note : this is a very basic guide that is written simply because at times we forget to take the simplest steps that makes it hard for us to manage our time. We all probably know about these tips but we tend to forget them, just cause they are so basic. here is a little refresher,
When we talk about being productive our main goal is to ensure that we make use of the time we have in hand. However, in today’s world when there are so many communication channels, it can get a little difficult to be productive while working on the computer. What are those little things that can hurt your productivity seriously? E-mail, Instant messengers, Twitter, Social networks (read : Facebook) and the overwhelming RSS reader and of course phone calls. So, the question is – how can we be productive while we are working on the computer? Here are some tips that will help you stay productive.
Email – Probably one of the most important forms of communication but also the biggest hurdle in your productivity. Let’s see how can we tackle this…
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Late Auto Check : The biggest problem with e-mail is that it becomes addictive. You tend to check your email hundreds of time in a day. The best way to tackle this is to put a time of at least 30 minutes or so for auto checking of e-mail. This will ensure that you won’t see any new e-mail for longer duration and will be able to concentrate on work.
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Keep the Inbox Clean : Always organize all your e-mails in folders. Create folders for emails that you might have to reference in future and delete the ones which are more like “one time reads”. This will allow you to cut your time in half when you are looking for a particular email. Since your emails are organized in different folders based on your clients or subject, it will save time as you won’t have to go through your inbox all over again.
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Reply to one liner emails instantly : If an e-mail is such that it can be answered within 1 or 2 sentences then set it out as soon as possible and get it done with.
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Assurance replies also help : If you have received an email which is too long then simply reply to the person that you’ll get back to them soon. This will give them the assurance and you’ll buy the time to respond to that email at a later stage.
Instant Messenger : Instant messengers are quite effective when it comes to quick conversation. However, they can be real time wasters. These tips will help you stay productive even when instant messenger is on…
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Make use of Status message : I’ve put the status message as “Ping me and I’ll get back to you ASAP” and have kept the sign as Busy. This ensures that the person gets the point that I’m busy with my work and will get back to them when appropriate.
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Work messenger & friends messenger : There are many instant messengers out there and I prefer to keep Skype as my work related messenger and for friends I prefer Google Talk. This allows me to simplify and organize my work contacts from my casual contacts.
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Avoid personal talks : Always keep yourself on toes and remind yourself you are at work and won’t be entertaining any personal chats. Tell the person in a very polite tone that you are busy at the moment and will get back to them once the work is done. I’ll rather suggest you to keep this line saved in a notepad, so that you can simply copy and paste it.
Twitter, Social networks : They are the new form of communication, however, they are the biggest time wasters as well.
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Check them in breaks : Usually you’ll find people saying you should keep yourself away from these things while at work. I would suggest you check them during breaks and other times when it’s appropriate. The reason – a study revealed an interesting fact that people get more productive when they get to check their personal e-mails and social networks at work.
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Tweet you are at work : Send a tweet that you are at work and that everyone should suggest you to concentrate on work and spend less time on tweeting and I’m sure all the replies will help you concentrate on your work. Nice little fun way of alerting yourself.
Please share some simple tips with us as well.
