10 Simple Ways to Work Smarter

In today’s working world, the importance of productivity and a good work ethic is preached and praised. Working smarter helps you become a more competent, resourceful, and fruitful worker in your field. Whether you work at home, in an office, or out in the field, there are various things you can do to accomplish your tasks in a more efficient way. 

1.  Create a Positive Workspace
It’s important to have a positive and comfortable workspace. Add something to give your space a special touch, like a photo, plant, or figurine. Sometimes it’s the little things that keep you inspired, and that inspiration will improve your performance. 

2.  Organize and Declutter
Terri Guillemets once wrote, “Clutter smothers. Simplicity breathes.” Everything flows better when things are organized and have an order to them. By decluttering and keeping your workspace organized, you’ll be able to find things easier, feel less stressed, and not waste your time.

3.  Make Use of Lists and Notes
Lists and Post-It notes are some of the best tools to ensure that you work smarter. It’s beneficial to keep notes and reminders around; they’ll help you stay on track and organized when dealing with all the things you need to accomplish.

4.  Apply Your Time Management Skills
It’s important to prioritize your work. One way to do this is to sort your responsibilities and complete the most urgent tasks first. This will make things more manageable. Keep your focus, work hard, and finish all you set out to do in a timely manner.

5.  Tackle One Thing at a Time
A well-worn piece of advice is to complete Task A before moving on to Tasks B and C. It’s more effective to tackle one thing at a time instead of juggling a million tasks at once. With multitasking, there’s a risk that the job may be sloppy, as the chance of overlooking something is greater when you’re focused on several things at once. However, doing one thing at a time often results in precision and accuracy since your concentration is fixed on a specific task.

6.  Communication is Key
Communication is a beautiful thing. It can mean the difference between an excellent performance and a mediocre or lacking one. Ask questions, get direction, and talk about the work. There’s nothing worse than having to redo something because of a simple miscommunication.

7.  Take a Break
Your mind, body, and eyes need a break from your work. Get up and stretch, walk around, eat and/or drink something. Do something to distract yourself from your task(s). You’ll feel rejuvenated, which will give you a new and fresh perspective.

8.  Use Techniques to Maximize Time
There are various techniques you can use to increase your efficiency, saving you time that can be applied to other tasks. For example, instead of sending an email and waiting for a response, call the person directly, if possible. Not only is it faster, but there’s also less chance of miscommunication. Another thing you can do is use shortcuts on your keyboard, which can improve your speed compared to using a mouse.

9.  It’s Okay to Say “No”
The word “no” is sometimes hard to say. But if you have a huge pile of work on a tight timeline and a co-worker asks you to take more on, it’s okay to tell them that you can’t do it. It’s better to be honest with your colleagues and do a good job with the work you’ve been assigned than it is to accept something that you may not have time to finish or that will prevent you from tackling your current workload. 

10. Be Positive and Believe in Yourself
Maintain a positive attitude and believe in yourself. You can conquer any challenge. Don’t let negativity get you down. Sure, we all have bad days, but shake it off and try not to let it affect you. Keep the positive vibes flowing and it will shine through in your work. 

Everyone has their own work style. Some people follow a daily routine, while others work more effectively in unconventional ways. There’s no right way to work smarter; it’s what works for you and what helps you become a more productive and efficient employee. Working smarter will help you alleviate stress and enjoy your job. 

By: Elizabeth Prekas | Contributing Writer

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