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A common misconception is that the longer time you spend in the office and the busier you are the entire day, the more productive you are. On the contrary, if you are busy, and constantly overwhelmed by tasks, you are not being productive. Being productive implies finishing the same amount of work in less time, using less energy and doing so without wasting valuable company resources. To be more productive, you first have to be aware which workplace habits are causing you to be inefficient and then finding ways on how to get rid of them. Below are some bad workplace habits and ways on how to correct them.

1. Not Planning Your Day

Tip: Come up with a Task List.

Spend the first 10 to 15 minutes of your day or the night before to come up with a task list. Better yet, make it the night before. Identify the things you have to do for the next day, like phone calls you have to make or return business conferences and appointments you have to or promised to be present at and business letters you have to write and send. Whenever you make your To do list, organize them according to priority. Some people also find it more productive to put their concentration-intensive tasks in the morning when they are most focused and labor-intensive tasks in the afternoon. Use a day planner also called a personal organizer when making your task lists.

Two of the most important feature you should look for in task management software are ease-of-use and synchronization capability. Task management software vary greatly in terms of features and price, reading reviews and trying out demo versions will help you find one that fits your needs and budget.

2 Having a messy inbox and even more chaotic work desk

What you can do: De-clutter!

Simply put, you will be left scatter-brained for the entire day if your computer files are in disarray. Start naming your documents, worksheets, and presentations in a standardized manner and place them in properly labeled folders. For instance, you can place the dates on the file name and have a version number towards the latter part. That way, it would be easy for you to find the one's you are looking for, and not having to open and check multiple files which can be extremely time consuming. With regards to your e-mail, it is best to maintain a devoted account for business purposes. Use the e-mail platform's prioritization feature, and practice deleting unnecessary mails at least once weekly. As for your physical workspace, remember to place the most frequently used items at arm's reach or in plain view, and keep those you use seldom in the drawers, and those you simply have no use for in the trash bin.

3. Taking on more tasks than you can handle

What you can do: Don t multitask and learn when to say no

What you're about to read might shock you: multitasking is bad for productivity! Yes, you read it right, research shows that tackling multiple tasks simultaneously makes you less efficient. The probable reason for this is that your attention is constantly shifting from one task to the next, leaving you tired, overwhelmed, and simply unable to finish any of the tasks you've set out to do. If your plate is full, minimize interruptions and let people know you need privacy. If you're working at full capacity, try to tune out of distractions, close the door, and tell your workmates that you need a few hours of alone time to work. Also, although it may seem like it is your job as a good employee to say yes to all delegated tasks, it is unhealthy and unrealistic. Face it, you're no superman and it is your responsibility to inform your immediate supervisor that you're already overloaded with work. Alternatively, you may use your portable devices instead and install task management software.

4. Putting off tasks to a later time

Tips: Split your tasks into segments and stop over thinking things
Procrastination is probably the greatest psychological barrier that decreases productivity. Workers tend to vacillate between doing and not doing certain tasks because they think that these are too herculean to tackle. Break your work down into smaller, more manageable tasks. The same thing can be done with your tasks. Break it down into several steps, doing one small task at a time.

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