Seven Simple Ways To Reduce Wasted Time At Work

By Author: emrindustry
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Use a calendar or planner and make sure to schedule important tasks. Each morning take a few moments to review your calendar. Make a checklist of things you need to accomplish and by what time. This will help keep you focused on what is important and help you avoid distractions. With a checklist, you’ll quickly transition from one task to the next while earning a sense of accomplishment at seeing tasks completed.

3. Schedule a Time to Open Email

Emails are important for all businesses today. Consider setting specific times to open your email, such as first thing in the morning and then again right after lunch and possibly before leaving. If you constantly check email throughout the day, you can easily be led away from the important tasks and start to spend time on things that can be left until later.

3. Turn Off Your Cell Phone

If your cell phone is not required to be on at all times, turn it off and put it away. As with emails, set a time to check messages. Phones have become embedded in our lives and this can be a hard habit to break. Maybe you can start by checking your phone on the hour and ...
... only once per hour.

4. File

Keep your desk clean and clutter-free. If you have a stack of papers to be filed or a drawer that houses a hidden stack of papers to file, take the time to file them. It is a huge time waster to shift through stacks of papers when looking for an important document. If it’s in a file, you can easily find it.

6. Reduce Repetitive Tasks

Find ways to reduce or automate repetitive tasks. It can be as simple as requiring all employees to sign up for direct deposit of paychecks and then print their own pay stubs. Think about how you can reduce the number of trips to the mail or copier room.

7. Find a Quiet Space

Many progressive companies offer a variety of work-space arrangements. Some have outdoor workspaces equipped with power or individual workstations in quiet rooms. If you’re lucky enough to have your own office and you have an important task that requires full concentration, shut your office door for an hour or so while you work on the project. If you’re in an open environment, see if there isn’t a vacant office or space where you can go for a while to work without distraction.
Whether you’re looking for ways to decrease the amount of wasted time in your company or if you’re looking to increase your own personal productivity, pick a few of the suggestions above and try them in your work environment.