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How To Be More Efficient at Work
How To Be More Efficient at Work
How To Be More Efficient at Work
In Today's world coping with Job pressure is really tough. Anyone who's held down a full-
time job knows that an average work day is not always long enough to get everything you
need to do done. However, your productivity can be greatly improved by adopting habits
designed to make you work more efficiently. An efficient worker uses the most of each
minute of the day, giving his or her fullest attention to the most important tasks first. Being
efficient at work won't just improve your productivity and win you points with your boss - it'll
also make you feel accomplished, satisfied that you've had a full and productive work day.
Part1
Creating Focus
2.Keep your workplace well-stocked. Make sure that you have the supplies and tools
needed to do your job. In an office, this means you should have things such as hole-
punches, staple removers, calculators, etc. at the ready. Outside of an office setting, the
tools are different, but the fundamental principles are the same - have the things you need to
work effectively before you have to start working. Scientists working with complex graphing
applications and mechanics working with socket wrenches will both benefit from having their
tools prepped and ready beforehand.
-This also means to make sure you have a good supply of whatever consumable supplies
your job requires - staplers need staples, carpenters need nails, teachers need chalk, etc.
-Ensure your tools are well-maintained. One essential broken tool can bottleneck the rest of
your work flow if you can't proceed without it! Save time in the long run by spending a few
moments periodically to clean and maintain your tools.
3.Keep a consolidated schedule. If you've been flying by the seat of your pants so far,
making any sort of effort to plan out your day will probably increase your working efficiency.
To keep a truly effective schedule though, limit yourself to one comprehensive planner
(optionally supplemented with one calendar in your office or cubicle for long-term objectives.)
Don't needlessly complicate your work by keeping more than one schedule or by scrawling
out a huge collection of notes that you'll inevitably lose. You want to be able to look
in one specific place to see what you need to do.
-Organize each day by creating a "to do" list. Begin with the highest priorities of the day so
that they are most likely to get done. Put less important tasks at the end the list. Start at the
top of the list at the beginning of your work day. If you do not complete the list by the end of
the day, tackle the uncompleted items the next day.
-Set a time frame and deadline for your most important projects, and be realistic about the
length of time they will take. You don't want to set yourself up to fail - it's better to ask for
more time at the start of a project, rather than right before it's due.
Part2
Enacting Effective Work Strategies
4.Nip office drama in the bud. Workplaces can, unfortunately, be terribly stressful places. If
tempers flare, address any ill will immediately and directly. This may mean you, the person
you're fighting with, or both of you need to make sincere apologies. Do this sooner rather
than later. If you let a few fights fester into a grudge, your efficiency will suffer in the long run
as you waste time working around this person and avoiding him/her in the workplace. More
importantly, you'll be miserable - don't let workplace drama ruin your efficiency and your
mood!
-Don't be afraid to involve a mediator. Businesses know that drama and hurt feelings can
hinder work flow, so many employ people whose specific duties include resolving workplace
disputes. Contact your workplace's human resources personnel if you feel frustrated, sad, or
scared because of someone else in the workplace.
-When all is said and done, you don't have to be friends with a colleague you've argued with
- you just have to be able to work with him or her. Be polite and tactful in the workplace,
even with people you hate.
Part3
1.Be well rested. Being tired has never improved the quality of anyone's work. Tiredness
can slow your output, dull your performance, and, if you're prone to sleeping spells, seriously
embarrass you in important meetings. On top of this, severely insufficient sleep has been
correlated with a variety of health problems.[5] Don't fall asleep at your desk or miss work
because you've gotten sick - get 7-8 hours of sleep a night to be at your best.
-At best, workplace fatigue can be a minor distraction. At worst, it can be a serious safety
concern. If you have a job where peoples' safety is at stake (for instance, if you're an air
traffic controller or you drive a semi truck), it's imperative that you keep a good sleep
schedule.
2.Get exercise. Science has shown that a good exercise regimen improves your workplace
mood and productivity.[6] This is especially true for sedentary office jobs. If you spend most of
your time at work sitting in front of a computer, make special effort to spend a little time
every day exercising - not only will it make it easier to sit still at work, but it will make you feel
happier, sharper, and more motivated.
-If you're starting an exercise routine for the first time, try a moderate workout
combining cardio exercise with some strength training.
3.Keep an elevated mood. If you're trying to improve your working efficiency, you may be
tempted to pursue your work with dogged seriousness. Often, this isn't a good idea - you
may increase your efficiency in the short term, but if you never allow yourself any pleasure at
work, it's easy to burn yourself out, leading to fatigue, stress, and a lack of motivation. Try to
keep high spirits - if you feel good at work, you'll be more likely to stay motivated and
ambitious. Do small things to improve your mood that won't hinder your productivity - listen
to music through headphones, take stretch breaks, or take your laptop to the break room for
some peace and quiet.
-Make the most of your meal breaks - relish the chance to enjoy good food and tell jokes
with your workplace friends.
-Use coffee with caution. Coffee can be a fantastic pick-me-up on days when you're feeling
especially drained, but if you use it every day, you'll become dependent on it and it will
cease to give you any benefits.
4.Give yourself motivations. It's easier to work efficiently if you have a good reason to
work. If you're occasionally having difficulty getting yourself going, think about the reasons
that led you to your job in the first place - your life's goals, your dreams, and your vision for
yourself. Try to think of your work as a means to an end - the "end" being your ideal vision
for your life. If you enjoy your job, try thinking about how your work makes you feel - do you
feel fulfilled and accomplished after you've done it?
-Think about the good things your work allows you to have. Perhaps you owe your house or
your car to the money you've earned through your job, or maybe your job allows you to send
your children to school. Also think of your job's "benefits" - medical and/or dental insurance
for your family, for instance.
-Think about the consequences if you don't work. What things will you have to give up if you
lose your source of income? In what ways will it affect your family or other people close to
you?
5.Reward yourself. If you've successfully increased your work efficiency, celebrate - you
deserve it. It's not easy to lose bad habits and cultivate good ones, so reward yourself for
your hard work. Buy yourself a drink after work on Friday, meet with some friends for a night
out, or just lay in bed with a book - whatever makes you happy after a long work week, do it.
Rewarding yourself increases your feeling of accomplishment, which is an important part of
keeping your motivation up.
-Your reward doesn't have to be big or grandiose, and it shouldn't be something that's
financially irresponsible. Modest, moderate rewards are best. Save the new Rolex for a
special occasion