Productivity

In a world with ever-increasing demands on our time, whether this is a pileup of paperwork at the office, the need to spend more quality time with our families or the demands of our social circles, productivity has become the buzzword of the century.

According to Krugman in The Age of Diminishing Expectations (1994) - A country's ability to raise its standard of living over time depends entirely on its ability to raise its output per worker.  This means that every individual can contribute to its country's gross domestic product, as long as they are working independently to achieve something for the greater good.

So how, when we only have 24 hours to juggle a multitude of demands, exactly, does one manage to stay alert without downing more than three cups of coffee per day? Here is a list of 10 tips that can help any office worker boost their productivity at work.

1. Stay organised

While there are a gazillion apps out there to help us stay on track these days, sometimes the best way to stay on task is to keep track of how much time we are spending on individual tasks, from replying work emails, negotiating business deals, to creating the perfect pivot table.

2. Look for shortcuts
When the going gets tough, we should find easier ways to unload. Shortcuts such as sharing your workload with another colleague, using technology as an enabler, enlisting helpful resources for assistance - these can all help to boost our productivity.

3. Finish one thing at a time
The old adage about multitasking never really works. When you are balancing simultaneous demands, your brain actually becomes less efficient compared to when you complete something fully. Consistently being able to cross things off your list is much more satisfying than being distracted by a multitude of tasks.

4. Reduce the time spent in meetings
Many companies hold regular meetings in order to assess employee productivity as well as to ensure that the different stakeholders have a say, in addition to making sure that organisational goals are met. However, long and drawn out meetings which have little or no relevance to immediate agendas and reduces quality time needed to focus on important tasks.

5. Employ motivational strategies
When you are stuck on a project or are brainstorming new ways to make things work, there needs to be some form of motivation, be it extrinsic or intrinsic. By creating a positive working environment, soliciting employee input, recognising achievements and milestones; everyone benefits.

6. Do the dreaded assignment first
Research has shown that if you work on the task you like the least first, it will make it easier to tackle the subsequent tasks. Using the better part of the day before lunchtime is the best time to work on the most energy-consuming work!

7. Delegate tasks equally within a group
When there is a group of people working towards a common objective, it is imperative that tasks are divided in a fair manner. Allowing people to take on individual responsibilities will foster communication within the team, contributing to overall productivity.

8. Take breaks to recharge
When you have short breaks every hour or so, you may return to the task with a renewed sense of purpose and creative fuel. Physical movement away from your seat can keep you from stagnating mentally. The process of making tea is a healthy respite and heightens concentration levels.

9. Turn off notifications
Social media has a way of surrounding us with information in the form of messages, photos, videos, many of them unwarranted advice or humorous things from well-intentioned friends and family members. When your phone beeps with constant media, turning off notifications keeps you grounded in the present.

10. Breathe and envision success
Not just something we have been wired to do since we were infants, breathing allows more air into our lungs, which enables us to take in more oxygen and improve our general wellbeing. Using the three-minute relaxation technique, moods will be elevated, failures put into perspectives and together with a vizualization of success, your mood will be elevated, failures put into perspectives and productivity levels increase.


Finally, if  all of the above does not work to your advantage, rely on humour to get you through your day. Laughing releases endorphins and causes a rush to your body, freshening up your whole attitude towards life!