How to be more productive? 12 tips to perform better

We live in a very competitive world, and this is reflected in all areas, including personnel but especially within the labor market.

Among the many qualities that are usually demanded and appreciated, one of those that companies most take into account is the productivity and efficiency of the subject (how much can he do in the shortest time possible). It is a factor that is taken into account not only in hiring but during the performance of a job. Also, over time this productivity should increase as the person gains experience.

But often we can come to doubt whether we are being productive enough, as well as the intention to improve our efficiency and productivity. How to be more productive? Let's see it throughout this article.

• Related article: "Work and organizational psychology: a profession with a future"

Tips to be more productive

Our productivity and efficiency, whether at work or in any other aspect of our life, depends on a large number of factors.

The motivation we have is one of them, but not the only one

: our ability to organize and concentrate, how we handle the performance of tasks and the ability to accept and react to changes are another of the many elements or factors that influence in her. That is why in order to be more productive and effective, it is useful to take into account the following considerations.

1. What are you going to do today? Plan and organize the day

If what we want is to increase our productivity, the first thing is to organize.

Although in almost all jobs we must be able to adapt to changes and in some areas the plans can change completely in a moment For another, the truth is that it is essential to have a clear idea of ​​what we are going to spend our working time on and how we plan to do it. It can be useful to make a list or a checklist if we need it. In this sense, it is essential not to get overwhelmed: it is possible that we will not finish all the tasks that we had planned.

We must also bear in mind that there will always be unforeseenSo when planning, it would be good to take into account the possibility that something goes wrong, lasts longer than planned or other intermediate tasks arise. It is recommended that we also add half or at least an extra 20% of the calculated time to our approximate calculation of how long it should take to do something.

2. Learn to prioritize

Beyond being clear about what we are going to do throughout the day, in order to improve our productivity it will be necessary for us to be able to prioritize what must be done first: what is the fastest and what is most important (this is why it is so important to organize beforehand and not leave what is most relevant to the final).

Obviously the less urgent and unimportant tasks should be left for later. An exception could be the one that would be thrown if we get stuck with a task or it depends on others finishing theirs, in which case we can go doing other tasks to take advantage of the time, to be able to be simpler, so that we gain confidence and take off work for later.

3. Divide the tasks: make the complex simple

Especially when the task to be undertaken includes a large number of elements and is highly complex, it is convenient to try to separate it into different steps or simpler and shorter subtasks.

In this way we manage to organize ourselves so that the task to be carried out is much more manageable and the level of difficulty involved is reduced.

4. Eliminate distractors

By this we do not mean to isolate yourself completely from the world, but we do mean to try blocking or removing stimuli that may attract your attention when you are busy with something else.

For example, put on headphones to cancel out ambient noise if you work with a computer, remove things you do not need from the table, or works in places where temperature, light and noise are as stable as possible and without generating interruptions. Do not work in front of a television (unless it is part of your job), put your mobile aside and do not check the mail every five minutes.

5. One thing at a time

It is natural and very common that while we are carrying out a task we are thinking about how we will do the next, and even that we try to do several things at the same time. With the possible exception of the simplest, it usually doesn't work: multitasking is the best way to go. doing them wrong and having to repeat them, in addition to being able to invest fewer resources in each of the tasks and slow you down.

So the most advisable thing (except with automated tasks), is focus on one thing at a time so that we can direct our full attention and resources to getting it done, something that will undoubtedly allow it to be carried out in a more agile and productive way.

6. Accept your mistakes and learn from them

We all make mistakes at times, as much as it may bother us to admit it. But people who get caught up in them and are unable to accept them will see their productivity greatly diminished. To err is human, and it is an opportunity to learn.

In this sense, we must also comment that noticing mistakes is fine, but if we want to improve our productivity we must also try to find methods to supply them or otherwise we could fall again and again in them.

Thus, one way to improve our productivity is first of all to value and analyze where we went wrong or which parts of our work are weak the most in order to be able to work on them. It is about learning from experience and being able to act accordingly, without tormenting ourselves but assuming our responsibility.

7. Take little pauses

Human beings cannot be constantly focused on a task, since our mental resources are limited. Although it may seem contrary to the idea of ​​increasing productivity, it is advisable to take short breaks of a few minutes from time to time. so that our energy level can be maintained longer by restoring from time to time.

However, these stops should be short and not excessively frequent, and should not be done when you are fully focused on a task. Approximately a five to ten minute break for every hour would be best.

8. Train your skills and train

An important point when it comes to increasing productivity goes through the idea of ​​training one's own abilities through various means. Elements such as discipline, the ability to react, flexibility and willpower can come to develop through techniques such as Mindfulness, physical exercise or the practice of stimulation exercises cognitive.

It is also of interest train continuously, learning about the field in which we are working even if it is not required. With this we could get to learn new techniques or methods that can improve our effectiveness and performance, in addition to being an added value for our company.

9. Recognize and reward yourself

It is important to value and recognize our effort and our work, even if we consider that what we have done is simple. We are not saying that we do an exercise in narcissism, but we are saying that we allow ourselves to feel satisfied with ourselves if we believe that we have given the best of ourselves.

It is also recommended be able to reinforce yourself and reward yourself with positive comments, doing pleasant activities for us at the end of the day or even indulging ourselves from time to time.

• You may be interested: "Types of motivation: the 8 motivational sources"

10. Eat and sleep well

A very important point to improve productivity is to eat and sleep correctly. Good nutrition and enough hours of sleep can allow us to perform at our best, while that lack of sleep, being hungry or not being well nourished will greatly reduce our potential measure.

11. Disconnect outside of work

Most of us have stressful lives marked by deadlines., objectives or time limits, something that although for some it is stimulating in the long run can reduce our energy and affect our productivity.

In addition to this, we must remember that we are not only our work, but that work is only one of the facets of our life.

It is important to be where we are at work, but it is also important to be able to disconnect from it when we are not in the office / office / workplace. Rest and take care of our personal life and our leisure (It does not hurt to have a hobby) it is something necessary that allows us to balance our energies in such a way that we can have them when we are in the work environment, increasing our ability to be productive.

12. Recognize your own limits

It may be the most counterintuitive item of all listed in this article, but it is It is true that being able to know what our limits are helps us to improve our productivity.

In this sense, first of all recognize what resources we have and how far we can go It helps us to plan, as well as not to assume an excess of tasks and demands that we cannot cover and that in the long run lead to oversaturation, frustration and loss of productivity.

Likewise, the fact of having them located allows us to also try to train and promote our resources at an appropriate pace for the time to gradually increase our capacity as much as possible and thus assume more responsibilities without reducing our productivity

Bibliographic references:

• Nelson, D. (1980). Frederick W. Taylor and the Rise of Scientific Management. University of Wisconsin Press.