9 Surefire Productivity Tips for a Dynamic Work Week

There are numerous reasons to improve your weekly workflow. Perhaps you are hoping to dial up your productivity so that you can step away from your laptop at the end of a short work week without worry. Or, you may be interested in increasing your output to meet a big deadline without working well into the evening, cutting into personal and family time. Here are several productivity tips to boost your efficiency.

Commit to Mindset

Ideally, you’ll arrive at the office well-rested and in a good mood. But, we all know life is unpredictable and getting a good night’s sleep when you are under pressure can be challenging. Do what you can to protect your evening hours and then focus on your goals before you step foot in your office building.

Focus on Your Most Productive Hours

Most of us have a window of time in the day (or a day in the week) where we are more energetic as we problem-solve and check items off of our list. Adjust your schedule accordingly, knowing things will feel more

Plan With Purpose

You’ve probably heard the Dale Carnegie quote, “An hour of planning can save you 10 hours of doing.” Having a concrete plan at the ready will help you measure your progress as you hit milestones on the way to bigger project goals. Research planning tools and try them on for size, tweaking to fit your work style.

Keep Your Team/Manager Informed

Saying yes to a tight deadline will mean turning down requests for favors that you may otherwise be able to accept. Although an explanation isn’t always required, if you feel it’s appropriate, let your colleagues (or boss) know the reason you have to decline this time around.

Break up Your Day Into Strategic Blocks

Blocking out your day will help motivate you to take a mental health break as you move (and fuel) your body. For FastCompany.com, Gwen Moran reports that time blocking “immediately lets you see where you’re being unrealistic about your time and keep yourself focused on what you’re supposed to be doing.

Press Pause

Having email running in the background is a recipe for interruption and distraction. Consider “pausing” or silencing your inbox, if only for a few hours. The same goes for office messaging apps. Unless you are required to keep them running around the clock, give them a short break.

Be Realistic

Avoid overcommitting or making a big commitment at work without thinking through the steps you’ll need to take (and roadblocks you’ll have to navigate) to honor your word. Our tendency is often to say “yes” without hesitation. Seasoned executives know it’s okay to ask for a window of time to map things out and reassess.

Limit Screen Time

Staring at a screen for hours at a time is an energy drain and strains your eyes. Review your screentime report on your phone or tablet and brainstorm activities that leave you feeling uplifted and inspired.

Be Open With Your Circle

Your family will be more understanding and supportive when they know what is going on in your professional life. Similarly, friends in your professional network may be able to help you strategize or connect with the right people to cross the finish line. Ask for help when you need it and don’t forget to spend some energy focusing on other things besides work.

You may also like How to Unplug From Work While on Vacation. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips, read her posts on Inc., subscribe to her articles on Huff Post, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow her on Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter. Buy her new book, Modern Etiquette for a Better Life.