BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - WITH New Year's Day fast approaching, it is just about that time to start making a list of new year resolutions, and say that silent prayer with the hope that you would actually keep them.
A very important addition to the list would be to increase your level of production at work.
As the economy shows little signs of improvement, we have more on our plate and less time to do it. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to boosting productivity, but as the saying goes, "work smarter, not harder", and with these effective tactics you can.
A little tweak here, and there may not only help you to break that procrastination habit, and ease your work load but, if the economy continues to sag, these measures may just help you keep your job.
Make lists; prioritize tasks: Keep multiple lists around - the short-term must-dos and the longer-term items. List them in order of urgency or importance. Clearly define the tasks that can be passed on, and then actually pass them on! Do not set yourself up for failure by starting each day with an unrealistically long agenda.
Avoid multitasking: Sounds crazy right? Not every set of tasks can be overlapped; there are just some tasks that need undivided attention in order to be completed with quality. In some instances, multitasking makes it hard to focus on the right information and near impossible to think through the implications.
Stay away from social media: The internet may be considered the number one distraction! If you do not need it for work. Save Facebook for home and turn off Twitter during the work day. There is a time to surf the internet and there is a time to concentrate solely on the task at hand.
Clear your mind: You do not need to sit in the lotus position and drift off into meditation, but you should take a few minutes, several times a day, to calm and clear your mind. Walking around the block or just stepping away from your computer screen can help you stay much more mentally fresh and focused.
Eliminate unnecessary chit-chats: Communication is essential, but you need to be ruthless about protecting your time. Shun idle chit-chats and steer clear of conversations that are not truly necessary.
Where necessary, say No: It is only two letters but sometimes it can be the hardest word to get out. You cannot do everything and therefore, wherever necessary, you must say no in order to avoid being overloaded with work and to save your sanity.
Clear your desk: Spend the least five minutes of each workday clearing your desk. Trash what you don't need and file things at least once per day. Touch any piece of paper once, act on it, and move on.
Make use of the time saved: Productivity is not just about making sure things get done and feeling more in control along the way. It is also about 'freeing up' time for deeper, creative thinking, and getting more done. Take the free time you now have on your hands to start tomorrow's tasks, or help a co-worker who is overloaded.
At the end of every year, just about everyone makes resolutions in an effort to make a better life for themselves and their families in the coming year.
Making a better job-life should be just as important as times are difficult and as said by the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Dr. Denzil Douglas, "for every person with a job, there are ten persons waiting to take it".
So, a resolution to add to your list for 2012 - ‘Pull up my socks, tighten my belt and boost my level of productivity at work for 2012'.
