Maximizing Your Productivity By Brenda Williams At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

There are many distractions that we face each day. From televisions to telephones; from computers to fax machines, it seems like there is no end in sight. It's a wonder that we ever accomplish anything on a daily basis! Nowhere else is this especially true than when we are at work or are trying to get work done. At some point, we will all work in an office environment that is too noisy and is filled with distractions such as client meetings, phone calls, lunch breaks, coffee breaks, office gossip and technological malfunctions. So, considering all of this, how do we maintain our productivity?

Perhaps the most important part of being a productive person is being able to stay focused on the task at hand. Just the other weekend, I was reading a book at the kitchen table while some people were watching the television a few feet away from me. The television was blasting at full volume when someone approached me and asked me how I was able to concentrate on a book with all of the noise. I simply told them that I was shutting the noise out in order to focus. Being able to shut out distractions isn't something that comes naturally to most people. It takes some measure of practice to be able to put into action. There are many ways that you can increase your work productivity. Let's start with your desk area. If you've ever heard the motto “simplicity is better,” then you should pay attention. Simple is always better. Clear any clutter from your desk area because clutter equals distraction. If you are not a neat person by nature, this will take some effort, and you may want to get a more organized person to help you out at first. Invest in a small filing cabinet or desk file organizer. Put loose pens, pencils and paperclips in an appropriate holder. Even the number of sticky notes should be minimized. Instead, try to write messages to yourself in a small notepad that can be left on your desk in an inconspicuous area. There are also software programs available, which can set up audio alerts or pop-up alerts to let you know of something that is due or that you need to be reminded of.

On your computer desktop, create folders to help you organize information. Your computer desktop background should have no more than one vertical line's worth of folders and/or other information on it. Try to keep all of your files tucked away, off of your desktop. Yes, you can minimize clutter on your computer! Regarding your email, creating filters is key. Creating email filters will help you more quickly sort through what needs to be read first versus having to scan through emails to find important information. Also make sure you set up your spam filters accordingly and occasionally check your spam folder to make sure that it is functioning properly. If you work in a small office that is chatty, try approaching the source of the chatter outside of the office or separately so as to not embarrass that person. If you feel uncomfortable, then approach your supervisor about the situation so that it may be resolved. Stay focused, keep things simple, and you should have no problem being more productive!

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