"Clean All the Things"
September 5, 2011 3:13 AM Subscribe
The little things you do that keep you at the top of your game at work.
My productivity levels at work seem to veer wildly around from one extreme to the other depending on a variety of different factors, some of which aren't in my control and some of which are. (These include:
(1) If I've had a chance to eat breakfast
(2) If a deadline is looming, but not TOO close
(3) If my colleagues aren't being annoying / are out of the office
(4) If I only have 1 major thing to work on
(5) If it's Friday. Man I am so awesome... at 4pm on a Friday when I know I can go home soon.)
So I thought I'd ask the good people of AskMeFi what you do to get your productivity consistently high throughout the day or week. This could be general lifestyle or something more specifically work-related. Really what I'm looking for is a way to keep my productivity consistent, because right now I'm Superman one day and randomly surfing the internet all of the next day.
(With regards to personal stuff - errands, housework, and writing, I have the same issues with productivity - sometimes I'm ON FIRE!!! and sometimes not.)
My productivity levels at work seem to veer wildly around from one extreme to the other depending on a variety of different factors, some of which aren't in my control and some of which are. (These include:
(1) If I've had a chance to eat breakfast
(2) If a deadline is looming, but not TOO close
(3) If my colleagues aren't being annoying / are out of the office
(4) If I only have 1 major thing to work on
(5) If it's Friday. Man I am so awesome... at 4pm on a Friday when I know I can go home soon.)
So I thought I'd ask the good people of AskMeFi what you do to get your productivity consistently high throughout the day or week. This could be general lifestyle or something more specifically work-related. Really what I'm looking for is a way to keep my productivity consistent, because right now I'm Superman one day and randomly surfing the internet all of the next day.
(With regards to personal stuff - errands, housework, and writing, I have the same issues with productivity - sometimes I'm ON FIRE!!! and sometimes not.)
1) Installed LeechBlock to limit random internet surfing
2) ToDo lists - I keep a notebook next to my computer where I write down everything that needs to be done, organise them by priority and break down the larger tasks into smaller jobs then make a smaller list of things I should be able to achieve within a set period of time (either the whole day or before lunch and then repeat after lunch) and cross things out as I get them done.
posted by missmagenta at 3:39 AM on September 5, 2011
2) ToDo lists - I keep a notebook next to my computer where I write down everything that needs to be done, organise them by priority and break down the larger tasks into smaller jobs then make a smaller list of things I should be able to achieve within a set period of time (either the whole day or before lunch and then repeat after lunch) and cross things out as I get them done.
posted by missmagenta at 3:39 AM on September 5, 2011
Something that really helps me is writing out a little to-do-next list at the end of the day. That way when I get back to work the next day (or especially after more time off) I can avoid spending a foggy morning wondering where I am and what I'm doing there.
posted by thirteenkiller at 3:43 AM on September 5, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by thirteenkiller at 3:43 AM on September 5, 2011 [5 favorites]
Take breaks.
If something is not going well, or I can't focus, it's time for me to take a coffee break, a quick stroll outside, or to chat with one of my colleagues for a moment or two. I come back to it 10 minutes later, and I can usually get it worked out better than when I left.
posted by zizzle at 3:46 AM on September 5, 2011
If something is not going well, or I can't focus, it's time for me to take a coffee break, a quick stroll outside, or to chat with one of my colleagues for a moment or two. I come back to it 10 minutes later, and I can usually get it worked out better than when I left.
posted by zizzle at 3:46 AM on September 5, 2011
0) Have been exercising
0b) and meditating
0c) and eating food that's good for me, at regular intervals.
This one almost trumps all the other ones, although I agree with them.
Exercise.
Sometimes I work best when I can get out of the office for a day. I can be really really REALLY productive when I'm working at a cafe or a library.
But most of all, exercise.
posted by krilli at 5:02 AM on September 5, 2011
0b) and meditating
0c) and eating food that's good for me, at regular intervals.
This one almost trumps all the other ones, although I agree with them.
Exercise.
Sometimes I work best when I can get out of the office for a day. I can be really really REALLY productive when I'm working at a cafe or a library.
But most of all, exercise.
posted by krilli at 5:02 AM on September 5, 2011
Things that help me, in no particular order:
1) waking up early (to either work or exercise)
2) having a clean desk
3) having a to-do list (I have to change 'systems' a couple of times a year)
4) routine
5) managing my inbox (instead of it managing me)
6) finishing one key task first thing in the day
7) one day a week I work late - the office is quiet, I don't need to rush home at the end of the day and the luxury of knowing I have all that time allows me to focus on 'important' things the whole day. It's almost always an insanely productive day even though it usually only amounts to an extra 2 or 3 hours of work.
Good luck!
posted by HopStopDon'tShop at 7:36 AM on September 5, 2011
1) waking up early (to either work or exercise)
2) having a clean desk
3) having a to-do list (I have to change 'systems' a couple of times a year)
4) routine
5) managing my inbox (instead of it managing me)
6) finishing one key task first thing in the day
7) one day a week I work late - the office is quiet, I don't need to rush home at the end of the day and the luxury of knowing I have all that time allows me to focus on 'important' things the whole day. It's almost always an insanely productive day even though it usually only amounts to an extra 2 or 3 hours of work.
Good luck!
posted by HopStopDon'tShop at 7:36 AM on September 5, 2011
nth-ing a to do list. Sometimes the to do list isn't enough for me, and I have to enhance it by either: a) explicitly writing priority numbers next to all of the items (ie do THIS first, then THIS, and then THAT), and/or b) breaking tasks down into even smaller subtasks. I find that the biggest obstacle to my getting things done at work is usually not being exactly sure what to do at any given moment, so I end up floating back and forth between tasks, half starting one thing, checking on another, but never really settling down and just doing the damn thing until I've used a detailed to do list to really commit to the task at hand.
I drink a LOT of water or decaf tea during the workday. It keeps me taking regular breaks (both bathroom and refill) and makes me feel good and healthy so I can focus.
If you're a coffee drinker, I've found great success in training myself to use coffee as a specialized tool, rather than a habit. In other words, I don't allow myself to fall into a routine of drinking coffee every morning. Instead, I have a cup on those days when I feel like I can't get anything done and am just browsing the internet. It helps me get back on track because I'm still pretty sensitive to its effects.
posted by telegraph at 9:00 AM on September 5, 2011
I drink a LOT of water or decaf tea during the workday. It keeps me taking regular breaks (both bathroom and refill) and makes me feel good and healthy so I can focus.
If you're a coffee drinker, I've found great success in training myself to use coffee as a specialized tool, rather than a habit. In other words, I don't allow myself to fall into a routine of drinking coffee every morning. Instead, I have a cup on those days when I feel like I can't get anything done and am just browsing the internet. It helps me get back on track because I'm still pretty sensitive to its effects.
posted by telegraph at 9:00 AM on September 5, 2011
I also take breaks when I feel like I'm just spinning my wheels. It helps me reset and come back more focused.
It also helps to complete tasks in the order they're given to me. This doesn't always work for BIG PROJECTS, but is a great stress reliever for repetitive, day-to-day responsibilities. That way, when I have 10 people barking up my tree, my response is consistent - "I'm working on items received on Monday, you're item is from Wednesday, and I will get to it as soon as I can."
Use noise reducing headphones if regular office noise hinders your focus. You don't even have to listen to anything, if music or podcasts would distract you further.
posted by youngergirl44 at 10:39 AM on September 5, 2011
It also helps to complete tasks in the order they're given to me. This doesn't always work for BIG PROJECTS, but is a great stress reliever for repetitive, day-to-day responsibilities. That way, when I have 10 people barking up my tree, my response is consistent - "I'm working on items received on Monday, you're item is from Wednesday, and I will get to it as soon as I can."
Use noise reducing headphones if regular office noise hinders your focus. You don't even have to listen to anything, if music or podcasts would distract you further.
posted by youngergirl44 at 10:39 AM on September 5, 2011
When I go home, I write a little note to myself explaining what to do next, and I put it on my keyboard so that I find it in the morning. This gets me going straight away, and saves on a good half hour of faffing around.
posted by emilyw at 12:36 PM on September 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by emilyw at 12:36 PM on September 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
For me, its a "to do" list. I maintain a text file which I add things to as I think of them. Mostly small tasks that, if I find I'm either in indecision mode (so many things to do! What should I do next? Oh theres too many to focus on!) or in waste time mode I just open the file and take on a small task and finish it.
That small sense of accomplishment usually gets me going.
posted by Admira at 6:41 PM on September 5, 2011
That small sense of accomplishment usually gets me going.
posted by Admira at 6:41 PM on September 5, 2011
Sorry, maybe I'm missing the point, but I don't see the problem here. You can't be superman all the time, it doesn't work that way.
Some people work consistently through all their work at the same speed. Some people work in bursts. I'm the latter (sounds like you're the same) so I don't understand the former. When I'm on a roll, I get SO much done, it's great! But a few hours later, I need downtime. Often a long period of downtime. I can have a super-productive morning, but then after about 2.30pm, I've lost interest.
For me, the key is to be on a roll more than I'm in downtime. Good sleep, exercise and working at home / comandeering a meeting room to work without distractions all help keep that "on a roll" mood alive longer.
But I also make sure that I make best use of my downtime. I do what I call Friday afternoon tasks (also known as hangover tasks). The slightly mundane stuff that you can do on autopilot. I never do them when I'm on a roll. I save them for when I'm in downtime. They don't require much motivation because they don't require much thought. They also tend to be the kind of things that aren't deadline focussed. I never do these things when I'm on a roll (sometime's it's tempting, but I resist the temptation) - it would be a waste of that energy and focus!
If you do find the solution to being superman 24/7, let me know! But in the meantime, don't beat yourself up about the variation - work with it rather than trying to fight it - chances are you'll still end up more productive than most of your work colleagues... Good luck!
posted by finding.perdita at 6:58 PM on September 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
Some people work consistently through all their work at the same speed. Some people work in bursts. I'm the latter (sounds like you're the same) so I don't understand the former. When I'm on a roll, I get SO much done, it's great! But a few hours later, I need downtime. Often a long period of downtime. I can have a super-productive morning, but then after about 2.30pm, I've lost interest.
For me, the key is to be on a roll more than I'm in downtime. Good sleep, exercise and working at home / comandeering a meeting room to work without distractions all help keep that "on a roll" mood alive longer.
But I also make sure that I make best use of my downtime. I do what I call Friday afternoon tasks (also known as hangover tasks). The slightly mundane stuff that you can do on autopilot. I never do them when I'm on a roll. I save them for when I'm in downtime. They don't require much motivation because they don't require much thought. They also tend to be the kind of things that aren't deadline focussed. I never do these things when I'm on a roll (sometime's it's tempting, but I resist the temptation) - it would be a waste of that energy and focus!
If you do find the solution to being superman 24/7, let me know! But in the meantime, don't beat yourself up about the variation - work with it rather than trying to fight it - chances are you'll still end up more productive than most of your work colleagues... Good luck!
posted by finding.perdita at 6:58 PM on September 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
Some other things that work for me:
1. Block out dedicated work times on your calendar. Don't get stuck in meetings all time.
2. If you're having trouble with a task break it down further.
3. Future oriented tasks you are likely to skip you should try setting up in calendar.
posted by xammerboy at 8:51 PM on September 5, 2011
1. Block out dedicated work times on your calendar. Don't get stuck in meetings all time.
2. If you're having trouble with a task break it down further.
3. Future oriented tasks you are likely to skip you should try setting up in calendar.
posted by xammerboy at 8:51 PM on September 5, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
(2) oh I totally get that! the stage where you can be freaked about it, but not to the point where you are spurred to action. Not sure what the solution is.
(3) Noise cancelling headphones? Schedule meetings in other locations? (suck it up?)
(4) Yeah. Try and focus on just one task at a time, for just a chunk of time, which leads into time management and #5:
(5) so game your system! Have a nice cold soda waiting for you so you work great from 11-12 for example- you know what motivates you, work out how to extend that into other times.
Also, productivity isn't about being AMAZING (*jazz hands*) all of the time- it's getting things done over the whole chunk of time, including down time, breaks, etc.
posted by titanium_geek at 3:18 AM on September 5, 2011