Financial Blog

Have you been staring at your laptop screen for hours on end, seemingly lost and grasping at straws? Been looking at the office clock ticking away, bag in hand and ready to sprint out because you feel unproductive and just want the day to end? I think it’s safe to say that we all have at some point.

Read more: 6 Damaging habits of Unsuccessful People You Don’t Want to Copy

We are only given so many hours a day that spending most of it in a daze is a waste of time. To help you define what it means to be productive on your own terms, here are 6 tips to ponder on so you can feel and be your best at work.

We’ve been asked this question many times: “Can you multitask?” Our answer most likely is a resounding yes. After all, we wouldn’t want to look incapable of juggling different things at once, right? While that answer isn’t necessarily bad, multitasking shouldn’t be your solution every time work piles up.

Studies have shown that the brain can only focus on one task at a time. When you think you’re multitasking, you’re actually just switching between tasks very quickly and not doing them simultaneously. Your brain then needs to realign with the job at hand, which affects both focus and performance. Instead of keeping up with this act, try prioritizing which one is important and which one can be done at a later time.

As much as we like to finish our deadlines on time, we indulge ourselves over small distractions as a way to break routine – your cellphones and browsers being the number one culprit. It’s okay to check up on your phone every once in a while, but try to reduce the temptation by silencing off alerts and notifications.

Unlike distractions, work interruptions are out of your control. How you anticipate/react to them is your only way to lessen its effect on productivity. A co-worker popping up to chat, or unplanned meetings could take up a chunk of your valuable time. Try to work from home if you see a deadline looming on the horizon, or assess if a meeting could be done via phone or email.

Whether you’re studying at home or working at the office, having an organized workspace leads to an increase in efficiency while minimizing accidents. That piping hot cup of coffee placed near your laptop begging to be spilled, for example. It’s also hard to find important documents beneath piles of paper you probably haven’t touched for months.

Streamlining your work area by only putting things beneficial to you will increase your productivity. As they say, cluttered spaces are reflections of cluttered minds. Instead, try putting a small plant or an art piece on your table as an unobtrusive décor to keep things lively.

Being tied to your chair and glued to your computer may get you points for dedication, but it won’t hurt if you stand up and stretch every now and then. A few jumping jacks ought to get the blood flowing! Pace around the hallway to walk off the stress, or get some water to drink. By taking a short break, you’re allowing your mind to take a breather.

A change of pace and scenery could also help you come back energized and ready to finish the task at hand. Try bringing your laptop to a nearby coffee shop or park. For some, inspiration comes with the smell of brewed coffee accompanied by smooth jazz.

We become engrossed with the concept of a “dream job” – one that pays the bills while fueling passion at the same time – that we often forget the possibility of loving the way we work. You may not be where you want to be right now, but taking pride in how you do things will increase your sense of self-worth. You will reach your goals in time, but for now, give all you’ve got and make the most of what you have.

A delayed shipment caused by bad weather, or you getting the flu on the same day of your important meeting. Instances like this make us hate ourselves (and the world around us). “Why do bad things happen to good people”, you say. Keeping up the illusion of control, even over things that are far beyond our reach, is a destructive human trait we all could learn to forego.

It’s important to know your limits and accept that sometimes, things don’t always go as planned. Breathe deep, and let it go.