10 ways to be more productive at work

Happy New Year! Like you, one of my New Year Resolutions is to be more productive. There is a lot of advice out there about how to do just that. Over the years I have taken advice from columns found on the internet. After trying many of the techniques I've come up with a list of 10 ways to be more productive at work that have worked for me. Now, just because these have helped me doesn't mean that they will all help you.

Why is productivity important? Being productive allows us to get more done in a shorter period of time. There are countless ways to make your day more productive, here are my 10 ways.

1. Listen to music

Listening to music helps me get more done because it keeps my mind from wandering away from the task at hand. It can act as a motivator, keep me calm while I do stressful work, or give me the opportunity to rest my brain after a difficult task. I created a work playlist on YouTube that I listen to when I'm working.

Check it out here: Productivity playlist

2. Eat a good breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I know that when I have skipped breakfast I get less done that day because I am useually hungry. When I eat a big breakfast I am too full to take on the work load. When I eat the right amount of food in the morning I find that I am able to get more done.

3. Get plenty of sleep

I know is starting to sound like a visit to the Doctors office, but getting a good night's sleep can make you more productive the next day. Think about the times you have gotten only a few hours of sleep because of kids or a late-night networking event. How did you perform the next day? Now compare that to a day after you got plenty of sleep and woke up feeling rested and ready to tackle the day.

4. Don't sweat the small things

Worrying about the little things distracts you from the most important tasks on your to-do list. Although they might be important tasks that need completed or are small inconveniences that make your job more challenging.

5. Put yourself and mental health first

Put yourself and your mental health first. No project or item on your to-do list is more important than staying healthy both physically and mentally. Besides, if you overwork or are stressed out then the work you're doing isn't going to be your best - and that helps no one.

6. Be real about your t0-do-list

Setting realistic goals and tasks for the day is a huge part of being more productive. If your daily list includes writing an E-book and sending 500 emails then you are going to burn out and not get anything done. Let's say your list is to outline a chapter of the E-book and send 50 emails. This is something you can do.

7. Break down large tasks

When you have a large task or project don't take it head-on. Break it down into little bite-size projects. For example, when designing a website I don't try to complete the entire thing in one sitting, no, instead, I break it down and design a general theme, then individual pages, and so on. Another example would be if you have a large report due, instead of getting overwhelmed because you have 50 pages to write by the end of the week, break it down to 10 pages a day..

8. Take breaks

Taking breaks is frowned upon by some in the business world - don't listen to them. Taking a break or multiple breaks can actually make you more productive but also make your work better. We have all been in a spot where we have worked for hours on end and stared at a computer screen or machine and we can tell that our work is suffering because of it. Taking just a 10-15 minute break every so often can help you get more done and better.

9. Reduce interuptions

Nothing stops progress and productivity like being interrupted in the middle of a......

If you are constantly interrupted while working then you should find a solution to prevent that from happening. You can put a "DO NOT DISTURB" sign on your door, work at a coffee shop or the library. If those arent options you could speak with those who interrupt you the most and inform them that when you are working that you need to be left alone so you can get your job done.

10. Create a comfotable environment

Your environment has a huge effect on how you work. If you are in a gray and dark lit area then you are more likely to accomplish less as compared to if you are in an environment that has brighter colors and fresh air. The important thing about this is to build an environment that works for you, this might take some experimenting and get used to but once you find that right shade of paint or size/amount of plants or PopFunkos then you will see your productivity skyrocket.

I hope that these 10 tips to being more productive will help you in the new year as you strive for that promotion or big life-changing contract. Want to share your tips for being more productive? Leave a comment.