8 Ways to Bump Up Your Productivity Level
The holidays are upon us, and it can be a tough time to stay focused at work. With the hustle and bustle of the season, in addition to the inevitable stressors that come our way this time of year, it’s easy to get a little off track. If you need help getting your productivity back in check, draw inspiration from these 8 simple tips:
Set your top 1-3 goals at the beginning of the day.
Write these down in the form of a to-do list or even sticky notes of inspiration that you place around your workspace. Establishing a small handful of realistic goals to complete before the day is over will set your focus and help you stay motivated.
Complete your worst task first.
This could be the task that takes the longest, requires the most effort, or is simply your least favorite to do. Once it’s out of the way, the rest of your tasks will be a breeze.
Create a system to quickly separate essential and non-essential tasks.
Emails you receive, requests that come your way throughout the day – some of these require immediate attention, and some don’t. Perhaps your system is flagging emails that are crucial and leaving the rest in a folder marked “read later,” or adding items to the top or bottom of a to-do list. Figure out what will work best for you but remember that staying organized is key.
Batch similar tasks together….
Errands to run, phone calls to make, emails to answer - you’ll get these items completed more efficiently if you can knock them all out in one go. And think of how great you’ll feel when you can shut down your email inbox or hang up your phone for the day!
…But complete only one task at a time.
Trying to multi-task will not help you save time – it’s more likely to create extra work when you complete tasks poorly and need to re-do them. When you’re working on a specific item, give it your full attention, complete it to the best of your ability, and then move on to the next.
Take breaks.
Working through lunch may seem like an effective way to get more done, but it’s more likely to make you feel burnt out. Refresh yourself with at least one break – or even better, a few small breaks spread throughout the day. Make your break(s) even more effective by getting outside and going on a walk to clear your mind and get a little exercise.
Give yourself healthy rewards.
Remember that unpleasant item you plan to cross of your to-do list first thing today? Create a reward for yourself, like a short phone call to a friend, for when you are finished. Having that reward in mind will make your least favorite task seem a little more manageable.
Delegate.
You likely have a handful of daily tasks that you don’t need to complete yourself. You may just be used to doing them, or maybe you believe that you can do it better than anyone else – either way, if it’s possible to delegate a task and free up time for the items that truly only you can do, you should.
The holidays can pose a challenge when it comes to getting your work done but being as productive as possible during this time will help you get through it. You’ll find that these tips are easier to implement than you might think, and even though they may seem small they make a big difference.
On behalf of the entire team at Dealer Spike, we hope you and your families have a wonderful holiday season! We’ll be back in January with advice to help your dealership dominate in digital marketing in the New Year.