Any professional in any field knows the sinking feeling of not meeting a goal they set for themselves. This can sometimes apply to large projects, like that immigration labor advertising rollout that didn’t deliver as planned. A lot of the time, it is the small goals that we set for ourselves on a daily basis that we fail to meet. This is no less problematic, as sometimes, these smaller failures can become larger ones. In addition, it never feels good to have anything you do not come together. Sometimes, this is outside your control, like a more glaring issue pops up at work and you have to deal with that in order to meet another goal. Sometimes, though, it’s a matter of you not maximizing your time. Here are some tips to make sure you’re getting the most production possible.
In some cases, you may be setting yourself up for failure before the day begins by not being realistic with your goals. Remember, your to-do list is not a wish list, and you shouldn’t treat it that way when you don’t meet your goals. To keep that realistic mindset in place, try to set time frames for each different part of your schedule, based on your past experience. Try and add a little time cushion, to help you deal with side issues without throwing yourself off.
When it comes to being realistic about distractions, understand that sometimes, it’s your capacity that’s the problem, not the time frame. No one can handle every issue at 100% every time. To handle this, know when you work best and plan your day accordingly. For example, are you a morning person who tends to get tired after lunch? Are you the kind of person who tends to limp toward the weekend? Keep all this in mind when it comes to your day.
Of course, a good mind and a good schedule can fall prey to distractions. Some common issues here include:
- cell phones
- television
- social media
- the Internet
- coworkers
- snack time
Remote workers or anyone who doesn’t have an immediate supervisor checking their performance are at special risk, as who will check them for being distracted? No one, and the only real consequence comes from when your work doesn’t get done. As hard as it may be, find ways to get rid of those distractions or demarcate them at certain times.
Sometimes, good intentions can lead to distractions. Multitasking is a valuable skill, but if you’re working on ten things and only one gets finished, you may have a problem. Keep a priority system in place to make sure that what needs to get done quickest gets done quickest.
