9 things that kill your productivity

1. notice

Researchers from the University of Florida foundThe attentional cost of receiving a cell phone notificationThat even the smallest notice, which shows the smartphone, can seriously affect the performance of its owner.

Scientists claim that the notification distract from work, even if you have not seen the most push-window, but only heard pilikane smartphone or feel the vibration. During the experiments even the most disciplined people who have enough endurance to not get immediately smartphone out of your pocket to see what had happened, they showed a decline of care.

That's because they had to remember to view the notification, send or answer a call. This creates an extra burden on the memory.

Decision. Adjust on her smartphone mode "Do Not Disturb", so that it is automatically included in your working hours. So you will not pay attention to the notice and bother with this nonsense. When you're done, you will be able to see them all together.

2. mess

Chaos in documents, papers, files - both at the workplace and in the computer - distract our attention and allows you to focus on the challenges facing us. This is supported by researchInteractions of top-down and bottom-up mechanisms in human visual cortex psychologists at Princeton University.

However, different people have different perceptionsSaying Yes to Mess mess. Someone enjoys spotlessly clean work desk, and someone no scattered papers seems boring.

Decision. Find your perfect order rate, that you are not distracted by all sorts of stuff. The office will have a capacity of direct hands on a computer is much to be automate.

3. stuffiness

Productivity depends on the air quality in your workplace. This is confirmedThe impact of green buildings on cognitive function scientists from Harvard, who studied the effect of ventilation and carbon dioxide on the cognitive abilities of office workers.

Another studyThe effects of indoor air quality on performance and productivity It has revealed a correlation between poor air quality and the reduction of performance during mental work. stuffiness resultsThe relative benefits of green versus lean office space: Three field experiments to headaches and poor concentration.

Decision. There are some simple techniques that will help you improve your indoor air quality:

• Open during the window if you can. or turn air conditioning.
• Use air cleaners. And still a good idea to surround your desktop plants. researchStudy: Office Plants Can Boost Productivity and Morale show that they are a little improve the air and at the same time uplifting one of its kind.
• If you are in public places, such as cafes, stay away from cigarette smoke.
• Do not burn candles and incense during operation. During leisure, too, do not do this: they do more harmCandles and incense as potential sources of indoor air pollution: market analysis and literature reviewThan good.

4. Excess caffeine

We used to use coffee as a stimulant at with efficiency and attention problems. Morning, you do not get enough sleep, you need to cheer up - what could be better than a cup of hot coffee?

But abuse it is not necessary to drink. consumption of caffeine in large quantities leads to such negative effectsThe effect of daily caffeine use on cerebral blood flow: How much caffeine can we tolerate?As limiting the blood flow to the brain, dehydration, headaches, stomach upset and increase the level of adrenaline, which can even cause trembling of the hands.

Decision. At moderate volumes caffeineOn the contrary, it is quite useful. So try to limit its consumptionCaffeine: How much is too much? up to 400 mg per day - about four cups of freshly brewed coffee.

Also, try not to drink the drink immediately after getting up from bed. so advisesWhy The Best Time To Drink Coffee Is Not First Thing In The Morning do Dr. Stephen Miller of the University of Medical Sciences in Bethesda. Let's say you get up, it slept, at seven o'clock in the morning. In this case, your body starts to produce cortisol (the hormone responsible for energy, - kind of our natural caffeine) in about an hour or two.

Drink coffee without consequences it will be possible to start when the cortisol levels begin to fall - in 10 hours or 11. Stuff yourself caffeine should not be used, as it will work out in your body is tolerant to it.

5. stalking environment

Not enough tactful people can tear us away from things at any moment, and focus again is so difficult. Suddenly your boss calls you into his office. Remote employee sends you a note through Slack. Colleague sits down beside him and asked: "Is there a second?" Neither of which state of flux in such circumstances, of course, can not be considered.

Decision. To avoid such trouble, try the following tactics:

• Tell your colleagues that you would prefer that you not be disturbed at any given period of time. Let them know when you are busy and do not worry if you are late with a response.
• Make information public. Basically we divert to learn something, so publish this information in advance. For example, your wife is constantly calling you at work to find out what to buy at the supermarket - make with it a collective list of products in any task manager, and do not have to once again call up.
• Operate asynchronously. No need to be in touch with colleagues every minute. Do not worry if your mailbox overflows or messenger messages - you can pootvechat to them then, at half-time. Most of the questions are urgent enough to be undermined and run immediately to solve them.

6. modesty

Sometimes we hesitate to ask questions, which seem to us stupid. This leads to the stagnation of affairs: we are trying to sort things out for yourself and take the time, instead of asking more knowledgeable colleagues.

Of course, there is nothing wrong in that first Googling, And then get to work. But if the problem of the study was delayed, do not hesitate to call colleagues for help.

Decision. Career consultant Jennifer Winter came up with a rule of threeThe Right Way to Ask for Help at Work steps:

If I could not deal with the problem after yourself to try at least three solutions - it's time to admit that I need help.

No need to reinvent the wheel. If someone in the office encountered your problem before, check it. This will save time.

7. perfectionism

Striving for perfection can be one of the main obstacles to efficient work. Charlie Harari, CEO of H3 & Co company, says how perfectionism interferes with the performance:

On the first day on my first real job as a newfound lawyer in a prestigious law firm, I went to blackboard for brainstorming in the office and saw her "encouraging" the inscription: "proofreads the text, while blood from the eye will flow. " We were instructed that the operation of each lawyer represents the entire company. If we send a document or e-mail in error, it skomprometiruem company and jeopardize the trust of customers.

Fear led to screw up what Harari re-read your emails before sending at least 10 times, fearing that a typo put an end to his career. Naturally, it became time to do less than his colleagues. Later, he had a long time to eradicate a perfectionism.

Decision. Rather than try to make everything "perfect", try to make a "good enough". If you feel that you are drowning in the details of the task and come off relaxThen to look at the fruits of their labors with fresh eyes. No need to spend time on the pursuit of an unattainable ideal.

8. lack of rest

No matter how much you are passionate about their work, you are not a robot. And if you do not have a rest from time to time, you can not avoid burnout, regardless of the simplicity and interesting work.

Decision. Be sure to take breaks. According to researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, periodic short breaks can significantly increase your ability to focusBrief diversions vastly improve focus, researchers find.

Effectively alternate work and rest helps Appliances Pomodoro. Try it, and it will be easier to focus on their tasks.

9. The lack of control over time

Last, but most important problem that affects your productivity - lack of control over time. You too long working on unimportant tasks, and ultimately did not have time to perform really complex cases. You misjudge the time. Or betrays procrastination when you need to be as collected.

Decision. To improve their performance, learn how you work. Track on which tasks you to slip, and which are given to you easily. To do this you need to keep track of time and the application task managers.

Determine what time of day you are most productive, and to solve the challenges at a time. Plan your day and arrange dates. Only by controlling the working time, you can keep up all the time.