Now that you’re sitting down to think about resolutions and goals for 2021, maybe one of them is to be more efficient at work. If so, here are some tips to help you get started.
Flow
Set clear goals that are challenging and at the same time attainable, with deadlines. Having a clear deadline is important because you’ll have a certain pressure to finish ahead of time. You will be centered on the task at hand and will achieve a mental state of flow, which is when you really get the work done because you’re fully focused on what you’re doing. And finishing a task ahead of time makes you feel good!
Break down big things into little things
A sense of progress boosts positive feelings and makes you more motivated to complete other tasks, so instead of setting a major goal that seems far away, set smaller goals that are easier to achieve. This way you’ll feel accomplished every day several times a day, and your morale and motivation will increase.
Social facilitation
Defined as an improvement in individual performance when working with other people rather than alone, it usually results in an increased level of individual effort. When working with and around others, your level of engagement, positive stress, and speed increase, and you’ll work harder and faster, reaching goals and feeling great!
Work in sprints
Know and learn how to use your body’s natural energy rhythms – cycles of about 120 hours where energy is high during the first 90 minutes, then drops for about 30 minutes. Work for an hour and a half on the important stuff, then “rest” for 30 minutes, doing less important things. During those 90 minutes, you should work in sprints of 20-25 minutes, then spend 5 minutes recharging batteries. These short breaks help you restore focus.
Use white noise to concentrate
If you get easily distracted by background noise in the office or at home, invest in a pair of noise-cancelling headphones and play white noise (not music). According to studies, this type of constant sound at a moderate level boosts performance and allows you to concentrate on what you’re doing.
Don’t be a perfectionist
Winston Churchill stated that “perfection is the enemy of progress.” Don’t overthink, don’t triple check your work, and tell your inner critic that your work is fine. Refining and rechecking your work will only get you marginal improvements and will exhaust you mentally. Focus on delivering good work and meeting deadlines – after all, a perfect report turned in late will only make your boss angry.
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