We’re all familiar with the feeling of having an unproductive day at work and the guilt and lethargy that follow. Even though catching a break from the monotonous daily work life is also an essential part of having a healthy life, it is also important that your workdays are productive overall. That’s necessary not just for the sake of the work not getting piled up and becoming a Herculean task later but also because having a proper work-life balance is an essential part of any individual’s overall well-being. It’s a crucial part of the WorkWell philosophy at Max Estates. In fact, according to a Statista survey, 26% of the US workforce whose experience was impacted by symptoms like stress and burnout, feel that they are still achieving way less than they should. It is a no-brainer for both employees and employers that a healthy work-life balance is maintained.
This problem of non-productivity has compounded even further due to the Covid-19 lockdown, forcing most organizations to shift to a remote working model. Due to the lack of proper office infrastructure and ergonomics, the challenge of getting work done on time effectively and efficiently can be crippling. Sure, there’s the greater good to consider too, which is why the lockdown is observed as far as practicable, which makes attaining a proper routine for a productive workday.
On that note, here are 5 tips that can help you optimize your workday in a productive one:
Factors that affect your productivity and tips to boost the same
1. Find a workplace that inspires you
With nearly half the human brain responsible for processing visual information, it’s not surprising that aesthetics play a large role in whatever we do, especially involving work – which takes up most of our day. Working in a dull or boring looking office space can adversely affect your enthusiasm to work.
Not only should your workspace have ideal ergonomics to facilitate work, but it should also be a place for healthy discourse, motivation, and full of positivity.
Even if you are working from home, you must set up a separate workspace that is functional and inspiring.
You can ensure there is adequate lighting and space and adding personal touches like placing family photos, small indoor plants, or even motivational quotes. All of this will positively affect your will to work.
2. Different devices for different tasks
This is especially important when work from home is gaining so much popularity. Having a separate work laptop and work phone ensures that you do not get distracted by something like a family group chat on WhatsApp or a new inviting Netflix series during your work hours.
3. Delegate and Share the Workload
While working on personal productivity is certainly a goal to chase, it is equally pivotal not to overwork and burn yourself out. As a leader, or even as a team member, consider planning and distributing tasks equitably amongst coworkers to ensure that you don’t feel overburdened. Of course, make sure that your output still meets qualitative benchmarks.
4. Focus on your health
The phrase “health is wealth”, couldn’t be any more true than in 2020. But that doesn’t mean it’s lacked any historical validation. Several studies conducted have demonstrated empirical proof of the relationship between the individual health condition and overall productivity. For instance, a study conducted by Brigham Young University in 2015 concluded that absenteeism was reduced by 27% when individuals followed a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercising and eating healthy foods.
Professionals should focus not only on their physical health but also their mental health. A healthy mind resides in a healthy body, so superior productivity at work is an obvious outcome.
A quick run in the morning or a 25-minute mid-day cardio session or Zumba lesson can go a long way to ensure that you feel more invigorated throughout the day.
5. A healthy balance between Work from Home and family time
A study conducted by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work concluded that as much as 50% of Europe’s workforce felt that family and work time demands overlapped due to their work commitments. The India@Work report, which surveyed hundreds of Gen-Y professionals across India’s sectors and designations, had 90% of employees indicating that a flexible work environment was important to them.
Of course, family life is also equally important to individuals. In fact, in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, it’s the 2nd most basic need for any individual.
Therefore, some part of your daily routine must be dedicated to spending quality time with family. It doesn’t have to be anything monumental, even an evening tea session in the living room or having all your meals together strictly without distractions goes a long way in strengthening familial bonds.
This should also be coupled with more fun activities over the weekend, such as a movie marathon, or even a small staycation, every once in a while.
Conclusion
Even though there is no quick fix for being productive at work, each person has their own system to deal with productivity at work; these tips will surely nudge you in the right direction.
