We all have those days where we feel like we get nothing done at work. It happens. 

But how can you make sure that those days are the exception instead of the norm?

The answer’s simple: create better habits. 

As expert James Clear says, 

“Time will multiply whatever you feed it. Good habits make time your ally. Bad habits make time your enemy.”

So how can you start to build those better habits and be more productive? Here are some tips to point you in the right direction. 

No more multi-tasking

It may sound counterintuitive, but doing fewer things will help you do more. By focusing your attention on one task at a time, you can complete that task both better and faster. 

Ultimately, this means that you can actually get more done if you do things separately than if you try to do multiple things at once. This is emotionally intelligent time management.

Take breaks

Again, a counterintuitive one. But by allowing your brain some time to recharge, you can recover your energy and reduce fatigue. This means by the time you do get back to work, you’ll be working at 100% rather than 25%. 

A common way to do this is the Pomodoro technique. This allows you to break up your day into 25-minute chunks of work with 3-5 minute breaks, along with a longer 15-30 minute break once you’ve done four work periods. 

But there are lots of different ways to structure your breaks. Find the one that works best for you. 

Limit your interruptions

If you can, mute your notifications and email for certain periods of the day. This allows you to work for periods at a time without worrying about being interrupted. 

You can set it up so that you only get messages at specific points throughout the day, and let your colleagues know that these are your contact times. 

And just avoid social media wherever you can. That’s a time sink you’ll never escape from.

Know how you work

Are you more of a morning person? Or do you do your best work right after you get back from your lunch break?

Whatever your preferences, identify the times of the day where you feel most energetic and productive. This will allow you to best schedule important tasks and put those less important time wasters where they belong. 

This works best when you have a high EQ and sense of self-awareness. 

Set smaller goals

Still putting off that task? It might just be too intimidating to start. 

But if you break it up into smaller chunks and deadlines (say, you’ll finish the first page by lunch), it’s a lot easier to dive in. 

You can also see more progress – you’re not just completing one task, but a bunch of smaller ones. All those ticks on your to-do list can really help give you a boost. 

Our Time Management training helps employees build better habits through emotional intelligence. The workshop shows them how to make the most of every workday. Find out more by getting in touch with our team.