Home
>
Time Management
>
Get More Done at Your Office: Focus on These Eight Areas for Increased Productivity

Get More Done at Your Office: Focus on These Eight Areas for Increased Productivity

Your productivity depends on good tools and effective environments, and on using them both well. It can be overwhelming to get your office into shape and still get your work done. Try attacking one of these areas each week. Pick one where you can make a positive change right now, to keep you motivated.

Task Lists.

These should be the centerpiece of your organizing system. Make lists for errands, expenses, phone calls, computer tasks and desk tasks. Create more detailed lists for your projects and ideas. Projects can have some steps fleshed out here, and ideas that you're not ready to work on have a holding spot so they're not forgotten. Work the lists everyday, skimming down each one and prioritizing daily as things change. This is a flexible, fast system that eliminates the need for physical reminders on your desk.

Calendar.

Use your calendar only for actual appointments, not for lists of errands (see above). This includes appointments with yourself to work on projects. Committing that time in your date book means it's as important as other appointments you make. It helps you avoid squeezing your work in between the demands of others.

Email.

What if you didn't check it first thing in the morning? Would the world come to an end? Once you start checking it, even if you turn off the reminder icons and sounds (which I recommend), it's hard not to get caught up in threads. The beginning of your day can be an emailess, phoneless oasis for you to think through projects, make plans and do other tasks that benefit from extended, focused thinking.

Phone.

It's usually not practical for people to ignore their phones during business hours. But you can make your phone calls more productive by getting to the point of the call right away. Alternatively, make an appointment for a specific day and time to call someone back so you can schedule in that time and be prepared for the call.

Inbox.

Even if you work for yourself and there's no one to fill the inbox but you, it's a handy item to have. Use it to hold any items that you haven't decided what to do with yet. Write yourself quick notes when you don't have time to jot down a task in your planner. Fill it with business cards and scribbled notes you come home from events with. Don't let it be a catchall graveyard. Take time regularly to go through your inbox, make decisions, assign actions and empty it.

Desk Layout.

Rule of thumb: stuff you use all the time should be close by and stuff you don't can be farther away. Reserve desktop real estate for computer, phone, inbox and other supplies you use everyday. Make sure you leave room to work comfortably. If you prefer to have things out, use a credenza behind your desk for those piles.

Computer Set Up.

If your desk is mainly your computer, you can similarly group and organize items. Geographically separate documents from programs from downloads on your desktop. Keep documents in folders just as you would in a file cabinet and browse your operating system's file index to locate them. Also, just as with paper, never label your folders "Miscellaneous"!

Meetings.

A meeting without a specific agenda is usually a waste of time. Meetings are most productive when only the people who need to be there are, they know what they're doing and they leave with a clear idea of what to do next. Does the meeting need to happen at all? Can the same result be achieved with a phone call or two? If you are required to attend meetings, make sure you know what's expected of you before you leave, and by when.

Claire Tompkins specializes in simple, efficient systems to help people be more productive, more easily. Before figuring out how to do something better, ask why you're doing it at all. Got to http://www.clairetompkins.com to find out more. Contact her at http://www.clairetompkins.com and 510-535-0856.

quick home cleaning Arlington Heights ..

In The News:

In response to infostealer activity increasing 500% in a year and harvesting 1.7 billion user credentials, the CyberGuy offers four ways to stay safe from infostealer malware.

Looking Glass has developed a 27-inch light-field display that allows you to see digital objects in three dimensions without headsets or glasses.

A CCTV video purportedly originating from a Chinese factory shows a robot appearing to lash out at two men in an unexplained incident.

After years of delays, travelers must now show a REAL ID, a valid passport or another federally approved ID to travel. May 7, 2025, is the deadline.

Driverless tractor-trailers are already traveling on Texas roads, raising questions about safety, reliability and the future of trucking.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals that a new AirPlay bug lets hackers take over Apple devices via Wi-Fi with no clicks needed.

This Mother's Day, gift Mom tech gadgets that simplify life, connect and show love. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson offers some ideas.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reports that Tesla owners are facing threats as hackers weaponize leaked data. Are you next?

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses how a paper pill bottle could revolutionize pharmacy packaging and cut plastic waste drastically.

The private information of about 4 million people was exposed after a major data breach involving VeriSource Services, a Texas-based HR firm.

Archer Aviation and United Airlines have teamed up to offer a more environmentally friendly way to skip New York City's traffic jams and reach your destination more quickly.

Healthcare company data breaches have leaked personal data of millions of people in recent years, and the CyberGuy offers ways to keep your information safe.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents

Police around the world are adding robots powered by artificial intelligence to their departments, and Thailand has emerged as one of the key players.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains five cleanup hacks — a few smart automations and tools — to declutter your technology and keep things running smoothly.

Kurt the CyberGuy breaks down whether it’s better to remove your personal information from the web yourself or use a data removal service.

Google’s scam detection features, powered by artificial intelligence, are a significant step forward in safeguarding Android users from fraud.

The FBI has issued a warning that scammers are impersonating doctors, police and banks using spoofed numbers as "smishing" texts surge nationwide.

Communities with unreliable internet service stand to gain after Amazon's Project Kuiper launched its first full batch of satellites into orbit April 28.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says unsubscribing from spam might actually backfire. Learn when to avoid it and stop junk effectively.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about how the first nonstop beating heart transplant, called zero ischemic time, at Taiwan hospital changes surgery.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson: FBI warns of "time-traveling" hackers.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about a soft, vine-like robot called SPROUT that aids safe survivor rescues in collapsed buildings.

Health insurance giant Blue Shield of California confirmed it had been sharing private health data of 4.7 million users with Google for three years without even realizing it.

Delta and JetZero’s blended wing body aircraft marks a meaningful step toward a cleaner, quieter and more efficient future for air travel.

Get More Done at Your Office: Focus on These Eight Areas for Increased Productivity

Time Management