How to Be More Productive at Work

Once you’ve been working in a role for a while, it’s easy to fall into a rut. Maybe the mundane administrative tasks you once loved have you rolling your eyes these days or you feel like you’re living the same week over and over again. If this sounds like you, there are plenty of small changes you can make to gain motivation and be your best self at work!

Here are three ways to be productive when your 9 to 5 work doesn’t feel as fulfilling as you want it to.

1 Sharpen your skills

If you don’t feel challenged by your day-to-day tasks, it may be the perfect time to work on new skills. Identify a few hard and soft skills you’d like to improve and develop a plan to translate these goals into results! Hard skills allow you to tackle job-specific challenges. These are things like project management, presentation, and writing skills. Soft skills are transferable which means that they aren’t fixed to a particular job type or role. Common soft skills include active listening, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

For example, if you’re a photographer but struggle with the editing process, dedicate your lunch break to watching videos on Photoshop each day for one week. There is no greater motivator than the prospect of growth!

2 Block your calendar

If you don’t control your calendar, it will control you. The time-blocking method is a scheduling tool that helps boost your efficiency by dividing your day into specific blocks of time. Time blocking will give you more mental bandwidth to focus on what actually matters by minimizing distractions. Start by identifying tasks that need to be completed and determining how many hours each task should take. Then, slot these tasks into your calendar based on when they need to be completed.

3 Celebrate the small wins

If you’re procrastinating because you feel overwhelmed by your to-do list, break your large goals into smaller ones. Create a timeline with defined milestones the next time you’re assigned a major project. Every time you finish an item on your to-do list, treat yourself. While we’re not saying that you should run to Starbucks each time you send an email, it’s always nice to have something to look forward to after a long day at work. Each time you reach a milestone, prioritize a self-care moment, bake a fun dessert, or FaceTime a friend to share the good news! Celebrating small wins will boost your confidence and make hard tasks a bit more exciting.

Don’t let the work week dampen your mood. You deserve to feel as fabulous on Monday mornings as you do on Friday afternoons.