6 Ways to Work Smarter in 2014 - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

6 Ways to Work Smarter in 2014 - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Finding an excuse to procrastinate at work is definitely an easy thing to do. Especially when we have numerous projects hanging over our heads and were pressed for time, it can be difficult to focus on our most important tasks at work. In the new year, we need to make a promise to ourselves to work smarter. We owe it to ourselves to focus more on what is important, rather than what’s urgent. If we carefully plan our work days and understand our personal work ethic, we will be able to accomplish much more than we ever thought we could. Working smarter in the new year is an excellent goal to strive toward because not only will you feel more accomplished, but also you will able to reshape the way you work. This year presents the opportunity for a fresh start in the workplace as well as a chance to focus on important tasks and projects. Lets get started on working smarter in the new year: Prioritize As mentioned earlier, if you want to work smarter, you must focus on whats important rather than urgent. Even though you feel like the hundreds of emails piling up in your inbox are a priority, theyre probably not as important as the deadlines you have for projects at work. You owe it to yourself to focus on important projects rather than those that lack priority. Once you are able to determine what projects need to be at the top of your to-do list, youll be ready to take on your day. Understand where you peak In addition to prioritizing your projects, you need to understand what time of day youll most likely accomplish them. For some people, the most productive hours of the day are early in the morning; however, they know they become distracted by 2 p.m. On the other hand, there are those who find themselves accomplishing more in the later afternoon or in the evening. Pay close attention to your habits and see what time of the day you feel more focused and refreshed. These hours are going to be the best time for you to sit down and knock out your to-do list. Eliminate distractions during hours of productivity Now that youve figured out when youre most productive, its time to unplug and get focused. Its amazing how much more you can accomplish in an hour when youve closed your email and logged off of social media. Studies show working for increments of 90 minutes is most effective because thats the optimum time for human focus. Experiment with working in 60 to 90 minute increments and within that time period, dont check your phone or email. Youll begin to notice that youll accomplish a lot more during the day when you are focused for a solid period time without constant distractions every five minutes. Make deadlines Deadlines are extremely helpful when it comes to working smarter. When creating your deadlines, make sure you are putting the most important (and urgent) tasks at the top of your list. Following those deadlines, the most important projects should be focused on. These deadlines are essential to managing your time and working effectively. Know your limitations An obstacle that prevents many of us from being productive at work is from simply taking on too many projects. The key to working smarter is knowing what youre capable of accomplishing and not over-extending yourself. Although there will be times where you will have to work under pressure and take on extra projects, you should make it a priority to only take on what you can handle. By doing this, you will be able to prevent stress not only in your life, but also in those who depend on you to complete important tasks. If youre feeling overwhelmed at work, dont be afraid to speak up. If you need help accomplishing a project, ask someone for help. Its better to have the assistance than to neglect a project due to stress. Dont be afraid to say no. Once you are able to learn your limitations, its important to have the ability to say no. When increasing your productivity at work, you must be able to say no to projects you simply cannot handle. If you are given a project that seems overwhelming, reach out to a coworker or manager for assistance. Its better to speak up in the beginning of the assignment rather than to wait until last minute to inform your manager you havent even started the task. Instead of focusing on staying busy and filling our work days with meaningless tasks, its time to focus on whats most important. The key to working smarter is prioritizing and understanding when you work best. Once youre able to eliminate distractions and focus on whats important, youll be on your way to working smarter this year. What has helped you become more productive in the workplace?