3 Mistakes that are KILLING Your Productivity at Work
If you know me, you know that I am ALWAYS on the search for how to be more productive at work. I’ve spent countless hours researching AND testing new ideas.
In the end, I found 3 mistakes that were KILLING my productivity at work and simple ways to fix them
Let’s dive in!
The Secret Productivity Killer: Context Switching
Studies have shown that context switching (jumping from one task to another and back again) can lead up to a 40% loss in productivity.
So, in order to be more productive at work, you need to make sure you avoid some of the most common mistakes:
❌ Pop Up Notifications Turned On
❌ Constantly Checking Email
❌ Attending EVERY Meeting
The reason people tend to make these mistakes is because in early on we’re taught that you need to be 100% dialed in and available at the drop of a hat. As a result, you drain yourself trying to run around like a crazy person.
You lose focus and get very little done.
So, here’s how to fix it:
1. Turn Notifications OFF
The very first step to better productivity at work is: Turn off Pop Up Notifications.
Pop Up alerts are designed to interrupt you and steal your focus. Programs like Microsoft Outlook & Teams default to alerting you for EVERYTHING.
Myth: You need to know about every email when it comes in so you can react!
Truth: Most emails you get are garbage, not important, or can wait until later
How to fix: Turn off the alerts all together OR limit to TRULY important emails or senders
2. Stop Constantly Checking Your Email
The next step to better productivity at work: Stop constantly checking your email
Even when alerts are off, I still see people checking their email constantly. The thing with email is that if you check it enough, another one will eventually come in.
The problem is, again, context switching.
Myth: I need to be aware if something important comes in!
Truth: Your email will be there when you check later + If something REALLY important comes up, you will get a call or instant message telling you to go pay attention
How to fix: Identify times to batch check to emails. Find a slot where you can give yourself 15-20 minutes of focus to read & respond. Don’t interrupt what you’re doing, wait until you can give this task FOCUS and then go execute.
Some will say “ONLY CHECK ONCE OR TWICE A DAY!!!” I say, experiment & find what works best for you, just do it in spurts.
Do not interrupt your focus work flow to mindlessly check email!
3. Reassess Your Meetings
And finally, the last step to better productivity at work is to assess your meetings.
Meetings are these things that feel important, but they often can be just another time suck that rip your focus away from what’s most important
Assess WHAT meetings you have and WHEN you have them. Consider these things:
Is there an agenda? (Ask for one)
Are those the pertinent to the work you’re doing? (Ask if you are really REQUIRED)
Does this interfere with work you are currently dedicating your focus to? (See if it can be rescheduled)
I get it, some of these things we don’t always have control over. But if you don’t ask you will NEVER have control over it
That’s it!
As always, thanks for reading.
Let me know what you found most helpful this week—I’d love to hear from you!
As always, thanks for reading! ✌️
A.J. Zampella
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Little about who I am and what I’m here to do:
15 years in tech & 20 years as a DJ
Mid-career professional trying to thrive in work and life
I spend 100s of hours figuring it out so I can share it with you (in <5 minutes a week!)
Other Interesting Things Around the Web I do:
Free DJ Sets/Mixes on Soundcloud - Yes I still DJ pretty often too
#AJsBookClub - Big Book Guy. We talk about “success focused books”
Grim & Grind - My clothing line, all things Creepy & Caffeinated