Working out, eating better, and saving money are all common New Year’s resolutions. As The Productivity Pro, I must ask you to consider improving your productivity in the office. By boosting productivity at work, you can spend less time at your desk and more time outside the office achieving other goals. In fact, the recent Productivity in the Workplace Survey[1] conducted by Fellowes Brands found office workers estimated they could save more than two hours each day if they could work without disruption—that’s more than an entire workday of saved time each week.
Make a preventive assertion. The Fellowes Productivity in the Workplace Survey found almost two-thirds (65 percent) of office workers say last-minute requests affected their productivity. As you look at the year ahead, make an effort to meet with key team members one-on-one each week and review upcoming meetings, tasks, and projects to get a jump on things.
Identify your peak energy periods. Keep track of your daily energy patterns and determine when it’s highest. The recent Productivity in the Workplace survey found morning is the most common time of day when people felt most productive. Hammer out some of your tough tasks during peak energy periods, when your brain functions better.
Plan ahead. If you have back-to-back meetings, bring needed materials with you to avoid running back to your desk in between. Instead, use that time to review notes from the previous meeting or prepare for your next one.
Stay organized. Take time to arrange your desk and have a process for new materials that come through your space. A good shredder can help clear paper piles with confidential information. Fellowes’ 79Ci features Jam Proof technology that eliminates paper jams and powers through tough jobs—a true time-saving solution.
Turn away from social distractions. It can be hard to ignore new pictures and status updates throughout the day. Limit your social media checking to your lunch hour or after work, because the less time you spend ‘checking in,’ the more time you can spend ‘checking out’ —of work.
By implementing these steps into your daily routine, you can set yourself up for a successful, productive year.
[1] Results are based on 661 surveys completed by full-time office employees on behalf of the Fellowes Brands between October 15 and 21, 2014 by Versta Research, Inc. Respondents were drawn from a national research panel and completed the survey online. Assuming no sample bias, the maximum margin of sampling error is +/- 4%.
Laura Stack
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