Due to the limited number of hours in a workday, it is critical to maximize your time. If you’re having trouble getting work done due to distracting websites, disorganized files, or cluttered inboxes, use these methods to improve your time management and stay productive at work.
Keep an eye on productivity levels.
Begin by keeping note of the amount of work you accomplish on an ordinary day. There are numerous useful applications for this. For instance, Google Chrome includes a feature called RescueTime that logs your most frequently visited websites and the amount of time you spend away from your computer. This program will offer you with a productivity score and a complete account of your workday.
If you realize that you are squandering a significant chunk of your day on social media and other online productivity killers, you’re more likely to make conscious improvements to your time management.
Block websites that are a waste of time
Visiting websites that are not relevant to work reduces productivity. While a fast five-minute stop to check your Facebook page may seem insignificant, a couple of them every day build up to a significant amount of time.
If you and your employees struggle to stay away from social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, it is a good idea to use URL filters to prevent access to them.
Alternatively, you may utilize browser extensions such as StayFocusd or Strict Workflow to restrict the amount of time and frequency with which users can access non-work-related websites.
Eliminate clutter
Additionally, you may reduce distractions and boost productivity by eliminating outdated files, uninstalling useless apps, and organizing files into clearly designated folders. This simplifies file retrieval and enhances your computer’s performance.
In terms of email inbox clutter, both Gmail and Outlook include capabilities that automatically filter out irrelevant messages. To have a clean, spam-free inbox, simply enable Priority Inbox on Gmail or Clutter on Outlook.
Keep track of tasks with to-do lists
To-do lists aid in the division of enormous projects into manageable, bite-sized chores. Additionally, checking items off a list is surprisingly pleasant because it provides a sense of accomplishment and complete visibility into your progress.
You can choose from a range of digital to-do lists, such as Google Projects or Trello, that enable you to assign deadlines to minor tasks and write detailed instructions for each. Both options are incredibly user friendly, simple to set up, and are excellent for tracking your workload.
Take advantage of keyboard shortcuts
By mastering keyboard shortcuts, you may do tasks that would normally require the use of a mouse more easily and quickly. There are over a hundred useful shortcuts, however the following are the most frequently used ones:
Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V, Ctrl + X – pick things to copy, paste, or cut.
Ctrl + Z – revert to a previous state
Alt + Tab – navigate across open applications
Alt + F4 – Exit the currently active application