increase workplace productivity by scheduling a no meeting day
We all strive to be master ‘doers’ – and find ourselves searching for a magic solution to solve all of our problems. However, productivity isn’t a one-size-fits-all deal – the first step toward being more productive lies with scheduling your day intelligently and gaining a true understanding of your strengths and weaknesses.
Try using these simple tactics to maximize your productivity in the workplace and get on top of your workload:
No meeting days
Meetings are obviously important – but attending too many can severely halt your progress. Try to block off an entire day on your calendar every week – call it a no meeting day and communicate this schedule to your colleagues. With the exception of occasional urgent meetings, commit to keeping the day completely meeting-free – it will allow you to concentrate on your workload and get more done. You’ll soon discover that you’re less stressed on other days of the week and will be able to tap into coveted flow time.
Identify optimal times for projects
Take adequate time to track your current schedule – paying particular attention to the times when you have the most energy – and when you are at your least productive. Plan your day based on your optimal focus times, starting with smaller tasks/tasks that take up less energy and brainpower and allowing larger chunks of time for bigger tasks that require more focus. By making yourself aware of your natural productivity cycle you can tap into your most productive self – when you need it the most.
Try the Pomodoro Technique
This technique actually gets its name from a tomato kitchen timer! It may sound a little strange, but it will allow you to break down larger projects into smaller distributed tasks that you are more likely to complete over the course of the day. The tasks should be broken up by frequent breaks – and each one should take 25 minutes or less to fully complete. The process is designed to help you re-charge – so you’ll move faster through projects, with reduced fatigue.
Take the time to plan your day
Often, the key to productivity is great planning. Start (or end) your day with a 30 minute planning session. Use this time to respond to questions via colleagues and organize your projects, so you have a clear picture of what you’re working on and why. We all get bogged down by distractions such as messages, emails, or time spent trying to figure out what we’re doing next – by dealing with your “housecleaning” in one go, you can redirect your energy to important work activities
Project management software also boosts productivity – helping you to organize tasks, keep communications going and ensure that projects are delivered on time and within budget. Find out more about the Off Peak Training online 35-hour PMP course today: https://www.offpeaktraining.com/project_management-professional_pmp_training/
