HappyLifestyleJournal
Frequently it happens that we become a little disorganized and then we can’t seem to get everything done as we planned. But why would we spend a few more hours in the office in order to do everything, when we can simply organize ourselves a little better and be more effective. Some bosses really appreciate when their employees come into the office early and go home late – they see it as a sign of commitment. And although there are people who really have a lot of commitments, and even with great time management skills they can’t accomplish everything in just one work day, there are more of us who simply don’t organize our time well and then have to stay at work for a longer time. Do you check your Facebook or text your partner while you’re supposed to be working? Is your desk in a mess and you can’t always immediately find what you’re looking for? Do you catch yourself staring through the window and fantasizing about the future? They don’t say – that work should be done at the office, and when you get home you should deal with your personal life – without a good reason. Once you learn the following strategies, you won’t have to spend extra hours working anymore – you’ll be able to get everything done on time, more effectively and productively.
1. Stick to the rules
If working hours at your office are fixed, stick to the rules and arrive at the office on time. If you’re supposed to work for eight hours, make sure you don’t stay longer, but also make sure you’ve done everything you were supposed to in that time. If your work hours are flexible and it’s not really important when you come, as long as you get things done, make a schedule for yourself and make it a routine to start and finish working at the same time every day. This will prevent you from delaying the starting of work, and it will make you more motivated to finish on time.
2. Make the non-negotiable work stuff your priority
Even if your working schedule is flexible, some things are not. For instance, if you decided to start your work day at 10 A.M. but your project manager arranged a 9 A.M. meeting at the office, make it your business to show up. Teach yourself to be more responsible, and write your appointments into your calendar, so you’d be reminded not to miss them.
3. Think about the time you’re the most productive
If your working hours are flexible, you can make that go into your favor. When are you the most productive? Do you work better early in the morning, or later in the afternoon? If your job allows you to, organize your working hours so that you are able to do the best job in as little time as possible. Of course, you first need to know yourself well, in order to determine which time of the day suits you best. Once you’ve figured it out, make sure you notify your co-workers when you’ll be available and why you made the decision. Also, consult your supervisor and check whether they agree that you should be working at times that are best for you. But make sure that you’re consistent, and once you determine what your working hours will be, stick to them.
4. At work, really work
It is really easy to get distracted while working. But if you’ve decided that you want to work faster and become more productive and effective, you have to get rid of distractions and focus on what you’re doing. This means that you should let everyone know that you’re working and not to be disturbed. Switch off the sound on your phone (if your job doesn’t require you to be available at all times) so that no sounds would make you lose focus. Stay away from social networks, texting and talking on the phone. Really commit to what you’re doing, and you’ll see that you’re doing everything much faster.
5. When you finish working, commit to yourself
People who take their work home and constantly think about their work obligations never really have the time to rest. But rest is very important in order for your mind to relax and refresh. If you’re constantly thinking about work, you can never really spend your free time the way you should. So do all your work at the office, and once you get home forget about it until tomorrow. This way you’ll be fresh and rested when you go to work the next day, and you’ll most likely do a better job, faster.
