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Set Goals, Switch Off Social and Snack Well: How To Be More Productive at Work

Employees can take several measures to improve productivity at work according to the article. Some tips include focusing on one task at a time instead of multitasking, doing the most difficult task first to get a sense of accomplishment, taking breaks to walk outside or stretch, avoiding pointless meetings, switching off social media notifications, snacking on nuts and fruit instead of junk food, getting enough sleep, and choosing an employer with flexible work policies and a focus on wellbeing. Implementing some of these simple changes can help employees stay productive throughout the work day.

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Tatiana Shcherbynka
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107 views2 pages

Set Goals, Switch Off Social and Snack Well: How To Be More Productive at Work

Employees can take several measures to improve productivity at work according to the article. Some tips include focusing on one task at a time instead of multitasking, doing the most difficult task first to get a sense of accomplishment, taking breaks to walk outside or stretch, avoiding pointless meetings, switching off social media notifications, snacking on nuts and fruit instead of junk food, getting enough sleep, and choosing an employer with flexible work policies and a focus on wellbeing. Implementing some of these simple changes can help employees stay productive throughout the work day.

Uploaded by

Tatiana Shcherbynka
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Set goals, switch off social and snack well:

how to be more productive at work


1. Are you productive at work? Why? Why not?

2. Below are the paragraph headlines taken from the article. Find where they
belonged.

Choose your employer well – Get enough sleep – Switch off social –
Avoid pointless meetings – Do the trickiest job first – Take breaks –
Snack well – Limit the time you spend on a task – Focus on one task at a
time.

Employees can take measures to improve their productivity at work. Follow


these simple tips to help ensure you remain productive throughout the day:

1.

Breaking up the day into batches of similar tasks that you expect to finish
within a certain time can help you to focus. You’ll need to be disciplined to
stick to your deadlines – but if you can, you should whiz through your to-do list.

2.
Grit your teeth and get the hardest task done before looking at the other jobs
you need to do. While it’s tempting to procrastinate and leave the thorniest job
for last, you’ll enjoy a sense of satisfaction once your biggest task is ticked off.
Making this into a daily habit will improve your productivity and you’ll start each
day with a sense of achievement.
3.

Fresh air oxygenates the bloodstream, wakes you up and can help to improve
your mood so try to go outside at lunchtime for a walk. Even 15 minutes spent
in fresh air on a grey day will have a positive impact on your ability to
concentrate and a break from your computer screen will benefit your eyes, too.
Additionally, take regular desk breaks to stand and stretch.

4.

We’ve all had those meetings that end up being a colossal waste of time. So if
the meeting does not have a firm agenda, clear goals, and a strict start time
and latest end time, postpone it until these are in place. Sometimes, an email
or phone call will suffice instead of a meeting, saving everyone’s time. And,
when you do have a meeting, ensure that you and the other participants are
fully briefed to avoid going over issues from scratch.

5.

Idly scrolling through social media sucks up time like few things can. And
notifications popping up on your phone won’t help you to work well. Switch off
– or mute – these time thieves when possible.

6.

The afternoon slump can send many of us rushing to buy iced buns and bars
of chocolate, but nuts and fruit are a better way to get a burst of energy to
power through those post-lunch tasks – and avoid you adding today’s
unfinished jobs to tomorrow’s list. Keep healthy snacks in your bag or drawer
and save junk food for later, when it won’t matter if you zone out.

7.

The old saying “jack of all trades, master of none” has truth in it. We’re not
designed to multitask and trying to do so diminishes productivity. It becomes
difficult to focus, and trying to juggle jobs takes a toll on the memory as well as
stressing you out.

8.

It’s an obvious one, but regular decent sleep will sharpen your thinking,
decision-making and memory – all of which affect your productivity – and has
benefits for your physical and mental health. Consider having an early night
and starting again in the morning instead of working late into the evening.

9.
When you’re considering a potential employer, investigate their wellness policy
and ask about the company’s attitude towards flexible working. Forward-
thinking firms know that productivity will soar if they prioritize staff wellbeing
and exploit the myriad benefits that connectivity brings – so that employees
have input into how, when and where they work.

THE GUARDIAN – JOY PERSAUD 11/12/2019

3. Did you understand? Why should we do all these things? Answer for each tip.

4. Discussion:
Do you agree with the advice provided in the article? Which measures do you
think you could try? Which would be impracticable? Why?

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