Increasing workplace productivity is an everyday challenge. There are so many things that can easily make us unproductive.
Even if we do not have a 9 to 5 job, we all strive to attain an optimal level of productivity in our day to day lives with various activities.
The point with productivity is that it is not something which you develop and set for one time so that everything becomes automatic later on. Your productivity needs a boost often.
You could be working very hard, and yet could feel that you are not that productive. Well, you are not alone. This happens so often, and this is a sign that you need to stop and think.
There is certainly no point in just working hard with no or less productivity. There is also no point in just loading yourself with coffee after coffee hoping to boost some supernatural power inside you.
So here we go.
Keep Fit
This is one of the aspects that is least noticed when it comes to productivity. Many think about time management, organization, outsourcing, hiring talented people, buying cool tech gadgets so on and so forth to boost their productivity. But they simply forget one basic aspect. Their health.
How can one expect to be productive if they are not fit? So one of the major reasons why you are less productive may be that you are not fit; hence keep an eye on that aspect always and do the needful.
Have healthy food and workout routines. Replace junk foods and snacks for healthier ones. But don’t try to change in all overnight. Rather, start in small steps and drop junk foods one by one in a gradual manner. Have a regular workout routine to keep your energy and stamina levels high. Working out also is a good relaxation and not only benefits your body but also your brain. Both ways you get recharged.
Whatever be it, make it a habit to keep you fit.
Don’t be a tech addict
Don’t rely on tech gadgets too much. This will reduce your productivity in a way by making you lazy. Use only the required amount of tech for your kind of job and don’t get sophisticated.
For instance, if you rely completely on your computer for a particular task, you will have to waste your working time if it is broken. You simply have to wait until it is fixed to do anything further.
Don’t techitize (I invented that word 
) everything. Use simplistic approach. Don’t look for a digital scientific calculator to add 5 and 5.
Web Addiction
Most of us have internet facilities at work and we also do have a computer. Even if it is not so, we do have these at home. Reading blogs, emails, Yahoo Answers, Facebook and Twitter are good to keep yourself connected and informed. But soon, if you are not careful, you may get obsessed by these things.
You might want to switch between your serious work to read emails (especially if you have email notifiers that pop up). You might want to open your computer and check updates on your Twitter or Facebook, the first thing in the morning. All these will ruin your productivity.
Give yourself limited time per day or per week for these tasks depending upon who you are and how important your web presence is. Strictly stay away from web addiction for the rest of the time.
Read this post to also know about other time wasters/distractions:
Top 8 Time Wasters You Should Avoid In Order To Be Productive
Organization
An organized person is in an optimized state for productivity. If you are disorganized, you will pay a lot of time for nothing just because you are disorganized. Maintain a to-do list and make note of your appointments. This will help you in remembering tasks. Otherwise you may just sit blank after you complete one task. Or you may randomly pick up tasks as they come; this will make you inefficient.
Always keep your table and file racks clean, tidy and up to date. Do not stack old files or finished jobs on your table, rather archive them. Keep your inbox organized. Being organized saves you a lot of time too.
Plan your meetings or presentations well ahead to avoid hassle. Set yourself deadlines to complete tasks and be honest with yourself.
Productive Breaks
You need (should) not be working always in order to be productive. Taking breaks at right times, helps you increase your productivity. Take a break once you have finished a big task. This is one way of self-appreciation and also a chance to help your brain to get recharged.
Taking reasonable naps is good too. Taking breaks is not only important for your mental refreshment, it also refreshes you physically. Take a short 5 min. walk for your coffee/tea. You can get your eyes off your computer screen and get some fresh air too. After the break you will find yourself fresh and prepared for the next task.
Have you felt unproductive anytime? Don’t forget to follow these tips.
Article by JaneSheeba
+Jane is the founder of Problogging Success. She is an expert blogger, consultant, freelance writer and blog designer. Don't forget to get your hands on two FREE Ebooks she offers.
Jane has written 260 awesome posts for Problogging Success.
When my blog was under Jane’s watch, everything was under control.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for sharing these tips. If you want success in blogging and freelancing you have to be productive otherwise you will be another one in this blogspohere
Hey Jane, so true. Crap, I have felt from time to time to be working my tail off and not getting anywhere.
Like you said, I just has to stop and think. Get things pinned down and mapped out and stuck to.
I really enjoyed this post. It rings so true. (and sadly was familiar).
Thanks Jane
Jayne!
Hey Jayne,
It is quite true that these symptoms are so familiar. With me, sometimes all I need is just a small break. Even those dead ends open up new ways when I take 30 mins off.
Cheers,
Jane.
I would recommend upgrading your browser to Firefox mainly because its safe fast and tons of great extensions to customize it..3. .Launchy is a free windows utility that lets you launch your favorite applications or any documents just typing a few keystrokes..4. .TimeSnapper is a great utility that takes screenshots of your desktop every few seconds to give you an accurate picture of what exactly youve been doing with your time.
Hi Jane… I walk everywhere because I live in the city and I don’t need a car. Walking does help with productivity. I get some of my best ideas when I’m away from the computer and walking home from daughters school.
Also, I write up my to do list the night before, which helps me to get a good start in the morning. If I don’t do this, I find myself randomly clicking around the Internet.
Hey Dahlia,
Very intuitive addition. Walking does help a lot in productivity. In principle, any break that takes you away from your work place for a short while increases your productivity.
I appreciate your point.
Cheers,
Jane.
Hi Jane,
I’m a big fan of organization and simplifying. We don’t need a tech tool for everything we do; there was/is a life and ways to live it that aren’t electronics-centric.
Also, staying fit…absolutely. Good physical health improves your energy levels, boosts self esteem and reduces down time (less colds due to weakened immune system) so you just get more done.
Now that I look at the clock, I’m due for my own 5-minute break to stretch the legs
Jon
Hey Jon,
You are right. The simplistic approach helps a lot with organization. The lesser, the easier to organize and a lot less clutter too.
Thanks for your valuable comment.
Cheers,
Jane.
Oh wow I failed this test miserably
1- Fail - I either sit @ work or I sit @ home. I started walking down the stairs instead of using the elevator - does that count?
2 and 3 - again sitting in front of this pc thing all day at work and home
4- nope
5- well i do take a break when i want to smoke. that doesn’t cut it does it??
lol
I just realized i am the un healthiest person just recently. Work all day sitting and since i started my blog i am doing that. I still don’t like how it looks though so i might be like this for a while.
;-(
Eric,
It is not just you. With every blogger this “sitting” is a big problem. Unfortunately for a full time blogger it takes a lot. We cannot avoid sitting in front of the computer, since that is our “work”.
But yes you can overcome this by scheduling times in the evenings (or any convenient time) for workouts, walking and other things. These activities will boost your body and mind and also will give you good ideas to write for
Cheers,
Jane.
Hi Jane,
These are awesome tips and fantastic Title. I try to take 5-10 mins break in every 2 hours. I think it helps to keep the mind fresh.
Anyways, Thanks for sharing this awesome stuff. Retweeted.
~Dev
Devesh,
That’s good. 5-10 minutes break is a great thing to take your eyes off the comp screen and do some stretches. Should be great if you could do it for every hour.
Cheers,
Jane.
Keeping it is my key to being productive. I also take some time off to rest and recuperate.
I work only 3 day a week so that i can invest some time on marketing my business and also working on myself. Taking some time off to read of just relax. My mind is completely occupied is I don’t take a break.
When I’m back at work, I work in blocks of time. When it time to check email I do that when it’s time to work with clients I do that.
I batch tasks together to get things done quickly.
Hey Joyce,
You seem to be doing great and on the right track. Working 3 days a week is a great advantage and you seem to be using your time at the right proportion.
Cheers,
Jane
Hi Jane,
I always love tips on productivity! I must share that I am getting better at keeping myself more fit and really spending some time to exercise even before I start my day - just makes so much difference in my energy and productivity levels.
It may be simple to say , but I believe that completely not practicing multitasking is the key to productivity. I also agree with everyone’s comments, especially Dahlia’s when she emphasized doing her to-do-list a night before. I’ve heard about the great benefit this can do to our subconscious (conditioning the mind before the day starts). Thanks for the awesome tips!
- Rowena
Hi Rowena,
Glad that you are getting better at keeping yourself fit; that is something really great.
Yes, to-do list can be effectively used only if it is written on the previous day and prioritized.
Cheers,
Jane.
To be honest, I’ve been an internet marketer for a couple of years now and i really don’t look at my health. I mean, i don’t have any sickness or what not and I’m not really that health conscious. I have a sedentary lifestyle and i’m really happy that i came across this post Jane. You made me realize that i need to look at my health in order not only to be productive but also to be successful in my business.
This is a very nice article. It’s very informative. I can very much apply these tips at work. I’d like to share to you guys, this smartphone app called Talkler —billed as “email for your ears.” Talkler is a free smartphone app that’s voice-controlled, and reads your emails aloud to you. It’s also a good way to help boost your productivity.
Great productive tips for the blogger from you Jane!
Yes, staying fit is more important to work aggressively. As you told ” am not a tech addict person and wanna be an organized individual.
Thanks for writing the nice tips, keep writing for newbie bloggers
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