Most of us like the idea of getting more work done every day, but with a limited number of hours and feeling like we’re already doing our best, there seems to be little to no room for improvement.
You can increase your productivity in a number of ways, such as: B. by delegating various tasks, automating what you can, and using time management apps to improve your spending. But there are also a number of psychological tricks that are nowhere near enough recognized.
How to get more done at work
These habits and changes can alter your state of mind, change your behavior, and even make you want to do more work:
1. Define short time intervals
The hardest part of a challenging job is getting started. When you know you’re facing a big project or a series of tasks that you don’t particularly enjoy, you may be wasting time procrastinating. According to one study, 88% of workers hesitate for at least an hour a day, which is a ridiculously common problem. An easy way to overcome this is to commit to smaller time intervals. Instead of completing a three hour project, you should only start it for five minutes. Once those five minutes are up, you will likely feel motivated to keep working on them.
2. Break big tasks into smaller tasks
Similar to working in small time intervals, you can break even the largest tasks into smaller ones. Large projects can be intimidating and difficult to manage, while small tasks can be more easily prioritized, delegated, and completed.
3. Build momentum with small achievements
People tend to be more productive when they have some momentum. You will be more efficient when you can work at a steady pace rather than constantly stopping and restarting. One way to do this is to start working on small, easy-to-do tasks. Knock them out early in your day, then keep that momentum going.
4. Turn off notifications
One of the problems in our modern world of communication technology is that we are too aware of what is going on around us. We often think the immediacy of communication is a good thing, but it often prevents us from doing our best. According to a UCI study, it takes about 23 minutes to restore your focus after a distraction, and any notification could act as a distraction. Completely turn off notifications on all of your devices and shut down your email platform if you normally leave it open. You can always catch up on messages later.
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5. Find the right music
Studies show that music can increase productivity, but there are a few important caveats. First you need to set the volume correctly: too loud and you will be distracted; too soft and you won’t get the benefits. Second, you need to avoid any lyric-heavy content that could distract and annoy you. Third, it has to be music that you really enjoy (the genre doesn’t really matter). Find the right music for you and stick with it.
6. Develop and follow routines
You can’t do this in an afternoon, but try to set some routines over time. Once you’ve established a rigorous process for completing a task, it will be easier to get that task done in the future. Start with small routines and work your way up to bigger ones. Try to repeat your routine for three days in a row, then three weeks in a row, and so on.
7. Break your obsession with perfection
In some ways, perfectionism is a good trait. It means that you are constantly looking for opportunities for improvement and you want to do your job to the best of your ability. But perfectionism is not without its drawbacks. It can prevent you from starting tasks that intimidate you and make you constantly question your job. Understand and accept that your work will always be flawed and that you will end up performing much better.
8. Have fun with your employees
Spend some time having fun with the people you work with. Laughing and doing things you enjoy relieve stress, and positive socialization releases oxytocin, which improves your mood and productivity. When you spend time with coworkers, you also bond with your team so that you can work together more efficiently and increase your productivity dramatically – as long as you do this consistently.
Implementation in practice
The biggest problem with these psychological tricks is that they are effective and require effort and commitment. You can sit here and read this article and nod your head in agreement at some of these ideas, but if you don’t actually use them they won’t help you.
Whether you try some of these tips or not, at least make a concerted effort to turn your routine upside down and experiment with a few new tactics. This is the only way to change your work habits.
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