It can often seem that you are working hard, but that you have nothing to show for your efforts by the end of the day. One potential reason for this is that you are not optimising your productivity at work.
Why is Productivty Important?
Improving your productivity is essential regardless of whether you are a freelance writer or you are a writer working in a team for a company. Your productivity is likely to impact your chances of financial success. It is particularly vital if you are paid per article or word, rather than on a salary.
Here are some tips to maximise your productivity at work.
Productivity at Work Tip #1: Streamlining
There are often ways to do things that are quicker, and sometimes we complete tasks at work unnecessarily. Analyse your daily work routine and look at whether there are tasks that you can remove or if there is a simpler way of doing them.
Is there a best time of day to find work? If so, set aside this time to search for work each day, so you are not distracted from your work by checking if more is available.
Similarly, continually checking your emails can waste a lot of time. It is better to focus on your emails at set times of the day to avoid the distraction of reading unimportant emails.
Productivity at Work Tip #2: Make the Best Use ofTechnology
Ask yourself if you are making the most of the technology that is available to you. Technology has made fantastic advances that have helped us get more done in a shorter space of time, thus becoming more productive.
People are often unsure how to use different technologies to maximise their productivity. There are some fantastic technologies available to help writers improve the speed and quality of their work.
It can help to attend a training course to ensure that you have the necessary training to use any equipment, computers, or programs efficiently and effectively.
Productivity at Work Tip #3: Delegate Tasks
It is easy to think that there is only you who can do a task. If you have other people working with you, consider delegating to other people who might be keen to take on more duties, leaving you free to tackle the important things. However, be careful not to overload other people or make them feel like they are just doing the tasks you don’t like.
Productivity at Work Tip #4: Get Enough Sleep
People are more productive at work if they are getting enough rest. Those who are tired at work find it difficult to concentrate, and then it takes them longer to complete tasks, making them less productive. Getting a decent night’s sleep can be the difference between a productive day and a non-productive day.
Productivity Tip #5: Get Organized
Being organised is a critical element of working productively.
If you are disorganised, you will spend a lot of time working out what you should be doing and when.
Having a plan of what tasks need to be achieved by when will increase your productivity at work. If you have deadlines, begin these pieces of work first. Likewise, set aside more time for longer articles or those that will need more research.
If you work from a desk, this should keep it tidy to avoid disorganisation. A disorganised desk means you will waste time looking for the relevant information needed to complete a task.
Productivity at Work Tip #6: Find a Way of Working That Works for You
Everyone is different, and this means that people find different strategies work best for them in terms of productivity as a writer. For example, some professional writers like to research a subject before they begin an article. ON the other hand, others prefer to conduct their research as they go along. Likewise, some writers like to edit an article at the end, while others find it better to edit a paragraph at a time.
Productivity at Work Tip #7: Avoid Distractions
If you work from home, distractions are potentially one of your most significant issues. The phone ringing, family members talking to you, and background noise are all possible issues.
Ask family members not to disturb you, work in a room without television, and turn off your phone. Taking these steps will reduce the number of disturbances throughout the day and allow you to get more work done.
Another issue is that friends and family may not understand that you have a ‘real job’ because you work from home. Therefore, they will pop round for a brew and a chat. Make it clear to everyone that you need time to work without disturbances.
A further problem that is common amongst people working from home is temptations. These include temptations to stop work to have a coffee every hour or watch a television program instead of working. Try to have willpower and focus. Set times when you can stop working, and stick to this routine.
The Final Verdict
If you want to become successful as a freelance writer, then productivity is crucial. You must take steps to ensure you work as effectively as possible to maximise your earning potential. The tips above will help you to work as productively as possible.