6 simple methods for a more productive workday

When many offices closed last spring, it was assumed that this would only be for a short time to flatten the curve. However, after more than a year at the latest, it's time to properly set up the home office workspace.

• Invest in some noise-canceling headphones
• Use an ergonomic desk chair
• Ensure sufficient lighting

The more comfortable your workspace is, the less distracted you will be from your work.

Workers often juggle multiple projects and deadlines. In addition, home offices require even more multitasking due to responsibilities at home. Practice consciously working through your workload little by little. For example, you can resolve for the next 30 minutes. This might look like, "I will ignore emails and other interruptions until this document is finished," or "I will eat something now without getting distracted by work." Thinking about what you're going to focus on before moving on to other tasks can help you get more done whether it's finishing a project or taking a break.

For a few emails, it's necessary to sit on lengthy introductions or pore over wording. However, for most emails, it's better to keep it shorter, both for your productivity and the recipients' time management. Especially for people you communicate with frequently, such as your team members, consider ways to shorten your e-correspondence. Bullet points, for example, are one strategy for simplifying complex concepts and saving time.

When you're overloaded with work, you often power through it and work feverishly. But it's worth taking 30 to 60 minutes a week to plan out the week ahead. Block out time in your calendar when you don't have to attend meetings or open your email. This will help you better prioritize the most important projects and set achievable goals that will drive your work forward.

Some people are most productive in the morning, while others don't get going until later in the day. Use it to tackle the tasks on your list that you find most challenging whenever your most productive time of day. This will ensure that you do the best work. The rest of the time, you can use it for easier tasks, like answering emails or filing paperwork.

Especially during difficult times, like these, it seems like challenges, and everything we don't accomplish takes center stage. To change this mindset and remind yourself of how much you've accomplished, take a few minutes to write down your successes at the end of each week. When you look back at what you accomplished, you can start the coming week more motivated.