Increase Productivity At Work

When you are working toward self-development, one of the biggest things to work on is procrastination because procrastination will constantly throw wrenches into your efforts. There are ways to help stop procrastination in its tracks so that you can get more done at work. When you stop procrastination and increase your productivity, you will increase your chances of advancing in your career.

Turn Your Large Task Into Smaller Components

A large cause of procrastination is being overwhelmed by large tasks. When you are facing a big job or a large paper, you find excuses to do other things because you may not know exactly how to get started. However, when you break that big, overwhelming task into smaller components, you can easily decide how to tackle that small task and once it is done, you have chipped away at the major one. Using a research paper for school as an example, here is a way you can break it down so that it is more manageable:

·         Do the research for the paper

·         Finalize your topic and the direction you will take the paper in

·         Create your outline for the paper

·         Create your draft for the various sections of the paper

·         Write the first section

·         Edit and make any necessary revisions to the first section

Now, you simply move onto the second section and repeat the process. You can do quick things in between the steps so that you do not burn out by doing the entire paper at once. For example, if you have other homework or studying to do, do one component of your paper, complete another small assignment or read a half chapter in your textbook, complete the second component, so on and so forth. This allows you to get multiple things done at once so that you are maximizing your productivity and making the most of your time.

Switch Up Your Environment

There are times when you just need a change of environment. Your office may have too many distractions or you just may be bored with it. Head to the break room or take your work home if this is possible. You can even head to a coffee shop or diner if you prefer. The key is that you find another place that gives you some motivation so that you can get your work done.

Create a Detailed Deadline List

Some people are motivated by seeing their deadlines written down. When you know that a deadline is looming, you cannot procrastinate because you have to get the task done. You can still break up the task and do other anti-procrastination things, just make sure that you stick to your deadline list strictly. Ideally, you will set your deadlines for 24 to 48 hours in advance so that you have a little wiggle room if you hit a roadblock or need to take a couple break to prevent burn out while you are working.

Eliminate Everything that Tempts You to Procrastinate

Everyone has things that tempt them to want to procrastinate. Common temptations include your cellphone, your social media accounts and games on your cellphone and computer. If you are able to when you are at work, shut your phone off and turn off your computer monitor. If you have to go through the work of turning everything back on, it is less likely that you will give into your temptations and procrastinate. You can also set an alarm so that you are working in spurts and when your alarm goes off, reward yourself with five minutes of one of your temptations.

Get a Work Buddy to Keep You on Track

Many people find that working with at least one other person helps them to stay on track because the other person helps them to stay motivated. If you work with another person, take a few minutes to discuss the task and how you plan to divide it up. This cuts the work that you need to do in half so that you have fewer things to concentrate on. Just make sure that you are sticking to your personal guidelines to keep up with your work partner.

As you can see, you can start increasing your productivity today so that you are not derailed from your journey to greater self-development. It is important to note that procrastination is something that you cannot correct overnight. It takes work and you have to keep at it, but as you continue your efforts, you will notice that you naturally start to procrastinate less without having to try.

- Rosemary Kichen

Resources

Healy, Rebecca. (2012). How to Stop Procrastinating at Work. Retrieved March 12, 2015 from http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/08/02/how-to-stop-procrastinating-at-work