Two Tips for Staying Productive and Effective in the Workplace

Julie Shenkman
Posted by


For many administrative professionals, productivity is difficult to achieve on a regular basis. From constant employee requests to the call of social media, the modern workplace is not always conducive to concentrated effort. With a few simple tweaks to your everyday routine, you can stay productive and increase overall effectiveness.

Get More Sleep

During the course of a normal day, administrative professionals often handle a wide range of tasks for a wide range of people. To stay productive and juggle each task without dropping the ball, you must maintain a high level of focus. When you're running on just a few hours of sleep, it is more difficult to handle a varied workload and perform each task with maximum accuracy. If you're struggling to stay productive at work, start by getting a full night's sleep.

When it comes to increasing your productivity at work, sleep is a more powerful force than you might think. After just a few nights without sleep, your performance starts to suffer, and it becomes more difficult to concentrate and make decisions. A lack of sleep also leads to negative health side effects, which make it more difficult to complete your job responsibilities each day. With seven to eight hours of sleep each night, you can enjoy better health and enhanced mental clarity, making it easier to stay productive during the day.

Take Personal Time

No one is a machine; no matter how dedicated you are to your job, you cannot stay focused and productive every moment of the day. In fact, attempting to do so often leads to burnout. To improve your overall effectiveness, build small blocks of personal time into each day. Take a 10-minute walk around the block midmorning, for example, or get away from your computer for a cup of coffee. These small breaks give your brain a chance to process and reset, so you can handle the next task with renewed energy and concentration.

Many administrative workers deal with repetitive tasks like paperwork and processing, which are often draining enough to sap your will to stay productive. On these days, build casual human interaction into your personal time. Sit in the kitchen and chat with colleagues, visit a friend at his desk or call a loved one. These small conversations can help you wake up from a paperwork fog and prevent you from burning out. As an added benefit, they create stronger relationships with colleagues, making it easier to find resources within the company when you need insight or assistance.

When you take care of your physical and mental well-being, it is easier to stay productive during the day. By staying proactive and planning ahead, you can boost concentration and become a more effective employee.

(Photo courtesy of imagerymajestic at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

Comment

Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.

  • You Might Also Be Interested In

Jobs to Watch