A looming deadline and a task you’ve been dreading for weeks can kill office productivity. Instead of letting procrastination dictate your work outcome, follow these few tips to ward off distractions, focus clearly on the task, and get through your day –and the task at hand –without a nervous breakdown.
1. Size up the assignment. Nothing causes more distraction than not knowing what actually needs to be done. Many times, the task is much smaller than your mind has made it out to be. Fix this by laying out all of the details of the project –even the tiny ones –and then set a reasonable deadline to complete the task.
2. Set a timer. Remember when you were a kid and your mom would challenge you to clean your room in less than 10 minutes? You loved the challenge so much that the task suddenly became a game and was no longer a chore. Even though we’re not kids anymore, the challenge still applies. Try setting a timer and force yourself to work consistently for a 15-20 minute interval, and then reward yourself with a break.
3. Eliminate all distractions. Working for 15-20 minute intervals is easier said than done when you have email and Facebook open and your phone right by your side. For those minutes, close all the unneeded tabs and put your phone in another room.
With just these few tips, you’ll be surprised at how much can be accomplished through out your day, and how much less stressful a task you’ve been dreading becomes.
Were these productivity tips helpful? Do you have your own tips to help tackle procrastination? Please share your input in the comments section!
Until next time,
Yours truly,
Tommy Antonopoulos, Blogger for OfficeTime
PS: Get your no-cost trial the desktop version of our Time Tracking Solution at OfficeTime.net
PPS: How do you use OfficeTime? Let us know – or share your own best time management tips – and get featured in our blog!