Be More Productive
We all know how important it is to make the most use of the time we have. No one wants to spend more time at work than they have to but no ones work load is getting smaller. This is where the old adage ‘work smarter not harder’ comes in to play. (I always hate when people say that but it is true)
We would do ourselves a favor if we would think through our routines and examine them to see how we can improve. Here are a few tips to help increase your productivity that won’t cost you anything.
- Take breaks every 90 minutes
The counterintuitive secret to sustainable great performance is to live like a sprinter. In practice, that means working at your highest intensity in the mornings, for no more than 90 minutes at a time, and then taking a break.
So, the next time your eyes are glazing over, instead of reaching for another cup of coffee, step away from your work for a few minutes instead. You might be surprised how much you’ll get done in the long run.
- Make yourself uninterruptable sometimes
There’s nothing more frustrating than finally getting into the zone working on a big project — and then being interrupted by a co-worker or boss who drops by your desk. Worse, research shows it can take up to 25 minutes to get back on track after an interruption.
Whether you need to stay focused on intense tasks for a couple of hours a day or you’re working on a big project, using a system that informs people of this will get them into the habit of sending you an email for non-urgent tasks instead of dropping by your desk.
- Keep your emails short and sweet
CEOs don’t have time for reading novel-length emails — or writing them, either.
By keeping emails short and to the point, you’ll not only save a lot of writing time, you’ll also save your co-workers a lot of reading time. If your issue is too complex for a short email, scheduling a brief (5-10 minute) phone call can be much more efficient than a lengthy back-and-forth email exchange.
(via Mashable)