Do you often lose work productivity?
It isn’t an isolated incident since U.S. productivity fell by 5.2% in recent times. Whether you’re an employee or running a business, you might find yourself wasting time at work. Time management or mindset problems are often the cause.
However, you might have no idea how to make time for work. Worry not since our guide can help you stop wasting time by developing these habits. Read on and find out more.
Get Enough Sleep
Do you want to be at your 100% while working? If so, put getting more sleep on top of your to-do list.
Most people must get between seven and nine hours of sleep to maintain functionality. If you sacrifice hours of sleep to binge on your favorite shows or play video games, you might underperform. You aren’t thinking straight, leading to poor, time-wasting decisions.
For example, if you sleep at 2 a.m., you will likely feel physically and mentally exhausted in the morning. Shifting your sleep schedule to 10 p.m. means achieving higher mental functions and energy levels.
To get a good night’s sleep, consider getting a proper mattress. Your body needs to achieve a lower temperature to recover. Otherwise, your sleep cycle gets interrupted, resulting in tiredness after waking.
Be Mindful of Your Time Management
When you waste time at work, it’s mostly unintentional. It’s more insidious since you aren’t aware of it. Minutes and hours can pass without notice, causing you to finish nothing.
Poor time management is the culprit of lost productivity. Most of the time, you go home and work to catch up. It shouldn’t be the case since it will leave you exhausted and unmotivated.
Be diligent about your work-time to avoid bringing your unfinished project home. A place to start is to put your mental checklist into writing. Invest in a planner or calendar.
Having a planner in your arsenal reminds you of what to do during work hours. It ensures you never forget deadlines. Also, it’s satisfying to cross off completed tasks.
Adhere to a Strict Schedule
Do you have a long list of tasks to accomplish? Consider making a strict schedule to help maintain your focus. This habit is critical during meetings.
After all, it’s easy to let meetings drag on. However, prolonging these for no reason is not a good practice. Time management habits mean sticking to a schedule.
If you’re working as part of a team, assign someone to ensure everyone is on track. This member holds everyone accountable by checking tasks and adhering to the schedule.
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Hold Yourself Accountable
Putting an immense amount of pressure on yourself can be stressful. However, holding yourself accountable for your work schedule is a must. If you make fewer mistakes, you’ll spend less time redoing your tasks.
If your planner has a checklist, consider writing your assignments. It’s the best way to become accountable for these tasks. At the end of your workday, make a list of tasks for the next day.
Once you get to work, check the list to avoid forgetting critical tasks. If you find yourself doing nothing, grab your planner to remind yourself.
You can also make a separate list of urgent tasks. These are assignments to finish above anything else. However, keep it small to avoid overwhelming yourself.
Work in a Quiet Area
When work is piling up, the last thing you need is for coworkers to distract you. If you’re in an office, go to a quiet area away from your cubicle. It makes your work buddies less likely to talk to you.
Consider looking for an empty conference room or other less-frequented spaces. These places are conducive to work since phone calls, coworkers, and other office activities won’t interrupt you.
If you adopt this work ethic, achieve mutual understanding with your colleagues or manager. Tell them whether you’re accessible during your stay in these places. Set expectations with your team to help everyone increase productivity.
Avoid Checking Your Emails All the Time
As you check and answer your emails constantly, you’re wasting precious office time. It’s a big distractor, especially when you reply to frivolous, non-work-related emails.
Opt to check your email a few times every day to maintain your focus. Fight your impulses to avoid reading and responding to emails as soon as they arrive. Choose specific times during the day to check your inbox.
The only exception is when it’s an urgent email from the management.
Take Breaks
Completing your tasks and holding yourself accountable is a must. However, never let these burn you out. If you continue working despite it, you’ll end up despising your job.
Why? It’s because you’ll associate working with negative emotions. Avoid this by taking regular but short breaks.
Every few hours, stand up and do something unrelated to work. Even a simple walk around the office is enough to de-stress. When you take these short breaks, you’ll fight fatigue and feel more energized.
Be mindful of your breaks and ensure you aren’t taking them too frequently. Otherwise, you won’t save time at work.
Adopt the Two-Minute Rule
The two-minute rule allows you to become more efficient with your work. The first component is to do the shortest tasks before indulging in longer, more complex ones. If an assignment takes less than two minutes, waste no time and do it as soon as possible.
Its second component is to adopt a habit within two minutes. Once you start doing something, internalize it within this duration.
Stop Wasting Time Now
These are some tips to stop wasting time at work. Never let bad habits prevent you from achieving more. Use these to ensure your productivity and performance are consistent.
Learning how to stop wasting time is only the beginning. Look for ways to streamline your work to accomplish them faster.
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