The four actions you need to boost your productivity:<ul><li>Review and remove wanted time in your day and replace it with tasks that add more value. </li><li>Tackle your most difficult task first. The rest of your day will seem easier and you will have already completed something of real value. </li><li>Set your day up to maximise your most productive time periods for maximum gain. </li><li>Block time to complete tasks taking regular breaks to maintain motivation and productivity. </li></ul>

How To Be More Productive At Work

<img width="1024" height="1024" alt="productivity" src="https://i2.wp.com/spurplanners.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/You-can-learn.png?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1" srcset="https://i2.wp.com/spurplanners.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/You-can-learn.png?w=1080&amp;ssl=1 1080w, https://i2.wp.com/spurplanners.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/You-can-learn.png?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i2.wp.com/spurplanners.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/You-can-learn.png?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i2.wp.com/spurplanners.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/You-can-learn.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https://i2.wp.com/spurplanners.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/You-can-learn.png?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i2.wp.com/spurplanners.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/You-can-learn.png?resize=600%2C600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i2.wp.com/spurplanners.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/You-can-learn.png?resize=100%2C100&amp;ssl=1 100w">Working smarter, not harder is an ongoing goal for many of us. We constantly circle back to ask ourselves, how can I be more productive at work? As Covid 19 changes the workplace, perhaps forever, the need to be more productive, not just busier has never been greater. Here we share some simple methods to quickly increase your productivity at work. You can also use these methods in your personal life. It’s a win/win.<h2>Winning Habits</h2>The single most important thing is to set up winning habits that form the basis of your day, every day. This won’t happen fully overnight but you will see two things;<OL><LI>An immediate impact as you structure your day to meet your goals. You will feel more motivated, more positive and you will have greater focus. This will only be a short term boost though if you don’t turn this into an ongoing habit.</LI><LI>A longer term positive impact. Once the changes become a habit your work days and week will naturally feel more structured. You will no longer need to ask yourself, how can I be more productive at work because you will already be more productive at work!</LI></OL><div>"Successful people are simply those with successful habits."</div><div>Brian Tracy</div><h2>Review. Remove. Replace.</h2>Followers of our Instagram page <a href="https://www.instagram.com/spurplanners/" dir="ltr">@spurplanners</a> will be familiar with these three words. They form the absolute bedrock of any change in life, lifestyle or habit. Any improvement you want to make cannot be achieved without some form of this method. If you remember nothing else remember this;<h3>Review. </h3>Review how your day is spent now. Record for a minimum of one week (a month is better but if you are looking for quick results a week will get you started) how you spend your time each day. As the focus is the work day here, do this from when you get up until when you get home or switch off from work if you work from home. Capture anything you do for more than 5 minutes. You may group some activities together, for example, you may spend 30 minutes showering, brushing your teeth and shaving, you can group that as ‘personal hygiene’ or similar. When you have done this for at least a week review it. What does it show? Remember, you are looking at how you can be more productive at work. Things to consider would be;<UL><LI>How much time do you spend working on your tasks and goals?</LI><LI>How much time is spent helping others achieve their tasks and goals?</LI><LI>How many meetings do you attend where you are there ‘just in case’ or you contribute very little so don’t need to be there?</LI><LI>How many email chains are you copied in on, read, and then realise it doesn’t impact you?</LI><LI>How many tasks, reports etc.. do you read or produce that offer minimal value?</LI><LI>How much time do you use for your own self development?</LI><LI>Are you losing time to social media, long winded water cooler conversations or work circular emails?</LI><LI>Do you maximise your commute time?</LI></UL><h3>Remove. </h3>Take out all of the waste you have found from the days you captured your time. How much spare time does that equate to? What could you have done with that spare time instead? Whilst you do of course need to support colleagues in their goals in the name of the greater good this should not regularly come at the detriment of your own goals. Ultimately your manager will not be patting you on the back for helping others deliver all of their work if yours is not complete or sub standard.Equally, if nobody actually opens that report you work on for two hours every week do you need to produce it? Could it be done monthly, quarterly or stopped completely instead? If you don’t know if something is adding value ask the recipients or put on a read receipt.<h3>Replace. </h3>Once you have removed the wasted time and effort, replace it with tasks that add real value for you and the organisation. For anybody to be more productive at work they need to be doing more of the things that add value. Do not confuse being more productive with being busier.You should know what tasks will add most value but if you are unsure talk to your team, manager and peers. You will never be able to complete all of your tasks all of the time at work just like at home, but you must complete those that add the most value.Once you have removed the waste from your day and identified new gaps in time you need to know how to fill them.You need to fill those gaps with productive activity to stop you going back to old ways.To do this, understand the methods below and try them. They might not all work for you so find out which ones do and start using them.<h2>How Do I Structure My New Day?</h2>Once you have completed review-remove-replace you will naturally think about how you should restructure your ideal day. There are no hard and fast rules to this, mainly because each job is different and some days you will need to flex to meet changing demands. Despite that, there are some methods that add real value.<h3>Eat That Frog.&nbsp;</h3><a href="https://amzn.to/38XexWR" rel="noopener" dir="ltr">Brian Tracy’s method</a> states that you should tackle your hardest, ugliest task first on any given day. The idea is that we naturally shy away from these tasks because they are difficult. It is these tasks though that often add the most value. You therefore have two options, keep putting it off and worrying about it or tackle it head on. Tackling it head on and methodically working through will help you be more productive at work. Completing it first will also make the rest of your day seem a little easier in comparison.<h3>When Are You Most Productive?</h3>According to <a href="https://amzn.to/38XVRGk" rel="noopener" dir="ltr">Daniel Pink’s book When</a>, roughly two thirds of people are more productive in the morning (known as larks) and one third in the evening/nighttime (known as owls). You will likely know which you already are by your natural body clock. For example, if you naturally stay up late (past 11pm) and are still happy to be working or learning at this time you are likely an owl.You need to fit your work schedule, as best you can, to support when you are most productive. At Spur Planners we are larks so we know that we will do our best work earlier in the day. If this is you, avoid booking and accepting meetings in the morning. Aim to block this part of your day out to tackle your frog task and any others that may be difficult or pressing, always starting with the frog though. We know this isn’t always possible if your diary is crashed for an important meeting but block your calendar out in advance so people know to avoid it as much as possible. Also, don’t be afraid to decline meetings if people book over your blocked time, just use your judgement.After your productive period in the morning you will naturally suffer a lull in the early to late afternoon. This is the time to book your meetings. In meetings you rarely need to be 100% tuned in all of the time so if you are struggling with concentration this will have less of an impact. You can also schedule more housekeeping based tasks for this period of the day. Tasks that still need to be accomplished but require less concentrated brain power.The end of the day normally sees an uptick in productivity as you prepare to leave work and your mood naturally improves. A key task if you want to be more productive at work is to plan your next day. Do this as your last task of the day. Plan your frog, other tasks you need to complete and check your calendar so you know what is coming up. This will make it easier the next morning to get straight into being productive.Planning your day like this allows time for you to complete your key tasks, for you to attend meetings and support others, complete recurring lower value but still necessary tasks and be ready to do it all again tomorrow. If you are an owl you will still follow the same pattern but it starts later in the day for you.<h3>Completing Tasks</h3>The final method you should consider when you want to know how you can be more productive at work is managing your time per task.Working away for hours non stop on one task becomes counterproductive and your levels of productivity drop. Instead, work for a period then take a short break. At Spur Planners we are huge advocates of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique" dir="ltr">Pomodoro technique</a> which suggests you work for 25 minutes then take a 5 minute break. You can also work for longer periods and take longer breaks if you are in the flow.This approach keeps your mind fresh and your productivity up. It allows you to manage your time per task by assigning the number of Pomodoro’s it will take to complete a task. For example, 2 hours is 4 Pomodoros. Finally, a Pomodoro often fits nicely in-between gaps in meetings.<h2>Piece It All Together</h2>If you piece these methods together you will have a blueprint where you can be more productive at work. You have all the tools to;<UL><LI>Review and remove wanted time in your day and replace it with tasks that add more value.</LI><LI>Tackle your most difficult task first. The rest of your day will seem easier and you will have already completed something of real value.</LI><LI>Set your day up to maximise your most productive time periods for maximum gain.</LI><LI>Block time to complete tasks taking regular breaks to maintain motivation and productivity.</LI></UL>If you are also looking for support on being more productive before and after work be sure to have a look at our other posts;

Do you want to be more productive at work? These simple tips will help you remove wasted effort and add value each day.

productivity

Productivity

timemanagement

Time Management

Working smarter, not harder is an ongoing goal for many of us. We constantly circle back to ask ourselves, how can I be more productive at work? As Covid 19 changes the workplace, perhaps forever, the need to be more productive, not just busier has never been greater. Here we share some simple methods to quickly increase your productivity at work. You can also use these methods in your personal life. It’s a win/win.

The single most important thing is to set up winning habits that form the basis of your day, every day. This won’t happen fully overnight but you will see two things;

<ol><li>An immediate impact as you structure your day to meet your goals. You will feel more motivated, more positive and you will have greater focus. This will only be a short term boost though if you don’t turn this into an ongoing habit. </li><li>A longer term positive impact. Once the changes become a habit your work days and week will naturally feel more structured. You will no longer need to ask yourself, how can I be more productive at work because you will already be more productive at work! </li> </ol>

Followers of our Instagram page <a href="https://www.instagram.com/spurplanners/">@spurplanners </a>will be familiar with these three words. They form the absolute bedrock of any change in life, lifestyle or habit. Any improvement you want to make cannot be achieved without some form of this method. If you remember nothing else remember this;

Review how your day is spent now. Record for a minimum of one week (a month is better but if you are looking for quick results a week will get you started) how you spend your time each day. As the focus is the work day here, do this from when you get up until when you get home or switch off from work if you work from home. Capture anything you do for more than 5 minutes. You may group some activities together, for example, you may spend 30 minutes showering, brushing your teeth and shaving, you can group that as ‘personal hygiene’ or similar. When you have done this for at least a week review it. What does it show? Remember, you are looking at how you can be more productive at work. Things to consider would be;

<ul><li>How much time do you spend working on your tasks and goals? </li><li>How much time is spent helping others achieve their tasks and goals? </li><li>How many meetings do you attend where you are there ‘just in case’ or you contribute very little so don’t need to be there? </li><li>How many email chains are you copied in on, read, and then realise it doesn’t impact you? </li><li>How many tasks, reports etc.. do you read or produce that offer minimal value? </li><li>How much time do you use for your own self development? </li><li>Are you losing time to social media, long winded water cooler conversations or work circular emails? </li><li>Do you maximise your commute time? </li> </ul>

Take out all of the waste you have found from the days you captured your time. How much spare time does that equate to? What could you have done with that spare time instead? Whilst you do of course need to support colleagues in their goals in the name of the greater good this should not regularly come at the detriment of your own goals. Ultimately your manager will not be patting you on the back for helping others deliver all of their work if yours is not complete or sub standard.

Equally, if nobody actually opens that report you work on for two hours every week do you need to produce it? Could it be done monthly, quarterly or stopped completely instead? If you don’t know if something is adding value ask the recipients or put on a read receipt.

Once you have removed the wasted time and effort, replace it with tasks that add real value for you and the organisation. For anybody to be more productive at work they need to be doing more of the things that add value. Do not confuse being more productive with being busier.

You should know what tasks will add most value but if you are unsure talk to your team, manager and peers. You will never be able to complete all of your tasks all of the time at work just like at home, but you must complete those that add the most value.

Once you have removed the waste from your day and identified new gaps in time you need to know how to fill them.

You need to fill those gaps with productive activity to stop you going back to old ways.

To do this, understand the methods below and try them. They might not all work for you so find out which ones do and start using them.

Once you have completed review-remove-replace you will naturally think about how you should restructure your ideal day. There are no hard and fast rules to this, mainly because each job is different and some days you will need to flex to meet changing demands. Despite that, there are some methods that add real value.

<a href="https://amzn.to/38XexWR">Brian Tracy’s method </a>states that you should tackle your hardest, ugliest task first on any given day. The idea is that we naturally shy away from these tasks because they are difficult. It is these tasks though that often add the most value. You therefore have two options, keep putting it off and worrying about it or tackle it head on. Tackling it head on and methodically working through will help you be more productive at work. Completing it first will also make the rest of your day seem a little easier in comparison.

According to <a href="https://amzn.to/38XVRGk">Daniel Pink’s book When </a>, roughly two thirds of people are more productive in the morning (known as larks) and one third in the evening/nighttime (known as owls). You will likely know which you already are by your natural body clock. For example, if you naturally stay up late (past 11pm) and are still happy to be working or learning at this time you are likely an owl.

You need to fit your work schedule, as best you can, to support when you are most productive. At Spur Planners we are larks so we know that we will do our best work earlier in the day. If this is you, avoid booking and accepting meetings in the morning. Aim to block this part of your day out to tackle your frog task and any others that may be difficult or pressing, always starting with the frog though. We know this isn’t always possible if your diary is crashed for an important meeting but block your calendar out in advance so people know to avoid it as much as possible. Also, don’t be afraid to decline meetings if people book over your blocked time, just use your judgement.

After your productive period in the morning you will naturally suffer a lull in the early to late afternoon. This is the time to book your meetings. In meetings you rarely need to be 100% tuned in all of the time so if you are struggling with concentration this will have less of an impact. You can also schedule more housekeeping based tasks for this period of the day. Tasks that still need to be accomplished but require less concentrated brain power.

The end of the day normally sees an uptick in productivity as you prepare to leave work and your mood naturally improves. A key task if you want to be more productive at work is to plan your next day. Do this as your last task of the day. Plan your frog, other tasks you need to complete and check your calendar so you know what is coming up. This will make it easier the next morning to get straight into being productive.

Planning your day like this allows time for you to complete your key tasks, for you to attend meetings and support others, complete recurring lower value but still necessary tasks and be ready to do it all again tomorrow. If you are an owl you will still follow the same pattern but it starts later in the day for you.

The final method you should consider when you want to know how you can be more productive at work is managing your time per task.

Working away for hours non stop on one task becomes counterproductive and your levels of productivity drop. Instead, work for a period then take a short break. At Spur Planners we are huge advocates of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique">Pomodoro technique </a>which suggests you work for 25 minutes then take a 5 minute break. You can also work for longer periods and take longer breaks if you are in the flow.

This approach keeps your mind fresh and your productivity up. It allows you to manage your time per task by assigning the number of Pomodoro’s it will take to complete a task. For example, 2 hours is 4 Pomodoros. Finally, a Pomodoro often fits nicely in-between gaps in meetings.

If you piece these methods together you will have a blueprint where you can be more productive at work. You have all the tools to;

<ul><li>Review and remove wanted time in your day and replace it with tasks that add more value. </li><li>Tackle your most difficult task first. The rest of your day will seem easier and you will have already completed something of real value. </li><li>Set your day up to maximise your most productive time periods for maximum gain. </li><li>Block time to complete tasks taking regular breaks to maintain motivation and productivity. </li> </ul>

If you are also looking for support on being more productive before and after work be sure to have a look at our other posts;

How Can I Be More Productive At Work? - Spur Planners

How To Be More Productive At Work

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