Productivity in times of economic upheaval…
In this time of turmoil and uncertainty it’s even more important than ever that we stay on top of things. Being productive is not only good for the soul but also for our careers…
There are multiple aids that one can use to keep himself/herself organized and on top of things. From paper planners to electronic multimedia devices that help us keep our lives and appointment in check. No matter which method you might use in the end of the day it all boils down to self discipline. Sometimes tools if they are not used correctly or if they are not in sync they can create more harm than good. It’s our behaviors that will help get more things done, achieve our goals and shine both professionally and personally.
Let’s examine some of those behaviors that will help us all with being productive and in the long run happier…
• These days more than ever before I have been hearing people complaining about their jobs… they are unhappy but they also feel stuck as they don’t want to take the chance to move due to the economic climate. It’s logical then to say that we should look for the fun and joy in our jobs. Rediscover the reasons that made us eager to join our organizations and get back in touch with those feelings. Finding happiness and join at work will make our day to day existence a lot more fun and help us avoid depression.
• We live in fast passed environments and as such we are constantly on the move. It’s very important for our sanity and health to take some time for ourselves. This could be a few minutes a day to mediate and relax or sort breaks more often. It is proven that we are more productive when our head is buzzing with stress. Also keep in mind that busy work is not necessarily productive or successful work, in most cases it’s just a way of filling our time and looking busy. Very important therefore to take time for ourselves!
• If you have attended an organization seminar or have read a book about being organized you would have heard that doing the less desirable tasks first and getting them out of the way is a good way to open up your day for the fun tasks. On a psychological level this works very well as getting the things we like the least out of the way first will make the rest of the day less stressful and as such more productive. Similarly if we are faced with an enormous task it will make sense to break out down to small parts and work on those rather than trying to attached the entire task/project as a whole. So breaking down large tasks to smaller ones and getting the worst one done first is a sure way to make us move on the right direction.
• Delegate, delegate, delegate… very few people are good at delegating. Most of us as tilting towards the perfectionist axis and as such we have hard time letting go of tasks that someone else could complete just as well. If you can get it out of your plate do so, and free up your time for tasks that you are the only one that can tackle.
• People pride themselves at multitasking and for many years being able to multitask has been a key ingredient for a successful professional. Right? Wrong! By multitasking we divide our attention over multiple tasks that we try to get done as soon as possible. As a result the quality of our work suffers and we are more prone to mistakes. So it’s advisable to concentrate at one task at the time. In the long run we will save time by not having to redo the same task over and over again.
• Unless we are a one man/woman band have been helped and have helped others to accomplish certain task. Our busy lifestyles however rarely allow us to stop and appreciate that help. Don’t forget that everybody likes to be appreciated for what they do so take time to say thank you and give people a pat in the back for the help they have rendered your way… It’s said that what goes around comes around so if you are nice to others they would theoretically be nice in return which will then make a nicer environment to be in… so remember don’t shoot the massager and show gratitude!
• Let’s talk health for a minute… if you are out of shape not only your health will be affected but also your professional and personal life too. So take time to learn and practice at eating healthy and yes do some sports. I know it’s easier said than done sometime but trust me 99% of the time you will feel so much better afterward and you will appreciate what life is giving you a lot more… so get fit!
• People often say “I am not a morning person” or “I am more alert in the afternoon”… if you don’t know your biological rhythms already start paying attention to them. Not all people are made the same and as such our body and energy levels function differently. If you have more energy in the morning then your most productive time will be the mornings. If you not a morning person then it will only make sense to schedule your most important tasks and meeting during the time you are more energetic.
I hope you find these suggestions helpful! Good luck and keep smiling!
There are multiple aids that one can use to keep himself/herself organized and on top of things. From paper planners to electronic multimedia devices that help us keep our lives and appointment in check. No matter which method you might use in the end of the day it all boils down to self discipline. Sometimes tools if they are not used correctly or if they are not in sync they can create more harm than good. It’s our behaviors that will help get more things done, achieve our goals and shine both professionally and personally.
Let’s examine some of those behaviors that will help us all with being productive and in the long run happier…
• These days more than ever before I have been hearing people complaining about their jobs… they are unhappy but they also feel stuck as they don’t want to take the chance to move due to the economic climate. It’s logical then to say that we should look for the fun and joy in our jobs. Rediscover the reasons that made us eager to join our organizations and get back in touch with those feelings. Finding happiness and join at work will make our day to day existence a lot more fun and help us avoid depression.
• We live in fast passed environments and as such we are constantly on the move. It’s very important for our sanity and health to take some time for ourselves. This could be a few minutes a day to mediate and relax or sort breaks more often. It is proven that we are more productive when our head is buzzing with stress. Also keep in mind that busy work is not necessarily productive or successful work, in most cases it’s just a way of filling our time and looking busy. Very important therefore to take time for ourselves!
• If you have attended an organization seminar or have read a book about being organized you would have heard that doing the less desirable tasks first and getting them out of the way is a good way to open up your day for the fun tasks. On a psychological level this works very well as getting the things we like the least out of the way first will make the rest of the day less stressful and as such more productive. Similarly if we are faced with an enormous task it will make sense to break out down to small parts and work on those rather than trying to attached the entire task/project as a whole. So breaking down large tasks to smaller ones and getting the worst one done first is a sure way to make us move on the right direction.
• Delegate, delegate, delegate… very few people are good at delegating. Most of us as tilting towards the perfectionist axis and as such we have hard time letting go of tasks that someone else could complete just as well. If you can get it out of your plate do so, and free up your time for tasks that you are the only one that can tackle.
• People pride themselves at multitasking and for many years being able to multitask has been a key ingredient for a successful professional. Right? Wrong! By multitasking we divide our attention over multiple tasks that we try to get done as soon as possible. As a result the quality of our work suffers and we are more prone to mistakes. So it’s advisable to concentrate at one task at the time. In the long run we will save time by not having to redo the same task over and over again.
• Unless we are a one man/woman band have been helped and have helped others to accomplish certain task. Our busy lifestyles however rarely allow us to stop and appreciate that help. Don’t forget that everybody likes to be appreciated for what they do so take time to say thank you and give people a pat in the back for the help they have rendered your way… It’s said that what goes around comes around so if you are nice to others they would theoretically be nice in return which will then make a nicer environment to be in… so remember don’t shoot the massager and show gratitude!
• Let’s talk health for a minute… if you are out of shape not only your health will be affected but also your professional and personal life too. So take time to learn and practice at eating healthy and yes do some sports. I know it’s easier said than done sometime but trust me 99% of the time you will feel so much better afterward and you will appreciate what life is giving you a lot more… so get fit!
• People often say “I am not a morning person” or “I am more alert in the afternoon”… if you don’t know your biological rhythms already start paying attention to them. Not all people are made the same and as such our body and energy levels function differently. If you have more energy in the morning then your most productive time will be the mornings. If you not a morning person then it will only make sense to schedule your most important tasks and meeting during the time you are more energetic.
I hope you find these suggestions helpful! Good luck and keep smiling!
Comments