7 Ways to Dramatically Increase Your Productivity

The first day of work is always exciting. You get to meet new people, learn new things and test yourself by taking up different challenges.

You dedicate yourself to achieving certain targets every month and get good feedback from your manager.

However, after a couple of months, slowly and gradually, everything changes. You no longer have the energy to ask for more projects. You struggle with the workload you’re already getting.

You feel like you’re stuck while you’re colleagues are on their way to being promoted. You no longer feel passionate about working. Just getting work done on time is an achievement.

What happened? Where did the passion go?

Unfortunately, this is not a problem that’s uncommon. Many employees don’t feel the need to put in an effort after a couple of months. Many lose their drive.

However, if you’re willing to work on things and want to get back in the game, know that it’s not impossible. Remember, where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Here are 7 ways you can boost your productivity significantly:

1.     Start with a Realistic Plan

Before you go to bed, make a list of things you want to accomplish the next day. Do not list tasks that are impossible to achieve within a day.

You have limited time to work on these tasks. Utilize every minute, and that means not spending a couple of hours working on a tiring project.

If the project has a deadline, then delegate tasks. See if someone can help you work on it every day. Two is better than one, and you’ll get it taken care of quickly.

If not, divide the project into smaller tasks that you can work on every day by yourself. This way you’re not overwhelming and exhausting yourself.

2.     Break Out of Routine

Doing the same thing every day can become monotonous. Specializing is beneficial, but it can be immobilizing. When your mind doesn’t want to deal with the same thing on a daily basis, it tends to shut down.

Ask your manager to assign you other tasks as well. See if you can add more to your planning or postpone working on a certain project until next week.

When you break out of routine, you feel a surge of motivation run through you. Suddenly, you feel more accomplished and satisfied.

3.     Get Away from Distractions

YouTube videos and gossip with colleagues aren’t going to help you at the end of the day. What they will do is make you rush through your work. When we’re in a hurry, we tend to make callous mistakes and miss details.

Remember the saying “haste makes waste”? It applies here. You can install plugins that block certain websites. This way, you’ll be forced to focus on work rather than Reddit or YouTube.

4.     Take a Break

Successful people know when to give themselves a timeout. They know they can’t be stuck to their screens for 8 hours a day.

Take 15-minute breaks when you need to. Get some fresh air, go for a brief walk to escape your usual work environment or take a power nap.

Do what works best for you. Your mind needs to be refreshed in order to function at its highest level.

5.     Set a Time for Every Task

You’ve made a task list for what you want to achieve by the end of the day. Now set a timer.

Let’s say you’ll be working on Task A first thing in the morning. How difficult is it? How long will it take? Time yourself. Give yourself extra 15 minutes to work on it.

6.     Don’t Forget to Eat and Rest

Being sleep-deprived and hungry is a recipe for disaster. Don’t get so engrossed in your work that you forget to eat and sleep.

Be well-rested when you come into work and don’t skip breakfast. Studies show that people who skip breakfast are more likely to be obese and struggle with heart problems.

You need to be in top shape to be successful.

7.     Reward Yourself

At the end of the day, give yourself a pat on the back and tell yourself you’ve done great. Reward yourself with something small because you deserve it. It can be anything. Treat yourself to ice cream on the way home or grab something from your favorite shop.

When you reward yourself, you’ll automatically feel motivated to do more.

Running low on inspiration?

Steve Rizzo, one of the leading corporate keynote speakers in North America, offers motivational presentations for personal growth and professional development.

With inspiring personal stories and life-changing success secrets, this Hall of Fame keynote motivational speaker helps individuals achieve their dreams. Take a look at some of his speaking programs to learn more!

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