6 SIMPLE OFFICE HACKS TO INCREASE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY

Getting back into the swing of things at the beginning of the year is no easy task. Our minds tend to wander back to days next to the pool and we can’t stop longing for fun family activities instead of long meetings (that could have been an email instead). This can often lead to feelings of anxiety and stress because we are struggling to get our tasks done. We all know the struggle but the truth us, work doesn’t have to be like this. 

Setting new goals, getting back into a routine and becoming more productive will leave you feeling accomplished at the end of every day. With just a few simple hacks, you’ll end each day feeling energised by your accomplishments!

There are only so many hours in the day, so it’s essential to make the most of your time. There are two ways to increase your productivity, you can either put in more hours or work smarter. We definitely prefer the latter!

Remember, being busy doesn’t always mean you are being productive. Just some food for thought. 

Simple office hacks

1. Set small goals

Most of us look at goals as a tedious exercise because let’s be real, do any of us actually stick to them? It’s time to change your opinion on goal setting.

Goals don’t have to only be about where you see yourself in 5 years or the New Years Resolutions you recently set. Your goals can be small deadlines or to-do lists you make to hold yourself accountable each day. Setting goals will help you break down your calendar into smaller, less overwhelming tasks and make you more in control. This enables you to meet your goals and be more productive.

2. Take regular breaks – downtime is important

This sounds like the opposite of being more productive but hear me out. Taking scheduled breaks can actually help improve concentration. Research has shown that taking short breaks during long tasks or during a long day helps you to maintain a constant level of performance. Whereas working at a long task without any breaks leads to a steady decline in performance.

This little step will also ensure your quality of work is always at a maximum!

3. Avoid multitasking 

It may feel more productive to be doing multiple tasks at once and we’re often taught that multitasking increases efficiency. This is far from the truth though.   

Research shows that multitasking can make us up to 40% less productive – shocking! When multitasking, our focus is split into several tasks which means we do not complete each task at optimum capacity. This means you will take longer to complete tasks and more often than not, the quality of work you produce will slip. 

4. Put the distractions away 

Our phones are our biggest distractions. Keep your phone on silent while you’re completing tasks and keep it out of sight. This will limit your distractions and enable you to truly hone in on what you’re doing. 

It might be beneficial for you to work with earphones in as well to limit the many distractions you can hear around you. 

5. Keep active

Keeping active during the week may help improve productivity. This doesn’t mean spending hours on the treadmill at the gym but where possible, build in set times during the week for taking a walk or doing something active. 

Getting your blood pumping could be just what’s needed to clear your head and get your focus back. You can even inspire your coworkers to do the same, take a look at this article for some tips!

6. Eat nutritious food throughout the day

The food we eat is extremely important in boosting our brainpower and impacting how productive we are at work. High sugar snacks can cause a decrease in your productivity and lead to energy crashes.

Keep healthy snacks at your office or create healthy meals to stay fueled for a productive day.

Not every day at the office will be a perfectly productive one. Make sure you don’t beat yourself up over it. Instead, refocus your energy and implement these tips. Once you find what works for you, you’ll be amazed at how much more you can get done both in and out of the office. 

I’m off for a walk to refocus, how are you keeping productive today?