7 Ways You Can Improve Productivity

So your Raya break is over, traffic around the Klang Valley starts to build up again, and before you know it you’re back at your desk looking for the motivation you left somewhere between ketupat and lemang. Fret not, we’ve got some life hacks on how to improve your productivity and jump right back into the fray!

#1 Live by the two-minute rule
A simple but effective rule in getting things done made famous by entrepreneur Steve Olenski – the two-minute rule! Here’s how it works: Whenever you’re at work and come across a task that you can complete in under two minutes, do it ASAP. This way you’ll be making use of every minute (or two) you have at work productively.

#2 Set deadlines
Even when there isn’t an official deadline, setting one (and sticking to it!) will help develop good discipline and get more done faster. Stephen King did this throughout his career where he set out to write no less than six pages a day. He went on to write more than 60 novels, selling over 350 million copies.

#3 Surround yourself with positivity
Make sure you’re always looking at the positive side of things. OK, so you can’t get rid of your annoying colleague who sits in front of you but you can surround your workplace with nice things to look at, starting with your desktop wallpaper or posters of things that give you motivation to get going.

#4 Take regular breaks
Working continuously without breaks can lead to a steady decline in performance. So the thing to do is to take regular breaks, which has been proven to ensure a steady flow of productivity.

#5 Learn to say no
Before accepting a task that is our of your job scope, ask yourself if you’ll be able to complete your primary tasks. Remember to set your work priorities before all else.

#6 Avoid multitasking
It’s proven that multitasking can decrease productivity and this is partly due to a poor distribution of focus and the accumulated time wasted switching between tasks. Stick to completing one task at a time and complete it to the best of your ability!

#7 Reward yourself
After completing an important task, take some time to appreciate yourself. Take a coffee break or go for a stroll outside the office. Keep in mind that not every day is going to be a perfectly productive one and you don’t have to be too hard on yourself if you’re not able to do your best.

For more tips on how you can be more productive, check out 8 habits of successful people you can adopt today!

Photo by Carl Heyerdahl on Unsplash