Everyone has bad working days, but if you feel like you’ve gotten into the habit of being unproductive, it may be time to reevaluate your behavior. Here are 9 of the worst mistakes people make that lead to unproductive behavior.
1. Having a cluttered workspace.
If your desk is overrun with knickknacks, various pieces of paper, stacks of books, or anything other than what is absolutely necessary, it can be really hard to get things done. Try filing things away in a cabinet or storage box, or even throwing some of those unnecessary items away. Keeping only what’s vital on your desk can really save you time and stress.
2. Social networking.
It can be tempting to leave Facebook, Twitter, or any other social network open in a tab on your computer. Unfortunately this can really cut down on how much work you’re really getting done. Checking these sites, even for only a couple of minutes at a time, can add up and cause seriously unproductive behavior. What’s more, it’s very hard to go to these sites and not get pulled in for more time than what you had originally planned on. Leave them be and wait until later to update your status.
3. Not getting enough sleep.
People who sleep 7-9 hours a night wake up feeling more energetic and focused, which makes getting things done much easier. If you’re suffering from sleepiness during the day, your productivity can slow down and your work can become careless. If you’re not getting at least 7 hours of sleep at night, try getting to bed earlier. Productivity increases when you are well-rested.
4. Not napping.
If you do get enough sleep at night, but it still isn’t sufficient to get you through the day, taking a power nap could do you a world of good. Keep the nap under twenty minutes to ensure that you wake up refreshed, but don’t have trouble going to sleep when it’s time for bed later that night.
5. Not eating healthy.
Food is what we use to fuel our bodies. Without proper nutrition, we can start to feel sluggish. Make sure to eat breakfast before going to work, as this is what will really get you going at the start of the day. Make sure to listen to your body and eat a snack if you need to. Packing your lunch is another great way to ensure that your body is getting the nutrients it needs.
6. Not prioritizing.
Without priorities, it can be hard to decide what to work on at what time. By ranking your assignments in order of most to least important, you can save time on mulling over what to work on next. Take some time at the start of each work day and determine what is the most important task of that day. Sorting out your priorities before you start working can make the day go a lot smoother.
7. Not making a “to do” list.
It may sound like a no-brainer, but lists can really help you stay on track. By making a list of things that need to be done, you’re ensuring that those things get done on time. Writing tasks down can also help hold you accountable, thus making it more likely that you will complete them.
8. Procrastinating.
Once you put something off, you’re more likely to continue putting it off. Break the habit now and get things done when they need to get done, not when you feel like doing them (which, when you procrastinate, is never!).
9. Not asking for help.
There is no shame in needing help with something. Sometimes we put off getting a task done because there is some confusion, or something we aren’t sure how to do. If you’re not sure how to do something, or need clarification, you can save yourself a lot of wasted time and effort by simply asking someone for help.
Featured photo credit: Lars Plougmann via photopin.com
