Do you find yourself drowning in deadlines and constantly battling to-do lists that only seem to be getting longer by the day? Are you having trouble balancing your professional goals with your personal life? Do you have difficulties focusing, and often feel as though there aren’t enough hours in the day?
Don’t worry—you’re not alone.
2020 was, without a doubt, an incredibly difficult year for many of us. Even if you personally never had a problem being productive before the coronavirus pandemic hit, its effects have unquestionably changed the way we all live and work. The shift to remote work alone has created a number of challenges for the average employee. Additionally, workers all over the world are now struggling to be as efficient as they used to be for various reasons.
Things are starting to look up, but it could take a while yet for things to completely go back to normal. Fortunately, it’s never too late to start new habits that can boost your productivity. Whether you want to be as effective as you once were or are simply looking for ways to make the most out of every precious hour you have in the day, here are three things you can do to make 2021 your most productive year yet:
Invest in Yourself
You really can’t go wrong when you choose to focus on your own personal growth and development. By doing so, you can enjoy many immediate benefits while also setting yourself up for future yields. There are so many ways to do it, too. You can learn a new skill, enrol in training courses to advance yourself professionally, or make an effort to improve your physical health and mental well-being, among others.
There’s no wrong decision when you choose to spend time, effort, and money to better yourself. Professionally, though, it’s always a good idea to prioritise further learning your trade or enhancing skills related to the work that you do. You can also look into earning relevant certifications that can help you advance in the field that you’ve chosen. An easy way to narrow down which courses to take is by doing a self-assessment. It will allow you to view your strengths and weaknesses objectively, shedding light on skills that would be valuable to develop.
Refresh the Home Office
Many businesses may have only shifted to remote work or hybrid models out of necessity to stop the spread of COVID-19. However, such setups are likely going to continue being part of the new normal, even with the emergence of successful vaccines. Organisations now recognise the many advantages of allowing their employees to work from home, including the ability to hire the best talent regardless of their physical location as well as lower overhead costs. If you have shifted to a remote work setup during the pandemic, chances are you will at the very least be given the option to continue working from home.
That being said, physical discomfort can be a huge productivity killer. You can experience it all too easily when you have to spend eight hours using furniture that simply wasn’t built for the purpose. You’ll be able to concentrate better and get more work done by investing in quality gear for your workspace at home.
Your chair is an excellent place to start. Consider swapping out that stiff-backed dining chair you’ve been using for something more ergonomic that offers good back and lumbar support while promoting proper posture. Instead of hunching over a table that’s too low, consider purchasing a desk that allows you to adjust its height as necessary. If that’s too much of an investment right now, a standing-desk converter should also do the trick. You can also tidy up your space with shelves, filing cabinets, boxes, and other storage solutions that can keep clutter out of sight and out of mind.
Finally, do yourself a favour by switching to circadian lighting. Making use of natural sunlight and brighter lights during the day before switching to warmer and dimmer lighting after sunset can make you at least twelve per cent more productive, according to a study conducted by Work Design Magazine.
Take the Time to Network
Some people think that there’s no real value in continuing to create professional relationships outside of their organisation after they’ve landed a job. However, there are clear benefits to continuing to expand your professional circle—ones that have nothing to do with advancing your job prospects.
Many high-level professionals believe that it is beneficial to have a mentor. Through mentorship, you can gain valuable knowledge, receive meaningful advice and guidance, and achieve personal growth. Having a trusted guide by your side also means having someone who can challenge and encourage you towards reaching new and greater heights.
You can find people who can teach and guide you in your own organisation. Alternatively, you can meet them through events and seminars. You can also look towards professional coaches who can offer you their knowledge in a much more structured manner than a casual mentor relationship.
When it comes to being more productive this 2021, forget the vague, arbitrary promises and focus on specific and actionable goals. You can also give our courses on productivity and time management a look.
Ready to make 2021 your most productive year yet? Get in touch with Priority Management Australia today.