In the business world, productivity is everything, and having productive employees plays a substantial part in determining a company’s success. It can be easy to let distractions and interruptions derail your productivity, but there are several easy ways to remain productive and complete your work responsibilities on time.
A — Automation
One way to become more productive at work is to automate certain tasks. Instead of manually keeping up with PTO or payroll, you can automate these tasks to save you time and allowing you to be more productive on other tasks.
B — Breaks
Employees will be more productive when they take small breaks throughout the day. By taking a 5-minute break every hour, you give your brain a chance to rest, and after your short break, you will be recharged and able to be more productive.
C — Caffeine
Everyone has days when they are tired, and drinking a caffeinated beverage will help you perk up and complete your tasks. If you aren’t a fan of coffee, you can try a cup of tea.
D — Deadlines
To stay productive, you need to give yourself deadlines for your tasks, and if something is due by a certain time, you should give yourself a deadline a few hours ahead so you can take care of any emergencies that arise.
E — Estimation
Especially with a to-do list, you should estimate how long a task will take you to complete, and this way you can make adjustments to your schedule so you can be sure to complete all of your tasks.
F — Focus
You need to find what helps your focus and be productive as you complete your work tasks. Does it help to play soft music? Do you need to wear headphones so you aren’t distracted by conversations?
G — Goals
At the start of each day, you should make a few goals of all you want to accomplish that day. Even if you aren’t able to completely finish a project, you can make a goal of having a certain percentage done which will help you stay on schedule.
H — Healthy Food
By eating healthy foods, you are giving your body the fuel it needs to get through the day. If you eat sugary or fatty foods, you will feel tired or sluggish throughout the day, but if you eat more nutritious foods, you will be able to better focus and remain productive throughout the day.
I — Interruptions
Interruptions are one of the fastest ways to kill your productivity so you need to try to limit them. If you are trying to meet a deadline, you might need to go offline until you are finished, and you should be aware of your distractions and try to be proactive about limiting them.
J — Just say “no”
No one can do everything, and sometimes, you just have to say no. It’s better to complete less work but have it performed right than to rush through everything and have it completed incorrectly.
K — Kindness
You can never have too much kindness in your life, and it’s important to show kindness to others through praise or an encouraging email because productivity is easier in a positive environment.
L — Lists
Start each day by making a to-do list where you list each task you need to complete for the day. By making a to-do list, you will be less likely to forget something, and you can adjust your schedule if something takes longer than expected. Having a whiteboard or calendar at your desk is an easy way to keep up with your lists and adjust when needed.
M — Mental Health
Mental health is a vital part of employee productivity because you are better able to focus on the tasks in front of you if you aren’t stressed out.
N — Notifications
Instead of receiving a notification each time you receive an email or message, have certain times, like the start of every hour, where you check your communication systems and then respond. You will be better able to focus on the task at hand if you aren’t receiving notifications every few minutes.
O — Outsource
You can’t do everything so it’s important to outsource or delegate certain tasks so you aren’t overwhelmed or overloaded.
P — Priority Tasks
When you make your to-do list each day, you should move your priority tasks to the top and start on those first thing. By starting on these tasks first, you are certain that the most important tasks have time to be completed, and you might need to reprioritize your to-do list throughout the day as new tasks arise.
Q — Quiet Time
To stay productive, you should have a few minutes of quiet time each day. Whether you use it to create a to-do list, brainstorm new ideas, or reflect on your job responsibilities, having a quiet time will allow you to recharge and focus on staying productive.
R — Redundancy
Redundancy is an easy way to slow down your productivity. When possible, you should try to streamline your tasks and complete similar tasks together to save time.
S — Schedules
Having a schedule will help you be productive with your job responsibilities because it will help you make good usage of your time. When possible, meetings should be scheduled in advance so employees can better plan their own schedule and complete their work responsibilities on time.
T — Time Tracking Software
One of the easiest ways to be productive is to use time tracking software because this allows you to easily create a schedule based on your daily tasks and see if you are overspending your time on certain tasks.
U — Uplift
Everyone needs a bit of encouragement, and something as simple as sending an uplifting message to a coworker could help improve their productivity.
V — Validation
Employees need to feel valued, and they will be more productive if you acknowledge their hard work and efforts.
W — Walks
Taking breaks is an important part of employee productivity, and by taking a walk, you are giving your brain a rest and fitting in a small bit of exercise. Even if it’s just a loop around your office building, taking a quick walk will allow you to take a moment to refresh and come back ready to complete your work.
X — “X”-citement
It’s easy to be productive when you enjoy your work responsibilities and are motivated by management. No matter what happens throughout the day, you should try to remain positive because it’s far easier to be productive with a positive attitude than with a negative one.
Y — Yell
Everyone has challenging days, and it can be helpful to just take a moment and let your frustrations out. After you have decompressed, you will be better able to focus on your responsibilities and solve the problem.
Z — Zen
Being able to relax and having a calming environment are important components in employee productivity. You should spend time arranging your desk so it’s functional for your tasks and includes things that help you relax like pictures of your family or a plant.
