’t forget to set aside some leisure and improvement time as rewards. It’s also wise to give yourself some breathing room during work hours. That way, you have enough time to deal with unforeseen developments. Or you can spend extra time on more challenging projects than expected.
Automate!
Busy work and necessary but repetitive tasks take up a lot of time you could be using to be more productive. Luckily, our increasing digital dependency can also help automate much of the boring stuff. For example, you can schedule email replies and social media posts, use templates to fill documents out faster, or have project management software generate automatic reports based on specified triggers.
Password managers are another excellent example, doubly so since they blend convenience with security. Setting one up lets you auto-fill credentials into required fields, speeding up account logins. Moreover, with a team password manager, you can share passwords with colleagues without worry. Lastly, their unique password generation and encrypted storage capabilities add a welcome layer of security for all managed accounts.
Settle Your Priorities
Part of being productive is knowing what to focus on and when. The Eisenhower matrix may help. It comprises four fields on two axes denoting increases in urgency and importance, respectively. Do urgent and important tasks first, saving ones with high importance but low urgency for later. Delegate tasks that need to be done ASAP but aren’t crucial. Disregard ones that are neither urgent nor important.
Beat Procrastination
Easier said than done, but there are a few tricks! Procrastination stems from an emotional discomfort at needing to do things we consider unpleasant and overwhelming. As insane as it sounds, just doing something is often enough to get the ball rolling. Decide to work for ten minutes on a stressful or intimidating project, and you’ll spend much more time engrossed in it more often than not.
Some people find it best to start the day by handling your toughest assignment. With that out of the way, everything else becomes less intimidating and easier. Conversely, you should avoid putting off tasks you can do in five minutes or less now for later. Doing so helps your sense of accomplishment and wastes less time since you don’t have to recheck instructions, reference an email again, etc.
Take Control of Your Workspace
Productivity implies order, which needs to extend not just to the way you approach work but to your workspace as well. Declutter your surroundings and ensure everything you need daily is within easy reach. If you work from home, do so from a dedicated space with lots of natural sunlight and free from distractions.
Practicing digital decluttering is equally beneficial. Organize your files and contacts, prune your inbox, and back up important files. That said, be sure to connect securely whenever you access work-related data and networks from remote locations. Preferably, use a reliable eSIM with enough data allocation and good coverage so that you don’t have to connect to vulnerable networks like airport or hotel Wi-Fis. This way, you can protect your business-related data without worrying about data breaches.
Learn When to Step Away
Sometimes, the best way to maintain or regain productivity is to give it a rest. Returning to a project after a few days may let you approach it with fresh ideas and renewed vigor. Breaks during the workday aren’t a bad idea either. Taking strategic breaks between spurts of activity lets you recharge and perform better overall.