Workplace Productivity: Promoting Well-Being, Efficiency & Effectiveness

Regardless of where you work, the working environment in corporate America has drastically changed in the past few decades. Your colleagues and clients expect quick responses to emails. Virtual meetings are more commonplace. You may even need to closely collaborate on projects or tasks with several groups of teams, all of which are located throughout the globe.

Work has gotten increasingly complicated. That said, there is one universal trend that shows no signs of slowing down. Simply put, it is easy for us to get distracted at the office.

Employees have already admitted to this troubling trend. According to a recent study by Udemy, 69 percent of full-time employees reported being distracted at work. This is for a variety of reasons, but things like social media, noisy offices, unnecessary meetings, and chatty coworkers are some of the main culprits.

Distracted employees can significantly impact a corporation’s bottom line. One study by Basex estimates that interruptions at work cost the American economy $588 billion per year. If you are an entrepreneur or corporate manager, these numbers can be deeply concerning.

So what is the solution? Whether we are managers or entry-level employees, how can we regain our attention at work and become more productive, effective workers?

Unfortunately, there is not one straightforward answer. While this is more of an art than a science, there are several helpful steps that you can take.

One great initial step is recognizing the problem. It is all too easy to succumb to inertia and go through the motions at work. By understanding that we aren’t as efficient or productive as we could be, it is easier to course correct.

From there, it is extremely helpful to prioritize tasks throughout the day. Work on the most important tasks in the morning. Yes, the chatty coworker or unexpected meeting is inevitable. However, by prioritizing what we want to accomplish every day at the office, there is less of a chance that those interruptions prevent us from finishing our most important tasks.

One more unconventional tip is to take care of your body. Getting enough sleep and exercise can help you from feeling fatigued or drained at the office. You will be better able to maintain your attention throughout the day and not fall into the dreaded afternoon slump.

These are just some quick tips on how to improve your focus and productivity at work. Undoubtedly, you will have to find what best works for you. With that said, just be aware of what works and continue to leverage those tactics. By being aware of your personal productivity at work and how you can maximize that productivity, you will be in a better position to become a star contributor at your organization.