Although the pandemic seems to be in its ending stage, its after-effects can be seen everywhere. One of the most affected areas of our lives, due to the pandemic, has been our productivity. Due to a break in our normal working schedules, productivity nowadays seems unachievable or at least distant.
If you are going through this as well, you are not alone. Moreover, we are here to help you. Below we have made a list of the effective ways to improve your productivity.
Plan your day, weeks, and months
The first step to achieving productivity is to understand why you need it in the first place or what things you need to get done. Dividing your tasks into days, weeks, and months can make a difference and give you better clarity of what your priority should be.
There are several planners that you can use or a pen and paperwork as well. Begin with your monthly goals or tasks, then divide them into weeks, and lastly, divide them into days. Having a clear plan prevents you from wasting time thinking about what you should begin with.
Take breaks
Taking breaks or rest days is important for improving your productivity. Different people have different attention spans; some people can work for an hour straight, while some can’t. By examining your work schedule, figure out how frequently you need breaks.
Breaks allow your brain to rest and recharge; thus, they are extremely crucial for productivity. You can try a Pomodoro timer to keep a check over your working time as well as breaks. Moreover, these timers only offer breaks of 5-15 minutes, so you do not have to worry about wasting time.
Keep everything handy
Whether it’s an online tool, such as a PDF editor, or a deskmate, like your coffee cup, keep everything with you before you sit down to work. Constantly getting up and going somewhere or switching between tabs can distract you.
Along with that, not having everything you need can lead to irritation or annoyance. So, make a list of every little thing you need while working. Then, make sure they are at an arm’s length before you sit down to work.
Make full use of the internet
The internet allows you to have everything just a click away. So, why not use it? There are several online tools, apps, or websites that can cut short the time it takes for you to do unnecessary tasks. You would not go to a dictionary to find a word’s meaning since it’s available online; you should do the same for your other tasks.
For instance, you can go for a PDF to Word converter to easily edit your documents in a word file then edit in the PDF format itself. You can also edit images through online photo editors rather than spending hours on Photoshop. So, use your time wisely.
Do not force productivity
One important thing that you need to keep in mind is that you can’t force productivity. If you are finding it difficult to concentrate or work, you might need a break. So, listen to the signs and give yourself the proper time to return to work.