Many of us are struggling as we try to push through our work tasks while we figure out how to be as productive as we can after the events of the past year. With thoughtful care, planning ahead, and celebrating what is going well, it is possible to use new strategies to increase your productivity. 

Here are six small ways to be more productive in your daily work:

Create a comfortable office space.

As countless offices shut down around the world last spring, it was supposed to be for just a short amount of time to flatten the curve. However, it is over a year later, and now it is time to take your at-home workspace seriously. Invest in some noise cancelling headphones, buy an ergonomic desk chair, and add some beautiful new lighting to your office space. Having a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing workspace will help you remain focused on work and not distracted by your surroundings. 

Switch tasks with intention.

Workers across the world are now faced, not only with working from home, but juggling their at-home responsibilities simultaneously. All of a sudden, tasks that usually waited until after work are now fighting for our attention during our working hours. Practice switching tasks by setting an intention for the next thirty minutes like, “I will ignore emails and other interruptions until this pitch document is finished,” or “I am feeding my body without the distraction of work.” Choosing to be mindful about switching tasks can help maximize what you get done during the day. 

Write shorter emails.

Though it can be tempting to script long and intricate introductions or creating the perfect wording, that’s not necessary for the majority of the emails that you write. Though it may be necessary for a select few emails, for most of the messages that you write, shorter is better. Especially for those that you correspond with frequently, see how you can shorten your messages. Bullet points are one strategy for simplifying complex concepts and saving time. 

In a time when we are all struggling to stay productive, it has never been more important to find new ways to increase our productivity. Whether improving your personal workspace, switching tasks more intentionally, or shortening the way that we correspond through email, there are strategies for productivity that can help keep your head afloat.