5 Ways to Boost Your Productivity at Work After the Long Lunar New Year Holiday
You know what comes after a long break. Jet-lag and inertia are just some of the many ‘ailments’ that riddle any employee, and it results in an inevitable dip in productivity and efficiency. So, how can you ensure that you can get back on track as soon as possible?
We’ve for 5 ways to help you boost your productivity right now – here’s how to hit the grind and get things done!
1. Make a to-do list – and make it realistic
Depending on the amount of time that an individual has been away, there will be a pile of work awaiting one’s return. The first step is not to be intimidated: sit down, sift through pending tasks and make a to-do list. Be realistic when doing so – instead of collating everything, segregate the tasks and prioritise by the level of urgency, as Inc suggests. If it helps, you can even consider making multiple to-do-lists or sections. From your “Urgent” list, select 3 tasks to tackle first – start small and methodically work your way through the list.
2. One task at a time
That being said, multitasking is often a big obstacle to staying focused. As stated by Fast Company, it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back to a task after an interruption. Imagine the amount of time wasted in a day just on switching between tasks! Choosing to focus on one task at a time might prove to be more beneficial than most people think. To aid this process, Medium suggests grouping similar tasks together in for themed days, so that one’s brain can complete each task in “rapid succession”.
3. Stay focused, eliminate distractions
It’s easy to be distracted when one is working in an office. The first step to staying focused is to stow away personal technological devices. According to Entrepreneur, incoming messages and the temptation to constantly check social media can be a huge disruption to a productive flow. Take a ‘digital detox’ and only check these devices at scheduled timings. The same can be said about checking emails – Bakker Elkhuizen advises employees to only check and answer emails at three set timings in a day.
4. Take regular short breaks
Forcing yourself to stay at your desk throughout the day might actually do any employee more harm than good, especially after returning from a prolonged holiday. Reader’s Digest claims that employees who recuperate with breaks throughout the day are able to better focus and accomplish their tasks faster during the time that they are working. This is reiterated by Psychology Today, where working for long periods of time can potentially lead to stress and exhaustion. Conversely, taking regular breaks helps to refresh the brain and reinvigorate energy levels, correlating to surges in productivity and creativity.
5. Have a positive mindset
Mindset is everything – Timesheets.com urges employees to not dwell on the desire to be back on holiday and instead, be thankful for the opportunity to rejuvenate outside work. A positive mindset can indeed go a long way!
Going back to work after a long break doesn’t have to be that hard – especially not with these 5 tips in mind. For more business-related solutions, follow Canon Singapore on LinkedIn!