productive

Be Your Most Productive Self At Work This Summer!

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It’s July, which believe it or not… means Summer is here in the UK! We’ve had a few lovely spells of warm weather recently and more are upon us – which can mean a drop in productivity levels whilst at work. 

Here’s some of our advice to be your most productive self at work this Summer!

Do Your Most Important Work Early

Aim to tackle the most important items on your to-do list when your energy levels are high, first thing in the morning when you start work. As the day goes on, your dreams of being at the beach or in a swimming pool may make you less productive – meaning your more important tasks may be left unfinished or delayed.

Take Lunch Breaks – And Switch Them Up! 

Make sure you give yourself a lunch hour to break up your day and restore your motivation for the afternoon! Why not try having something different to look forward to each day when you take your lunch break? This can really help revitalise your mood. You could try reading a book outside on Monday’s, going for a stroll to the park on Tuesday’s… and so on! 

Work Or Take Meetings Outside

Getting outside for meetings or to work from not only provides fresh air, it also provides fresh context. So if your job role allows you to do so, make the most out of working outdoors during the summer months. A change in scenery can get your creativity juices flowing and reset your mind. If you can’t do this, at least make sure you get outside during your lunch breaks, as above.

Keep Hydrated

When you’re dehydrated, you lose a large amount of water from your body, resulting in feelings of tiredness or and light-headedness to name a few. Factor that in with the added heat during summertime, you’re not going to feel your best! Always keep a bottle of water by your side and re-fill throughout the day to ensure you’re keeping hydrated.

Enjoy your summer and remember to take time for yourself! What are your Summer productivity tips? Let us know by giving us a tweet @mbsmih.

Working Smarter, Not Harder

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The age-old adage that is used by many business owners across the globe. But what does it really mean and how can you ensure you’re being as efficient as possible.

Working ‘smartly’ (or efficiently) quite simply means doing the right task in the best way, without wasting any time or effort. The best way to do that? Plan, measure and prioritise…

I’m sure you’ve heard it many times, but planning for tomorrow today is the number one key to a productive day. (If you don’t do anything else suggested here, I guarantee this will immediately make you more efficient.) 

Still, if you want to be the ‘smartest worker’, please keep reading!

It’s great to have a plan or to do list for tomorrow (to avoid procrastination and hit the ground running), but without understanding how long a task might take, or knowing their value and priority, there will still be efficiency gaps.

Take the time to actively measure how long (averagely) each task needs. They might be daily, weekly, monthly or even annually. But in most cases, they will all be a repeat of something you’ve done before (or will become that way as your business endures). Once you know this, you’ll be able to start mastering your daily plan. 

Next, prioritise and add a value to each of the tasks. For example; a 1, 2, 3 priority scale in conjunction with an income earning scale (0, £, ££ or £££). This will help you determine which tasks to tackle first in the day and which could roll over to the following day if necessary – or even be removed entirely! 

Nothing is simple when running a business, there will always be other distractions that pop up, so plan for those too. Emails and calls for example (measure the average time you spend on these). They will invariably come in at random times throughout the day, disturbing your flow and impeding your efficiency! But you can stop them. Plan times into your day for checking emails and for taking/ returning calls. As long as you communicate this to your team and clients, no-one will be disappointed or frustrated.

This blog was originally featured in Issue 17 of Worthing & Adur Chamber Of Commerce’s Connect Magazine: Read it here.

Our Rules For Working From Home

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Working from home is great. You can be flexible, work around personal commitments and avoid office-based distractions. But, working from home is also hard… The temptation to get chores done in work hours. It can be lonely. It’s difficult to keep focussed. Check out our rules for working from home to help keep you motivated and at your productive best! 

Go To Work 

It’s important to have a designated work area that you go to (and then leave!) each day. That might not be easy, depending on space, but even if your ‘office’ is in your bedroom or dining room, have a specific desk space that you only use for working. Being able to step away from work for lunch breaks and at the end of the day will help you keep a healthy work-life balance. 

Dress For Work 

Regardless of the hours you work, length of time or working pattern, prepare for your day as you always have. Imagine you have a 9am meeting every day. Get up, get showered, get dressed and have breakfast. Go to your ‘office’ ready and in the right mindset. It might seem easier and quicker to just throw something comfy on and get started with work, but ultimately you’ll get into bad habits and be less productive.  

Keep In Touch 

Don’t spend days on end looking at the same walls and never speaking with anyone. If you have a team, chat to them regularly. General conversation is nice, and you can also share ideas and support each other. If you don’t have a team, talk to your customers, suppliers or anyone else in your network. It’s good to stay in touch and will help to remind you why you’re doing what you do! 

Structure Your Day 

Regardless of your working pattern, keep it structured. To make the most of your day, designate time slots (being realistic!) for emails, marketing, lead generation and providing your products and services. Ideally, make tomorrows to-do list at the end of each working day. That way you can prioritise the tasks you need to get done and hit the ground running. 

Don’t Get Distracted 

Being at home, you’ll have several tasks other than work that need doing. Not to mention keeping up to date with the latest TV series’ and checking what’s happening on social media… Don’t get distracted! You’re still at work and if you weren’t working from home you wouldn’t be able to do those things. Imagine that’s the case and keep focussed. Ensuring you have somewhere to ‘Go To Work’ will really help with this. 

Eat 

It’s easy to keep working and forget to eat, or just grab something to snack on, but it’s bad for productivity and your overall health. Make time to ensure you have proper meals at the right times – it’s vital for keeping your brain engaged and your mind and body in good shape. 

Get Out 

Take a proper break and get outside. It doesn’t have to be long, but it does need to be away from your desk and in the fresh air. You’ll be amazed how much more productive you are afterwards, and if you tie it in with lunch (or other food break) you’ll get a few more minutes away from your desk to get completely refreshed. 

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Keep in touch: makeithappen@mbsmih.com or 01903 688789