Be More Productive at Work

More productive time on the job sounds great, but you wonder if your real problem is just disorganization. Try these tips from Alec Mackenzie’s book The Time Trap.

• Log your tasks. For a few days, write down each thing you do and how much time you spend on it.
• Make a Plan. Once you’ve identified your main time wasters, create an ideal schedule. Assign time slots to tasks you do every day. You’ll be less likely to let one job expand at the expense of the others.
• Do the biggest tasks first. Most of us start by checking our E-Mail and catching up with co-workers and get lost in trivia. Slate pressing tasks for the first thing.
• Clean your desk and keep it clear of everything but what you’re working on right now. Piles of work are distracting.
• Learn to say No. If you have trouble doing that, count to ten before you decide to commit to another task. You’ll be surprised at the time you save.

Source: On the job: back to the basics. (1999, Spring).  Health Diary, 25.