Optimize Productivity By Switching Things Up

By: Rachel Raupp

It’s hard to be productive when you’re surrounded by chaos. To give your work your full attention, sometimes you need to do some simplifying, centering, and organizing. It’s all really simple, we promise! Not everyone thrives in the same work environment, so some of these ideas may work for you and some may not. They’re simple and worth a shot so you’re one step closer to figuring out how to best optimize your productivity in the workplace!

Is your desk messy? Throw out that week old coffee cup that’s still sitting there, straighten up your notepads into a neat pile, and get rid of that to-do list you already finished. Unnecessary clutter can be a distraction when you’re trying to get things done. Make an effort to clean off and straighten up you desk every week or so, whether on a Monday to start the week right or a Friday to end the week right. The same goes for your desktop! Drag unnecessary icons to the trash and say hello to the extra free space on your screen.

Does music help you focus or do you need total silence? The noise level in a workplace can greatly impact your productivity. If you prefer to have music playing but you work in close quarters with others who prefer silence, bring headphones to work.

Take mini breaks throughout the day. Get up, go to the bathroom, have a snack, whatever. Sitting in one place and looking at the same screen all day can actually be detrimental to your productivity. Clearing your head, letting your eyes roam away from the screen, and getting your blood flowing will help you!

Stop multitasking. We get it in our head that we’re accomplishing more when we multitask, but it can actually be more of a distraction. Make a to-do list, stick with it, set your own deadlines, and follow your schedule one step at a time, one project at a time. Get your full attention to task before moving onto the next.

These are just a few ways to optimize productivity in the workplace. Some may work for you, others may need to be adjusted to better suit you. It’s all about finding the perfect combination of elements for you to thrive in your workplace.