Whether you are top-level management or an entry-level temp employee, everyone wants to maintain optimum productivity. We all have down days, but developing these habits will ensure that our usual productivity is score is high.

Taking care of yourself

  • Taking time for yourself is crucial to your ability to produce consistently. Healthy eating, sleeping, and exercise habits provide the necessary fuel for optimum performance.
  • Take time for breaks. Slow down – times of rest rejuvenate both our energy and mental clarity. Skipping breaks may appear to give us more time, but we accomplish less.
  • Take time for family and friends. Working and playing together sustains us, sharing laughter and hugs increases serotonin and oxytocin levels, boosting your sense of wellbeing and your productivity levels.

Goals, plans, and schedules

  • Make an annual date with yourself to set and review the big picture – your five-year, ten-year, and bucket-list goals. Based on these goals, determine your one-year and general monthly goals. Note: your “year” does not have to coincide with the calendar year.
  • At the end of each month, make specific monthly goals and general weekly goals. Review your calendar. If it is too full, evaluate your commitments and eliminate some activities.
  • At the end of each week, make specific weekly goals. Once again, review your calendar, shifting responsibilities and activities evenly throughout the week. Putting in an extreme overload day does not increase your productivity – it depletes you for the next day and actually keeps you from accomplishing as much over all.
  • Each evening, review the next day. Prioritize and set time limits. This allows you to give 100% attention to each task at hand, without neglecting another. Designate specific times for daily task and group like tasks together. This creates greater efficiency. Gather any necessary supplies, information, etc. that will be needed for the day.

Distractions

  • Multi-tasking is actually a distraction. Jumping from one task to another distracts us – instead of making productive, it does the opposite. Research reveals that people who consistently multi-task ultimately diminish their powers of mental organization, developing difficulty switching between tasks, and experiencing a rise in social problems.
  • Social media is tool – your servant. Don’t let it become your master. Set specific times to check email, post blogs, tweet, etc. and discipline yourself to stick to it.
  • Learn to delegate. Get off the super hero syndrome and recognize that you can’t do it all. Do what you do best and delegate (or hire out) the rest to qualified people. Give them the necessary information, deadlines, and tools/authority to accomplish the task.

Productivity is not just about getting the most done. It’s consistently reaching your potential without sacrificing your health or your life. It’s finding balance. Contact Robbins Staffing Solutions. We work hard to best-match our candidates and employees with our clients, enabling everyone to consistently do their best in every aspect.