Six Effective Ways To Increase Productivity In The Workplace

My most valuable lessons gained from spending seven years in a highly self-dependent work environment

Imagine leaving work, knowing that you’ve done all that there is to do. Every day you leave with a renewed sense of energy and vigor. People begin to notice your effectiveness in the workplace and, as they do, the promotions begin to pile up. Soon, before you know it, you’ll be working your way up the corporate ladder, achieving success that some can only dream of.

Having and sustaining a high level of productivity isn’t easy, which is why I’m writing this post. My goal is to equip you with the tools necessary to excel in the workplace, accomplish your largest tasks, and still have enough energy to live the rest of your life.

Try incorporating at least one of these tips to increase your productivity at work and in life.

Plan Out Your Day In Advance

“An hour of planning can save you 10 hours of doing” — Dale Carnegie

It’s easy for tasks to pile up at work, making it seem almost impossible to get anything done. When this happens, it’s ever more so crucial that you plan out your day.

I work in a highly self-dependent sales environment. Each month we’re given certain sales metrics to hit, as well as daily tasks to accomplish. Besides that, however, we’re thrown into a highly competitive environment, with nobody there to tell you what to do.

I had to learn to plan out my day and delegate my priorities.

Start By Writing Down Your Top Three Priorities For The Day

These should be the tasks that bring most of the results in the workplace. For instance, cold-calling is well-known to be the most important task for any salesperson. You have to bring in clients before you can make a sale. Yet, generally speaking, the most rewarding tasks are the hardest to do.

It’s not that I dislike cold-calling, but I’d sure be a heck of a lot happier if I didn’t have to do them, which is exactly why they’re the first thing I do every morning.

Create A Morning Routine

The way you spend your morning determines how the rest of your day goes — in life and work. Set yourself up for success by becoming intentional about your actions.

Ask yourself, what’s the first thing you do in the morning?

Do you check your emails, open Facebook, or — worst of all — hit snooze until it’s almost time for work?

Or do you spend the first part of your morning reading, writing in your journal, exercising — preparing yourself for the day ahead of you?

Start today.

Plan out a morning routine, and stick to it.

Your routine should prepare you for the day ahead. Eat something healthy, drink plenty of water, write in your journal, and visualize the day ahead of you.

Say No To Unnecessary Meetings

For the love of God, say no.

The last thing I want to do is wake up before the crack of dawn, haul myself into my barely working Toyota, drive thirty minutes, just to be told that our metrics are low and we need to get it together.

In fact — you’ll agree with me here — over ninety percent of the meetings you attend could be typed into a neatly organized long-form email and distributed throughout the company for everyone to read on their own time.

Unless your jobs on the line, say no. There’s plenty of other ways to contribute to your company, and, in the end, your bosses will thank you. As long as you use that time to do something productive — be it cold-calling or preparing for the day ahead with your morning routine — skipping those meetings might actually give you extra time — and leverage — to do what others aren’t.

Turn Off Notifications

I work in cellular sales, so it’s safe to say that I always have my phone on me. Yet, I only use it when necessary. I make it a habit to turn off all of my notifications — besides anything work-related — before heading out.

When you’re working, your attention should remain 100% on the task at hand. Don’t let your friends, games, or social media get in the way of you and your success. If you can, leave the dang thing at home or locked up in the backroom.

Find Meaning In What You Do For Work

“Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else” — James M. Barrie

Those who excel in the workplace love what they do for a living. Even if you don’t plan to stay where you are forever, you should always find meaning in what you do. If you truly enjoy what you do for work, then is it even really work?

Find a reason to become passionate about what you do, and you’ll become more likely to do it.

Every job will have its upsides and downsides, yet, finding joy in the ups will make it easier to handle the not-so-great stuff — and if you really don’t like what you do, then maybe it’s time to leave and find something else.

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it” — Steve Jobs

Those who apply these methods are three times more likely to excel at work — and in life — than those who don’t. These are the steps that are necessary and essential to perform at a high level of productivity in the workplace. Start today by applying at least one of these methods into your life. Create a morning routine, schedule your day in advance, and knock out your top three priorities before doing anything else.