In recent years, social media has sure shaped the way we work. Nowadays, the average employee is practically naked without a mobile phone glued to the palm of their hand. But with constant access to everyone and everything, nothing has become more of a challenge than productivity in the workplace.
With our social lives abuzz by the constant reminders of Facebook birthdays, Twitter recommendations and good old commercial spam, one of the biggest culprits in our personal inbox.
But there is good news. As hard as it can be to micromanage in such a fast paced world, there are simple and old-school ways of clearing through all that foggy information overload. Narelle Todd, productivity and organisation consultant from Successful Living has provided five fool-proof ways of maximizing our personal productivity. So now you can peel back the layers of the social sandwich to de-stress and stay organised.
1. Plan ‘downtime’ after work
According to Todd, the best cure for fogginess is allowing for personal space. “There’s nothing more hindering than being personally worn out,” she says. “You need the tools on board to be productive.” She suggests taking time out after a busy day for recuperation. Do some exercise or meditate – whatever you need to relax and recharge.
2. Write down your goals
With the beginning of the new year still in our rear vision mirror, jotting down a list of long term goals shouldn’t be too difficult. Todd insists on putting yourself first, and being realistic. Nothing too fluffy or far-fetched – just a clear list of achievable goals that you aim to reach by the end of the year. “You need to be clear about what you want to achieve at work,” she says. “Ask yourself, ‘Is this request going to get me closer to my achievements?’ Be self-orientated, and don’t be distracted.”
3. Install some apps
Yes you read right. Ironic, isn’t it? There are some really nifty apps up for download that are perfect for curbing organisational dilemmas. Todd recommends the following for the iPhone and iPad:
LIFE TOPIX by LightArrow Inc. ($0.99): Plan in detail your work schedule with the holistic online diary and calendar application. It’s syncable with Microsoft Outlook too, so it’s perfect for organising work, family and banking.
THE DECISION APP by Kein & Aber AG ($4.99): If you’re having a bit of a cloudy day, this app will undoubtedly vanquish your indecision. The use of the app is as literal as the title: this program aims to give you a direct solution to your quandary.
VOICE PAD by TenPearls (Free): This app is an iPad only program that is great if you have issues with multitasking. You can record audio straight from your iPad, and create your own tabbed notes during the course of the recording – ideal for work conferences and meetings.
4. Write your schedule the night before
There’s nothing quite as motivating as list-making. Todd encourages us to write a breakdown of day to day tasks the night before. “Your brain will sleep on things,” she says. “This offers you a chance to reflect back and think, ‘In case things go wrong, I can always refer back to my list.’” Remember to be concise: break down your short term goals into tasks that can be achieved by the next day.
5. Stay true to your style
Everybody has their own way of going about things. Whether you’re a list person, a schedule person, a minimalist or an enthusiast of clutter – don’t try and change your organisational scheme overnight. “Don’t waste time trying to decode a system that doesn’t work for you,” says Todd. “Go with what works, and get into your own routine”.
Need more tips? Visit the Successful Living website
here
By Steph Nash, madison features intern. You can follow Steph on Twitter