Staying focused and productive at work is not an easy task, but it should become a habit, as even environments that help maintain employees' attention have distractions that can compromise the flow of work.
The solution may be simpler than you think. Often, a lack of focus and low productivity can be resolved with a little organization and responsibility.
Therefore, we have prepared a list of 7 habits that, when put into practice, help you become more productive at work.
See what these habits are:
Organization makes you more productive at work
Disorganized people are more likely to develop anxiety disorders. This happens because the lack of organization in their daily lives makes it impossible for them to have a real dimension of the volume of work they need to perform and their respective deadlines .
Disorganized people, much of the time, think they have too much or too little work, and the result of this is the usual rush to deliver a task that often needs to be redone. To solve this problem, make a list of your daily tasks , prioritizing what is most urgent, even when two or more people ask you for something of high priority.
It is important to set time for all your daily tasks, for example, from 8 am to 9 am: answering emails; from 9 am to 10 am, checking the progress of projects, and so on. This list is only relevant if you follow it to the letter. It is by putting everything on paper that you can visualize what needs to be done and, consequently, take care of everything.
It is worth remembering that the organization of your workstation is also very important. Wasting precious minutes searching for documents, cards or even a simple pen harms your entire workflow. Whether it's a huge office or a small one, keep your things clean and organized.
Your personal routine also influences your productivity
Your personal life is connected to your professional life. This means that small actions that make your routine at home easier will help you increase your productivity at the office.
For example, if you always get up at the last minute to get to work on time, try making it easier for you to leave by leaving your clothes and belongings ready.
So, already knowing what you're going to wear and having your bag or briefcase ready, you don't waste time and can make your mornings functional and productive.
Plus, the chances of forgetting something important decrease drastically when you prepare in advance.
Go offline
When you are performing a task that requires your full attention, disconnect. Don't respond to emails, don't go on social media, put your cell phone on “do not disturb” mode and, if possible, block your extension.
By dedicating your time and concentration to just one task, you can be productive at work, maintaining a flow of thought that will allow the activity to be completed completely and, in most cases, more quickly.
In fact, establishing a time in your schedule to use technology is a great way to stay focused and be more productive at work.
Ask for help
You are not required to know all the answers. If you have reached a point where you cannot evolve, talk to your colleagues. Someone may see a path you haven't tried yet that will lead you to completion of the task.
Having a relationship with the people who work with you is essential for moments like this, as well as harmonizing your work environment. If you are the only person who can “unlock” the progress of a task, take a break to breathe.
Sometimes getting up and going for a coffee means that, by taking your mind off the problem, you get an answer to what you are looking for.
This technique was widely used by great names, such as Albert Einstein . The German physicist, when faced with an apparent dead end, threw himself into household chores, such as washing dishes, to leave his brain free to receive insight, which always happened.
Use mind maps to help you visualize the end result
For some people, it is extremely difficult to start a task without being able to visualize the end result.
If this is your case, use the mind mapping technique to help you get an overview of the entire process: beginning, development and final result.
If you are not familiar with creating mind maps, use applications and software that do this for you. When inserting the central idea, the program develops branches that expand the idea until it has all the pertinent aspects.
This way, by observing exactly where you want to go, you can channel your productivity towards that path.
Take care of your health
Work overload is extremely harmful to the human body. Therefore, when you feel this way, use simple and quick techniques that help restore your physical and mental balance.
Don't overdo the amount of coffee, drink plenty of water, respect your limits, don't eat lunch in a hurry and prefer nutritious foods with little or practically no added fat or sugar.
Make sure your working position is comfortable for your lumbar and cervical spine (neck).
When you realize that you are more stressed than you would like, stop for a moment and do this breathing exercise a few times:
- Inhale air through your nose for a count of 5.
- Hold the air for 10 seconds.
- Exhale slowly for a count of 10.
Let go of distractions
When you realize that you have many activities to perform, it is best to keep distractions away, especially when your main objective is to be more productive at work. Having your cell phone on hand, accessing social networks and instant messaging can be very harmful, as well as wasting your time.
It is important to understand that productivity does not come overnight, they are practices that must be taken and then become daily habits, so keep in mind that your ultimate goal is to be more productive at work, but that each step in The search for improvements is important for professional growth.
With this, you will soon be ready to start over and maintain your attention and productivity.
Simple attitudes like these can become effective habits to make your work routine more productive and keep you calmer about your daily activities. Try it!
