By Heather Johnson

The computer and the Internet are some of the best productivity tools ever invented but also some of the most distracting. So how can you strike a balance? It isn’t always easy, but you can manage to make your online work more productive by changing a few simple approaches to your work. Train your mind and body with these 25 habits and you’ll get more done, make more money, and have more time to relax.

1. Have set availability. Don’t let clients, friends and family contact you at all hours during the day. While you want to be available, this kind of open-ended availability can be disastrous to your productivity. Instead, return calls and emails at set times throughout the day.
2. Stay caught up on your email. Letting your inbox pile up is easy and especially tempting if you’re in a hurry, but if you keep caught up with it, you’ll never have to search through it for a lost email or wonder if you replied to a client on an important issue.
3. Set time boxes. Creating time boxes can be a great way to structure your day and get more done. Set certain amounts of time to work on each part of a project, answer emails, take breaks, and anything else you do throughout the day. By allowing yourself only set amounts of time for each thing you’ll be more focused and get more done.
4. Monitor your surfing. The Internet is tempting, filled with shopping, games, and contact with friends that’s generally more fun than any project you are working on. A little surfing is fine, but truly productive web workers know that there is a time and place for the fun stuff. If you can’t get control yourself, try using a program that can help you.
5. Take breaks. It may sound silly to advocate taking breaks as a way to become more productive but it’s true. Workers who take regular, structured breaks actually get more done and are happier than those who keep plugging away without end all day. Set aside a few minutes for yourself every few hours to give your mind and eyes a rest.
6. Work during your high points. All of us have times during the day when we’re more productive. Some people work better first thing in the morning, while others get an afternoon rush. Determine what your most productive times are and schedule your hardest and most intense work around them.
7. Set incentives. One way to get yourself working harder than ever is to give yourself incentives for a job well done. Get into the habit of giving yourself small rewards based on the amount of work you’ve completed. You’re much more likely to push through to get something done if you know there is a reward waiting at the end.
8. Don’t multitask. Unless you are a master at multitasking, doing more thing at once is going to do more harm than good. Concentrate on one to-do item at a time. It might seem like it would take longer, but it will help you focus and prevent errors.
9. Learn shortcuts. Most programs used to work online have keyboard shortcuts, macros, and ways to make even the simplest of tasks take less time. These few seconds saved may not seem like a big deal, but they can add up throughout the day and give you extra time to concentrate on more important things.
10. Simplify your processes. If you find yourself going through a multi-step ordeal to handle your email, client questions, or work on projects, then perhaps it’s time to think about streamlining how you work. Eliminating unnecessary steps and keeping it simple will allow you to keep your focus and make the most of the time you spend working.
11. Treat your body well. You won’t be very productive if you’re sitting at your computer exhausted from lack of sleep or sick from overwork, so make sure that you’re taking good care of yourself. It’s easy to get caught up in projects and forget to have healthy lunches or take a break to get some exercise, but start scheduling these things in as part of your day, and you’ll look and feel much better.
12. Set and meet deadlines. You may find yourself spending much more time on a project than you should if you don’t set deadlines for yourself. Whether you’re a blogger or a web designer, create reasonable goals for yourself and do your best to meet them.
13. Find a focus. Concentrating on a project can sometimes be a frustrating endeavor, so find something either about the project or in your environment that helps you find and keep focused. Turn on some music, clear off your desk, or make it fun for yourself, whatever it takes to keep you on task.
14. Follow up. The best web workers know that a project shouldn’t just fall by the wayside once you’re done with it. Check in with clients, commenters and anyone else who sees your work to get feedback and make you better at whatever job you’re doing.
15. Have the right tools for the job. A lot of time can be wasted by not having the right tools for the job. If you can’t afford expensive programs, then try finding open source alternatives that can do the same work for a fraction of the price.
16. Always have a clear agenda. Don’t just work willy nilly. Go into meetings and projects with a clear idea of what you want to get accomplished. Otherwise, you may find yourself losing time to disorganization.
17. Create set times to check messages. If you want to get more done, then don’t be a slave to your phone and email. Create a schedule to check emails. You can do it at frequent intervals if you’re afraid of missing important information, but constant, unscheduled checking can be a productivity killer.
18. Dress for work. You might be working from home, but that doesn’t mean you still shouldn’t get out of those pajamas to get to work. You don’t need to dress up, but at least put on something you wouldn’t be embarrassed to leave the house in. You’d be surprised how much of an affect your appearance will have on your motivation.
19. Take computer breaks. Working on the computer all day is hard on your eyes and joints, so make sure you take take a rest from it every once in awhile. It’ll save you from eyestrain and repetitive stress injuries which can cost you in the long run.
20. Define work hours. When it’s up to you to schedule your work, you may end up working at all hours of the day. Of course, when this happens, work tends to slowly but surely take over your life. You’ll get more done if you focus your energy on working during specific hours.
21. Automate. In this high-tech age, you shouldn’t have to do everything yourself. Automate as much of your process as you possibly can and you’ll feel like you have your own personal assistant.
22. Keep your workspace organized. A disorganized workspace is a surefire way to slow yourself down. Whether your virtual desktop is covered in files and icons or your real one is overflowing with papers, clean it up. It will be less distracting and you’ll be able to find what you need more quickly.
23. Stay positive. Everyone has bad days, but maintaining a generally positive attitude towards your work will go a long way in boosting your productivity. Find something that makes you happy, even if it’s just your morning coffee, and make it an integral part of your day.
24. Keep a calendar. You’ll let important deadlines and appointments fall by the wayside if you don’t keep at least some record of them on a calendar or day planner. Keep your day-to-day activities laid out and you’ll never have to waste time wondering what it is you should be doing today.
25. Be honest with yourself. Always be honest with yourself about how long a project will take and how interested you are in completing it. Being honest lets you set realistic goals and spend more time working towards them instead of making excuses.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 18th, 2008 at 10:08 am and is filed under Other Services, Web Tools. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.