If you arrive early at the office and are the last one to leave, there might be some ways to improve efficiency. Check out the following time-saving tips to improve efficiency and productivity:
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- If your office allows it, work from home as much as possible. Commuting takes up significant time.
- Put an in-tray on your desk for all incoming papers that require your attention. An in-tray provides a place for documents that will need your attention, but not immediately.
- Report to work early. The body is naturally active between 8 and 10 in the morning. Your best and most effective work gets done in that period.
- When you get to the office, make a to-do list. Do the toughest task(s) ahead of the others. They need more of your energy and focus, which are at the highest level earlier in the day.
- When a project gets sent to you, ask if it’s really a task for you or if someone is merely tossing it onto your list of things to do. Sometimes, you need to speak out to be treated fairly in the workplace.
- Take your lunch a little later. If your momentum carries you through lunch, tackle the task and grab lunch after you’re done with the half-day hustle. The headway you make in the morning will have already put you ahead for the afternoon, when your energy level is much lower.
- Focus on the task, especially if it’s a major one. Multi-tasking is not always productive.
- If you have a say in picking your teammates, choose the go-getters. If you have the misfortune of being paired with a procrastinator, learn to kick some butt.