Spring Tips to Boost Productivity

Productivity is crucial to the success of any job, but especially to those working in health care careers. Business owners, managers, and executives all want to get the most from their employees. When it comes to health care careers, the job sometimes comes down to life and death. Productivity is a must because lives can depend on it.

Of course, we at Concorde want our students and alums to be productive as well. A high rate of productivity typically means a thriving student, whether studying nursing, medical assisting, dental hygiene or any one of our other accelerated health care training programs. The same can be said for an alum working in one of those health care careers.

Entrepreneur.com recently published an article detailing some helpful ways to maximize productivity. Consider how you allocate your time. And, to get more done at work and school, consider the following seven simple tips to increase productivity.

7 tips to boost productivity in health care careers or otherwise

1. Set your schedule for the next day the day or night before. Prioritize which tasks need to be completed. Even if you are interrupted by unexpected assignments or emergencies, you'll know exactly what needs to be done when you return to your desk. Not only will a schedule keep you organized and focused, you'll get the satisfaction of crossing items off your "to do" list once you complete them.
2. Take a 5-10 minute break whenever you feel mentally fatigued. Take a short walk to stretch or get a drink. Brief interludes can increase your productivity by getting your blood flowing and allowing you to return to work with fresh eyes.
3. Reduce multi-tasking. Trying to accomplish more than one task at a time can be more harmful than helpful. It ends in distractions which can make the work suffer. Focus on one task at a time, complete it properly and move on to the next project.
4. Eliminate potential distractions. Interruptions during the workday are inevitable, but it's a good idea to minimize them. If you have an office with a door, keep it closed. Minimize time spent shooting the breeze with co-workers.

Impose more structure while working in health care careers

5. Impose deadlines on yourself and stick to them. Budget your time to help you meet deadlines faster.
6. Avoid large, heavy lunches that will leave you feeling fatigued. Instead, snack on foods high in protein, fiber, and antioxidants throughout the day. Sugary foods and energy drinks keep you going only for a short time. The inevitable "crash" might turn you into a zombie and ruin your ability to work for the rest of the day.
7. Keep your workspace clean and clear of clutter. As the old saying goes, "A cluttered desk is a symptom of a cluttered mind." The time you spend looking for misplaced papers each day is extra time you could be using to complete your work. There are apps to assist you in categorizing and organizing your email inbox. Imagine the time you could save by no longer searching for hard-to-find emails.

While these might seem like common sense, they're far too easily dismissed while in the midst of the hustle and bustle of health care careers. Put these simple steps into action, however, and you'll find yourself quickly becoming a more productive employee and/or student pursuing healthcare degrees.