How to Increase Productivity at Work Infographic

How to Increase Productivity at Work Infographic

Everyone wants to be more productive. The How to Increase Productivity at Work Infographic explains science-based ways to be more productive. All of them are simple to do and free.

1. Don’t work overtime.
In most companies, productivity and loyalty are measured by how many hours an employee spends at their desk. Judging loyalty and productivity by hours worked is the wrong attitude to have, as research clearly shows that it lowers performance and causes mental and physical health issues. Working longer hours increases your risk of depression.

2. Stop multitasking.
Even though the economy is improving slightly, workers are expected to do more with less, leading to multitasking. As tempting as this might be for a manager in the short-term, it is not good for the long run. The research showed that productivity can be reduced by as much as 40 percent by the mental blocks created when people switch tasks.

3. Try to get natural light.
Many people might not have the luxury of being able to sit near a window, but for them I’d say try and go outside as much as you can. Research shows that getting that natural light from a window will lead to a better night’s sleep. When you get a better night’s sleep, you’ll come in well rested the next day and be much more productive.

4. Learn to say no.
In order to have the best return for your investment of time on tasks, you need to prioritize and stay laser-focused. There’s no way that you could accomplish everything on your to-do list, and every little interruption costs you time. Learn how to say no to things that won’t have a significant return for you, and focus your efforts where it will make a difference.

5. Don’t be a perfectionist.
Over the years, there have been several studies that have found links between perfectionism and mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, drug addiction, and increased suicide risk. Studies have also found links between perfectionism and physical problems like asthma, migraines, and irritable bowel syndrome. This is most likely due to the amount of stress perfectionists place on themselves. If you’re a perfectionist, you need to learn to relax and let things go. It’s very likely that you will burnout because perfectionists are never satisfied, so they’re always overworking. Seriously, just relax.

6. Take time to think.
In a four-year study, researchers tracked the work habits of employees at the Boston Consulting Group. In the experiment, consultants scheduled one weekly night of uninterrupted personal time, even though they were used to working from home in the evenings. Everyone on the team resisted at first, thinking they would only be postponing work.
Over time, the consultants learned to love their scheduled time off because it consistently refreshed them, and made them more willing to work, which made them more productive overall. After five months, the employees in the experiment were more satisfied with their jobs, more likely to envision a long-term future at the company, more content with their work-life balance and prouder of their accomplishments.

7. Go for a walk.
The effects of sitting all day at work take a serious toll on your health. Sitting has been called the new smoking, and it’s encouraged to get up and walk at a minimum every 30 minutes. Walking meetings are a great idea, because they make you more creative and take you out of your usual context, which helps you come up with new ideas.

8. Take a nap.
Naps have been proven to recharge your brain, which is perfect for that afternoon energy crash we all experience. Many progressive companies have nap pods in their offices because they understand the value of their employees being well-rested to be at maximum productivity.

9. Work In Sprints
Many of us will ignore what our bodies are trying to tell us and try and eat or grab another coffee to power through the day. This is the wrong way to go about working. We need to take time to rest and recuperate, to come back feeling fresh and ready to go.