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Mar 12, 2018, 10:59 AM by Joanne Svendsen

Whether we like it or not there are only 24 hours in the day, and there is only so much we can realistically do.  It’s pre-planning, minimising distractions, and adhering to a schedule that all make the difference.

Whether we like it or not there are only 24 hours in the day, and there is only so much we can realistically do. It’s pre-planning, minimising distractions, and adhering to a schedule that all make the difference.

Being more productive at work actually starts at home.

It is so important to get good nutrition, regular exercise and a good night’s sleep to make the following day as productive as possible. If we get into regular work preparation habits, we can help minimise the rush in the mornings to get ready and out the door to work.

In the weekend:

Organise your wardrobe so you know what you’re going to wear each day. Have each outfit ironed and hung together along with shoes and accessories. You’d be amazed how much time you’ll save!If you’re facing a heavy workload for the week, pre-plan evening meals and if possible cook, freeze, then reheat.

The night before:

Prepare your briefcase and have it ready at the door for when you leaveWrite your “To Do” list for tomorrow so you have prioritised your activities and can hit the floor running Organise lunch and snacksDo not ever hit the snooze button. Get your feet on the floor as soon as the alarm goes

7 tips for maximising your productivity at work1. Review work in progress

Begin the week with a review of the previous week’s activities and achievements, as well as prioritising tasks and deadlines for the forthcoming week with your team and other reporting lines. It is important everyone is clear on completion expectations Identify any new urgent tasks that may take precedence and establish agreement how these are to be managed

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2. Do the tough jobs when you're most alert

Tackle big or complicated tasks when you’re freshest. This can depend on whether you’re a morning or an evening person. Do not procrastinate, otherwise the task will hang over your head and be a distraction. Often getting started is the biggest hurdle dealing with such a project. Just start. You can edit, amend, re-structure laterOften during relaxation times, you’ll find answers to problems, or come up with creative solutions.

3. Take regular breaks

You will achieve more by working for 60 – 90 minutes interspersed with a 15-minute break, than working continuously. During this break it’s ideal to you get up, move around to get your blood circulating and refresh your mindTake a lunch break. You need to eat for nutritional sustenance to support your mind and body, plus the break away from your desk gives your whole system a chance to reset – including your eyes from staring at monitors or computer screens Mid-afternoon blues: get up and go for a 10-15 minute walk, you’ll be surprised how physically and mentally refreshed you feel afterwards Avoid sugary snacks – blood sugar boom and bust

4. Stop trying to multitask

You are not super-human, so accept itLiterally, it is impossible to do more than one thing at a time – you can’t give multiple jobs equal attention and deliver a quality resultDo one task at a time and sequentially. This will help minimise errors, and ensure your time is used cost effectively. Repeating or correcting work is costly to the business

5. Schedule some admin time

Use your email calendar to block out time in your daily diary to answer emails, return calls and other admin. If you answer every email as it hits your inbox, you’ll never get to complete your priority tasksAllocating time in your calendar also alerts colleagues to your availability when scheduling meetings

6. Reduce meeting times

Determine whether the meeting is necessary and establish how long it will takeHave an agreed agenda and meeting leaderStick to the subject and don’t get side trackedKeep everyone on point and have a leader to interject when waffle occursFinish in the time allocatedMake sure everyone is clear on their responsibilities and action pointsFollow up the meeting with an agreed action planIf it’s necessary to hold a meeting, why not get participants together for a 15-minute walk? Schedule it around 2-4pm in the afternoon when everyone gets the blahs. The exercise will help refresh and motivate everyone; and you’ve got a better chance of reaching a resolution than sitting around a board room bogged down with opinions

7. Minimise interruptionsAccording to University of California's information scientist, Gloria Mark*, it takes an average of 26 minutes to recover from interruptions, every time your attention is diverted away from your priority.

Allocate time during your day to read texts, answer emails and messages and make brief personal callsSilence your phone, and turn off inbox notifications so your attention isn’t ambushed. If you’re unable to silence your phone, then screen your incoming calls and use your phone’s automatic phone messages. This way you minimise getting dragged into conversations that hijack your attentionDifficult as it is to tell a colleague you can’t chat right now, it really is important to focus on completing the job at hand, and then you can give your colleague the attention they require. If you find it difficult to put them off in person, why not create a small desk sign? How about - “System overloaded. Please call back in 20 mins”. Something small and amusing that no one can take offence atDo not have social media or news channels tabs open on your browser so you’re not tempted to take a peek or react to notification pop-ups

*How to Stay Calm Under Pressure at Work

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