5 Controllable Productivity Stranglers

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Did you know, that according to Salary.com, workers admit that at least 2 hours of every workday are wasted? In addition, a recent Microsoft Office survey found workers feel unproductive for as much as a third of their workweek. Every environment has roadblocks that hinder productivity. But don't despair-- you can work around most of them, coming out more productive and even ahead of the game.

1. Keep it Clean
Productivity coach, Peggy Duncan, says sifting through a cluttered desk wastes 1.5 hours per day. The simple adage "a place for everything and everything in it's place" is a great motto when tackling a messy workstation. If things don't have a "home" they'll get shuffled around and continue to land on top of your desk cluttering the items that you actually need.  If you don't have enough space to put all your tools away, consider another filing cabinet or desktop storage bins. The cost will be negated by the upgraded productivity an orderly work area encourages.

2. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff
Every job has little tasks that have to get done--those 5-minute things that you want to put off until you have "time" to do them. It's been proven that the mental energy and stop/start time takes up to 20 minutes per task, so if you can handle something in less than 5 minutes do it now. Those things tend to sit in the back of your mind clouding up the space that you need for your real work, the things that you enjoy and are great at. To get them completed and out of your headspace, block off a designated amount of time first thing in the morning to tackle them. Give yourself an hour to respond to emails, check your calendar, handle filing, or any other important but time-sucking jobs. Now your mind is clear to attack big challenges without being distracted.

3. Mind Your Mind
If you've been at your job for a while, there's a good chance innovations have occurred in your field that could save you time and increase your productivity. It's easy to get stuck in the rut of doing only what you know. So while learning new methods or technology can feel overwhelming, remember that even little upgrades can save you time and streamline your workflow. Seth Godin, a well-respected entrepreneur wrote, " Can you imagine someone who works in a factory that processes metal not knowing how to use a blowtorch?" What are the tools of your trade, and how efficiently are you using them?

4. Creature Comforts
Do you ever find yourself getting up just to get out of the chair? Comfortable furniture can keep you in one place longer with fewer concentration breaks. Something as simple as a chair has the potential to substantially increase your productivity. The shipping gurus at UPS tried stand-sit workstations in one of their data entry offices and found productivity increased by over 17%. Body Discomfort ratings also improved by 28% in those offices. Taking time to get out of your chair for a few minutes at the right times can positively affect your work. Tony Schwartz in his book "The 90 Minute Solution: Live Like a Sprinter" suggests that you "work in 90 minute bursts like you are sprinting in a race. Pick an activity and completely focus on that activity for a full 90 minutes. At the end of the 90 minutes, take a break. This could be taking a walk, breathing deeply, stretching, a 10 minute nap – but something that will allow you to rejuvenate and be ready for the next sprint."

5. Turn it Off
Cell phones and email have had an incredible impact on the business world--but the accessibility these tools provide comes with a price. In their book, "Rework", Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson suggest that "interruption is the enemy of productivity". Being unavailable all of the time is a bad practice, but having a dedicated amount of "Airplane Mode" time is important to really getting things done. Close your email, turn off your cell phone, and dig in to your work.