Why becoming a productivity ninja is the most efficient way to work
As businesses, we are constantly looking for ways to work more efficiently with our inner productivity ninja trying to getting more bangs for our buck – yet this is easier said than done. We use technology to help maximise our productivity by streamlining business processes whilst reducing time spent on repetitive, time-consuming tasks. However, technology has become both a blessing and a curse as you find yourself overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information and at risk of burnout as a result.
(You are probably nodding your head as you read this).
But there is a solution…
Become a Productivity Ninja!
What is a productivity ninja and how can it help you to work more efficiently?
A productivity ninja is someone who is calm, organised and pro-active at work: equipped with an impressive range of skills and abilities and ruthless when it comes to removing barriers to their effectiveness. They accept that they are human (not superhuman!), understanding their strengths and weaknesses and how these can be harnessed to the benefit of their career and the task at hand.
It’s about remaining focused in the face of a never-ending stream of information and the constant feeling that that there are not enough hours in the day. Work/life balance is of prime importance to the productivity ninja who gives equal weight to the needs of the business with their physical and mental wellbeing.
To use a sporting analogy – it is about placing yourself ‘in the zone,’ armed and ready for whatever challenges arise: being able to concentrate on one task at a time without any distractions from emails and social media that demand your immediate attention. No, that’s enough.
Ask yourself this: how often have you been in the middle of a task only to break off because an email has landed in your inbox or your phone pinged with a Facebook notification? Made ‘To Do’ lists that keep on growing … or attended interminable meetings that in many cases were unnecessary and/or wasteful.
Nevertheless, there are ways to break these destructive habits as part of your journey in the ways of the productivity ninja. We’ve put together a list of tips designed to help you to do just that and hopefully implement for the next day, week, or as it happens now, the next year.
Productivity ninja – tips on how to work efficiently
- Use an online tracker such as Timetac or RescueTime. These are unobtrusive software solutions that log the amount of time you spend on a task and alert you when you are being productive and unproductive
- Turn off social media and email notifications
- Work in chunks – set yourself a time limit and stick to it. Download a digital timer such as Online Task Timer
- Streamline business processes such as accounting by using an online system, e.g. Xero, QuickBooks and Kashflow. These also have a mobile version for use on the move
- Do you need to attend that meeting? If so, check if it could be held via Skype or some other form of video conferencing as these are usually quicker
- Take regular breaks – get up and move around. Have a stretch, go for a walk or make a cuppa
- Minimise interruptions from friends, employees or colleagues. Not always easy to do as you don’t want to offend anyone but keep it brief and if possible, ask them to call back later (when you are available)
- Have a plan for the day that includes a time slot for checking emails, say at lunchtime. Be pro-active rather than reactive and take control
Finally, never strive for perfection. Life has a way of tripping us up and things don’t always go the way you planned. Accept this, complete the task to the best of your ability and move onto the next. You can always revisit it if needs be.
We hope this article has been useful but if you would like to know more about becoming a productivity ninja and working efficiently, speak to a member of our team, we can always address easy time saving elements for your website.