Workplace productivity is vital for both employers as well as employees. From the perspective of an employer, the company stays alive, keeps thriving and more success is achieved. Whereas from an employee’s perspective; productivity means greater opportunities for promotion, bigger bonuses and better chances for career growth.

You might start your day with a plan to get some crucial tasks done, but soon find yourself distracted, indulged in less important tasks, or simply procrastinating. If you are seeking to have that productive edge, get ready to incorporate a few changes in your lifestyle to achieve better results.

Here are five secret strategies you can apply to your day to day for more productivity

5 Strategies to INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY IN THE WORKPLACE

1. Eliminate or minimize distractions

To finish bigger and more complicated tasks, you need to have more focus and get into a mental state called “flow”. This is the state when you are most efficient and are able to maximize your talents. A distraction at this moment, however, can break your focus and destroy your concentration. The following are some ways to avoid distractions:

• Smartphones are the biggest distractions if not used responsively. These days, we are unconsciously finding excuses to take out our phones just to check messages or notifications.

• You should minimize the use of internal chat applications at work.

• Stay away from social media platforms while at work, for they can significantly kill your precious time.

• If you really need a greater degree of concentration because of a highly important task, you better sit in a place where you cannot see people and other movements.

• If it is not possible for you to switch your location, you can try listening to music that helps you stay focused.

• Sometimes relationship issues might create distractions in your life, so keep them sorted out.

2. Get better organized

Being disorganized and thronged by unnecessary clutter is absolutely not good for productivity. The most crucial aspect of being organized is that its benefits are extended from an individual to the team. It is a tried and tested method of ensuring sustained and increased efficiency throughout the team. Just make a to-do list and take full control of what you are going to do each day. Here are a few things you can do to get organized:

• Set a priority level for each of your tasks, with the most important task at the top, next important task below it and so forth. In this way you can allocate your time and resources in a better manner.
• Write important things and notes down and don’t rely on your memory alone. Keeping your to-dos allows you to look back at them at anytime.
• De-clutter your workplace as soon as possible and clean up things regularly.
• Keep back-ups of everything within your reach; for example, keep passwords and login credentials in your mailbox.
• Practice putting things in their proper place.
• Schedule your tasks realistically; that way you are making self-imposed deadlines, which push you to finish them on time.

3. Avoid multitasking

Avoid multitasking as much as you can, as it won't get you anywhere. If you try to do too many things at one time, you are more likely to end up accomplishing nothing at all. While doing so, you may feel as though you are being productive; however, you are probably not getting anything done efficiently. A recent research in multitasking shows that 98% of the population can’t handle multitasking well, which means only 2% people can multitask.

The truth of the matter is, your ability to get things done depends a lot on how well you can concentrate on one task at a time. The biggest problem with multitasking is that it forces you to split your concentration across several tasks. To focus on one task is often already challenging enough; so to focus on many simultaneously is just next to impossible for most of us.

For example, if you are working on a presentation during a team meeting, you shouldn’t be in a discussion with a colleague while composing and validating different data. Same goes to listeners during a presentation; they should focus more on taking notes and giving valuable comments.

4. Take occasional breaks from work

Stress is the biggest drain of time and energy. Taking regular breaks from work will keep you in the zone of productivity. Constantly immersed in work can tire your body as well as mind. This is the time when your head starts spinning and you trouble concentrating any further. Even Google employees, having loads of work lined up at their desks, are free to walk away from stress. They go out and do things they enjoy doing the most like surfing and hiking. You can also enjoy your time and eat healthy snacks like fruits and vegetables.

In the frantic pace of today’s life, it is important to connect with friends, attend conferences and talk to people in your networking relationships. Furthermore, establishing a strong camaraderie with co-workers is a great source of stress-buster; so it would be refreshing to organize party having drinks and beverages for your colleagues.

5. Manage your time effectively

Did you know? 9 out of 10 times during discussions regarding performance at work, the value of time management is a significant factor. It is therefore critical as much as elusive to master the art of managing time in a most effective manner. There are overwhelming tips and recommendations for time management available online as well as offline, but if you are getting started with it for the first time; it can be a bit tricky. So, utilize these tips in following ways:

• Make and use checklists as often as you can
• Do the most important tasks first
• Delegate some of your most complicated tasks; as you are not a superhuman to complete each and every one of them.
• Stick to the schedule, no matter what
• Understand which things to say “no” to
• Keep meetings to a minimum.

Final Thoughts

According to our research these are some of the most effective strategies that can help you better manage your workload and make you more productive. If you know how to work hard, you should also know to work smart.

About the Author:  Smith Willas is a freelance writer, blogger, and digital media journalist. He is also working with iCustomlabel He has a management degree in Supply Chain & Operations Management and Marketing and boasts a wide-ranging background in digital media.