Posted by André Nosalsky :: June 4, 2009 @ 10:32 am

Increasing your productivity is one of the best ways to increase your income. When you increase your productivity, you are able to do your work in a shorter amount of time and with a higher quality output. Here are some tips to help to help you increase your productivity, no matter what your job is.

1. Learn as much as you can. It is surprising how many people do not take advantage of every opportunity to learn more and increase their knowledge and expertise in their fields. Many employers have courses and other training available to anybody that asks. All you have to do is ask your boss or call the HR department and inquire. Many times you will be given time off to take classes that are paid for fully by your employer, which will allow you to be more productive at your job and eventually lead to higher compensation and personal income.
2. Cut off the distractions. One of the best pieces of advice that I ever got was “work when you work,” don’t socialize, and don’t catch up on the news or other information sources. Put your head down, put on the headphones, put up the “do not disturb” sign and work. Make a list of a few tasks that you want to accomplish that day, and don’t do anything else until you accomplish those tasks. Turn off the cell phones, BlackBerry, instant messaging, Facebook and Twitter, and focus on getting those tasks done. Afterwards, you will feel like you have accomplished a lot and you will not have any guilt about playing or doing whatever else you want.
3. Time block. Whenever I sit down to write a blog post, I know that I need about two hours from start to finish. Starting with an initial idea, doing research, drafting and editing takes about two hours. In my schedule, I have to block out two full hours where I know I will not be distracted and then I can fully focus without worrying about being interrupted and having to start again. There are emergencies that can’t wait two hours. You should do the same: block off several hours at a time to focus on one task. Cut off all distractions, let people know you will be available after that time, and then let your mind run with the opportunity to stop thinking about anything but the task at hand.

Finding ways where you can do things faster, more efficiently and with less distractions will make you more productive at your job. This will lead to higher income either from your current job or from the marketplace in general. It will also allow you to enjoy your free time without any guilt, because you will have already accomplished your tasks for the day.