How To Increase Productivity At Work Without The Stress

Do you think you are productive enough at work? Surely everyone wants to be productive especially the boss that signs your paycheck. The long enduring idea of productivity is often equated to hard work, stress and lots of overtime at the office. Although there may be some truth to these notions, it is my unfortunate task to tell you otherwise. You can improve your productivity minus the stress. Now, does being productive sound more enticing to you? I hope so. Your career rests on how productive you can be at work. So let me ask you again, are you productive enough?

Here are some strategies to make your day more productive without bringing stress into your life. I know that we all have our own stressors and ways to handle them. But wouldn’t it be great if we can skip the stress and go directly to becoming useful at work.

I hear a lot about people who are hard working. Although this is a commendable attitude at work, we often forget that it is the output that really matters. Putting in a lot of effort in something that produces little is both tiring and inefficient. Working smart is all about managing one’s resources. When one is able to utilize the resources properly, we can tilt the ratio of work and outputs towards more output with little work.

I know it sounds great but the real question is how do you do this?

One of the fundamental strategies of smart workers is to organize everything they have to do first. Many employees just jump into the pile of work with thinking through what needs to be done. Moreover, it is imperative to get a bird’s eye view of the scope and extent of the task so that one can actually incorporate a methodical way to take on the challenge.

Organizing work entails planning what you need to do for the day. Some work best with a list of To Do, while others simply have this list at the back of their minds. Likewise, there are instances where setting a schedule for the day’s tasks helps map out the activities for the day. On the other hand, some people simply lays down the accomplishment list and do it one at a time at the pace they are most comfortable.

Organizing work involves the discipline to actually stop for a moment and assess the current situation as well as the destination one wants. Although there are numerous ways to organize one’s work, it is most effective when you choose one that is best for you.

Another essential part in working smart is getting all the resources that you need. There is a simple truth that every employee (and bosses) should understand: without resources achievements and productivity are limited. With that said, it is necessary to get all the resources needed in order to accomplish tasks. Even if you have the passion, the will power and the knowledge to achieve the goals, having limited or no resources will not move your project forward.

Here’s another reality that most employees have to face: most employees have to contend with insufficient resources. This is where ingenuity comes in. Whether you get it from another department, convince your boss to get you what you need or simply conjure one from thin air is needed. So learn to be resourceful.

How many times have you been given multiple tasks that you have to accomplish in a day? The term multi-tasking has become a buzz word that everyone likes to throw around. But not everyone enjoys it. Of course when you were interviewed for the job you said yes to multi-tasking. But now that you’re actually doing it, you’re thinking twice. The key in managing several tasks at a time is to prioritize. You can segregate tasks based on their importance or based on their delivery time.

To become productive and efficient at work one must remove distractions. This can be anything from access to social media in your workstation to annoying coworkers that bug you for nothing. Every bit of distraction can weigh down. Worse, it can redirect your resources especially your time to doing unnecessary activities.

So be honest with yourself. What are the things that pervert you from accomplishing your tasks? You may need to tuck these items away so you can perform better at work.

One smart way of accomplishing more at work is to ask for assistance. When you can pass on part of our task to someone you can trust then this is a good start. But remember that you are still accountable for the outcome of this project.

How many times have you thought that if you want something done right you should be the one doing it? Well, it is important to understand that you can’t handle everything on your own. Moreover, if you have so much on your plate, you may want to get some reinforcement so that you can accomplish more. Keep in mind that it’s not just about dishing out hundreds of outputs. Rather, it’s about turning in quality work as well.

If you have people in the office that can assist you, you’d better create a strong working relationship with them so that they will not turn you down if you need any help.

Are you aware of the innovations in your industry? How about the most recent researches that can affect the way you accomplish your work? It is critical that every employee continues to learn and improve his/her skills. Moreover, it is essential to expand and deepen your knowledge about your industry and your expertise.

Your knowledge and skills are your selling points to the company. The more you know and the more you can do the higher your value to the company. It is therefore imperative that you invest your time in gaining more knowledge and skills that you can use in your workplace.

This may sound counterproductive but every employee needs to learn to rest and relax. An employee is no good and is not productive when not in tip top shape. Moreover, a tired employee may turn in work that is below par. As such, every employee should recognize the importance of rest and relaxation.

Burnout is a common scenario in the office. With an exhausted employee productivity can surely dwindle and eventually can even affect the health of the person. In addition, employees without adequate rest and relaxation tend to lose focus more and thus create higher risks for accidents or near misses. Without a doubt, employees need to learn to put down the day’s work and turn to pampering himself/herself.

Employee productivity is obviously important for the bosses and for the company. However the benefits go beyond what you provide your company. In fact, you benefit more from your own productivity than any other person. Each time you accomplish more you grow with each experience. The key is working smart.