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We have all been there. You are trying to finish a report by its deadline and coworkers keep interrupting you or you need information from colleagues about a project and they are not responding. This causes frustration and delays in your work. It's important to stay calm and learn how to stay productive in a busy office.
If coworkers keep stopping by your desk to ask questions, drop off paperwork, or chat about random topics, try putting up a "Do Not Disturb" sign during your busiest hours. You could also place boxes or other barriers around your cubicle or in front of your door to discourage interruptions. When juggling multiple tasks, make a to-do list and tackle time-sensitive items first to avoid missing deadlines.
If working at your desk is too distracting, see if your boss will let you work remotely a few days a week—assuming your home environment is calm enough. Alternatively, find a quieter spot in the building for a couple of hours, like an empty conference room or corner office.
On busy days, set clear boundaries with coworkers so they only interrupt you for work-related matters, not to chat about weekend plans or favorite sports teams. If permitted, put your phone on vibrate and let people know you’ll respond to non-essential texts and emails when you can. Handle important messages right away, and if you have a time-sensitive question, stress the need for a quick reply. When you need paperwork from colleagues, give them plenty of notice to get it to you.
Stay calm throughout the day, even when things don’t go as planned. Deadlines that are moved up and delays can happen unexpectedly, but reacting positively will help you stay focused and productive.
An organized and clutter-free desk saves you time wasted looking for something. Therefore, place important paperwork in a filing cabin or desk organizer set. A daily planner might be a good idea if you need help sticking to a productive work schedule. Use well-placed sticky notes and your cell phone's reminder app to notify you when a meeting will start in case you are busy with work to notice the time. If your work area is too noisy and you can't work elsewhere, noise-cancelling headsets makes for a practical solution.
If you have any questions or want more tips on how to stay productive in a busy office, please contact one of our representatives at Brand RPM.