7 mindless actions at work that kill productivity
Miscellaneous / / January 11, 2022
Check what is stopping you: endless calls, too many tabs in the browser, or something else equally inappropriate.
When we are distracted during work, we lose the most valuable thing - the focus of attention. It just dissipates. Scientist Gloria Mark from the University of California, together with colleagues from Berlin, studiedG. Mark, D. Gudith, U. Klocke. The cost of interrupted work: More speed and stress / Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems this question. She saidWorker, Interrupted: The Cost of Task Switching / Fast Companythat employees who are interrupted by phone calls and emails take 23 minutes to get back to work. This raises the level of stress, and those who are distracted feel much worse than those who do not.
Sometimes we lose our attention due to a too talkative colleague or an annoying boss who throws up new tasks. But often it's all the fault of meaningless habits that we instinctively repeat day after day. The first step to solving a problem is to acknowledge its existence. Perhaps your productivity is suffering from one of these common activities.
1. Sit in the phone
Many of us keep him close at all times. And as soon as there is a free second, for example, when a web page on a computer takes too long to load, we instinctively reach for a smartphone. More often than not, we are listed on Instagram, TikTok or any other social network where we waste 5, 7, 10, or even more minutes.
Try to schedule this time. Let's say check your accounts for 15 minutes at 12:00, 15:00 and 17:00. Such a schedule will inhibit the urge to pick up the phone during the day.
2. Switch to small things
One second we are diligently doing work tasks, and the next we are already buying things online, doing grocery list, we book a table in a restaurant and do not remember at all what we were supposed to do. This is a consequence of the habit of immediately doing whatever comes to mind. It seems to us that if we put off these little things for later, we will forget about them. Besides, they will only take a second. But soon one thing turns into a chain that takes an hour.
Instead, make a list of non-work-related little things to do. This will help you understand which ones can be transferred, and which ones can be passed on to someone, for example, from family members.
Try to avoid multitasking. It's better to set aside long periods of time and work without distraction. In such "marathons" you will have time to do much more.
3. Open multiple tabs in the browser
If your browser is always a mess, then the bad news is that every single page you open harms your attention. Browser tab creator Adam Styles acknowledges that not all of us can properly dispose of the freedom that an unlimited number of open sites gives. We often use this option for new distractions, although it's perfect for switching between projects and getting comfortable working.
To fight this habit, use special extensions. For example, OneTab, which turns all open tabs into a list, Tab Auto Close or Tab Wrangler, which automatically close windows in the browser that you do not use for a long time.
Take noteπ‘
- 10 types of extensions that should be installed in any browser
4. Check work chats
It's perfectly okay to do this throughout the day. But if you start obsessively refreshing the page and opening up conversations every second, it is very possible that you are just stuck in another mindless habit. And it very much distracts attention.
In addition, instant replies to messages create a reputation for being willing to give up everything to solve other people's affairs. This can lead to additional work that is put on your shoulders.
To break this habit, set boundaries for your colleagues. They need to know when you are working on critical tasks and you should not be distracted. Check the settings for the applications used by your company. Most likely, there are functions that will help you to look into less often. work chats.
5. Wrong approach to problem solving
According to Ohio State University management professor Tany Manon, those who consider themselves experts tend to be impulsive to solve the problems of others. Such people are not used to analyzing the situation, calculating their time and resources, but on the contrary, they immediately plunge headlong into other people's tasks. These "experts" want quick answers, and therefore often look too narrowly at problems.
To tackle complex problems more easily, don't look for a solution right away. First ask yourself if you really should be doing this. Manon suggests asking as many questions as possible about the problem in order to analyze it from all sides. This will help to analyze the situation and choose the best strategy for further action.
6. Be confident that you have nothing more to learn
Professionals often fall into this simple trap. This happens when they have confidence that they have 100% mastered a work skill. And this fixes their idea of ββthe profession and prevents them from trying new ones. problem solving methods.
Do not forget that any area develops and changes. This means that in order to remain the best in what you do, you need to develop and change with her.
7. Arranging too many meetings
In 2019, the international consulting company Korn Ferry conducted a survey that showedWorking or wasting time? Korn Ferry survey shows too many meetings and calls are preventing professionals from getting the job done / BusinessWire: 67% of employees believe that it is the excess of work meetings and calls that hinders their work effectively.
If you can influence this part of your job, ask your boss if that many meetings and calls are really necessary. Collect feedback from colleagues, perhaps they are not too happy with this practice.
If regular meetings are just to announce new information, it is worth finding another, more effective way of communication, for example, work chats in instant messengers or mail mailing lists.
Read alsoπ§
- 15 Successful Habits That Are Killing Your Career They are outdated - get rid of them
- 15 ways to stay productive when it's dark and cold outside
- 10 unusual ways to stop wasting time
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