We’re all guilty, there’s no denying it but it’s about being cognoscente of our actions and learning to cut down on the wasted time and being productive in office.
I pulled a few key time wasters I’ve heard the most feedback on as well as shared a great info-graphic from Yast.
Instant Messaging | Though this can be a useful intra-office tool, more times than none it can make it productivity’s worst enemy. Let’s be honest, are you strictly using it to converse with colleagues or getting sucked into a 1/2 hour gossip sesh with friends or family members?
Meetings about Meetings | You know the hour meeting where you get together and end up with a list of what should be discussed in yet another meeting? Meetings are a necessary evil. If not ran appropriately they can be a colossal waste of time.
Distractions | How many times have you been in the ‘zone’ and got that “urgent” email. You reply and bam, you’re hit with a phone call and then the cycle thus begins. How about coworker side chit chat , or computer updates? No wonder why you’re struggling to get work done.
Social Networking | How times have changed when it comes to social platforms and texting. If you’re family and friends refrain from contacting you during work hours (like the good old days) you’ll be a lot more productive and won’t have to worry about falling behind on projects.
Web Surfing “Breaks” | You need a little mental break from work tasks and step away to check out that movie you’re planning on seeing this weekend. Before you know it, you have 7 tabs open in your browser. Checking out today’s news, pinning and those concert tickets. No need to ask where your afternoon went. 64% say they visit non-work related websites everyday during work hours.
Smoke and Coffee Breaks | Everyone needs to step away from the desk, and it’s been said that taking breaks can make you more productive overall. But, if you’re going out for smoke or coffee runs every hour, chances are you’re not allowing yourself to be productive at all or really ever get into a work groove.
What do you think is your biggest time waster? How do you think you could improve your overall productivity? Share below in the comments.
Biggest Work Place Time Wasters via Yast
This is so true! Whether I have done or someone else has it takes recognizing that you do it to change it.! 🙂
Absolutely! I’m guilty – it’s kind of a catch 22. My job requires me to do a lot of what would be considered ‘time wasting’ in order to execute my job while others not so much. But I’ve held the reins back on my faults and willing to admit when I’m guilty. *slaps self on hand
I can super admit to my faults lol but like i said because i recognize and am aware i try hard not to repeat as much as possible. Darn those temptations!
Coffee can be addicting! Oddly I never have coffee during a coffee break I only drink it while working
You don’t realize how all of these things add up! I would say not having tasks lined up properly/orderly takes up some of my time.
Or losing your to-do/task list, that super sucks
My biggest time-wasters working at home are…hmm I guess I don’t have any! The time I am working is the time I am working and the times I do those other things are my time. It’s great to work at home!
I worked at home once… to many children were hanging on my neck so I couldn’t be as productive as I would have liked. Do you have some form of child repellant?
we have a tv mounted above my work station hahaha
I waste the most time waiting for answers to my questions
I’d have to say that coffee and smoke breaks are numero uno at my work place
some people I work with you know to look for them in the break area first and then their desk second
LOL I had a job with employees like that years ago for sure
my husband stops in to chat way to much on his off days