With busy schedules and lives, it’s no wonder that sometimes we feel as though the 24 hours we have in a day aren’t enough. When we’re stressed with having multiple things on our plates it’s common to not get as much done as we’d like. However, with these few tips you’ll be back to being productive and meeting your deadlines in no time!
Here are 6 tips to ensure you make the most of your 8 to 5:
1. Make a To-Do List
Sit down each morning and write out everything you know you must get done that day. Then, place them in order from most important to least important. There’s something so fulfilling about checking off a to-do list, and it allows you to physically see what all you’re getting done. You’ll feel more productive instantly!
2. Take a Break
This seems counter-intuitive, right? The idea behind this is that you’ll get a minute to catch your breath and won’t feel like you’re go-go-going all the time. With regular breaks you’ll feel less stressed, thus resulting in a more productive day. Getting up to take an office walk or to take a quick stretch will also get your blood flowing and give you more energy. Try it out!
3. Go Uninterrupted
Silence your cell phone, take your email offline, and close your office door. If you know you have to get something done so it makes its deadline, ridding yourself of interruptions will help you make the most of the time you have at your desk, resulting in less work you have to worry about when you go home at night. Put on some music that gets your creativity flowing, and get to work!
4. Don’t Multitask
You may think you’re getting more work done by working on several different projects at one time, but you’re just hurting yourself in the long run. By working on one project at a time, you’ll be able to focus more on that one project and you’ll be more efficient.
5. Set Weekly Meetings with Your Team
Weekly meetings help get everyone on the same page and bring up tasks that need to get done all in one sitting. Communication is key in making sure all components of a project are met before the deadline.
6. Speak Up
Learn to say no if you have too much on your plate. If you haven’t mastered the art of saying no, then you probably find that you bite off more than you can chew all too often. Before taking on a new task, look at your current ones. Will you get everything done on time if you pick this project up? Your coworkers will understand if you need help with a project or if you can’t do something because you’re busy with another piece of work. This will not only relieve you of stress, but it will also ensure that projects are being completed and deadlines are being met.
7. Get Organized
Believe me, I know how easy it is for things to get messy and out of order, but if you take five or ten minutes at the end of the day to organize all of the papers on your desk and put them where they need to – your life will be so much easier! Put the folders and binders lying around to good use, and become friends with labeling! When you have a clean desk in the morning, and when you’re looking for something later on, you’ll feel relieved that you already sorted through everything the night before.
You’re already on the right track with taking the steps to learn how to be more productive. Once you put these into action, you’ll find that at 5:01 PM you’ll feel less tense and like you got more work done!