Time-wasting habits you need to get rid of

Clichéd as it sounds, the saying that 20% of your activities account for 80% of your success has some amount of truth in it. Think about it. Turn it around and all it basically says is that 80% of your activities are of low value. So how do you cut out the bad from the good?

STOP CHECKING YOUR MAIL/SOCIAL MEDIA CONSTANTLY

With the advent of instant notifications on our phones, employees have started to reply to emails and messages within minutes of receiving them. But is faster actually better? Not necessarily. Checking our notifications constantly costs us a ton of time. Unless you're waiting for something you're live depends on, turn off your notifications while you work on a project. Even better is if you can set up a system to check your mail and messages a set number of times per day.

THINGS WILL NOT BE PERFECT

Sometimes we just need to put a stopper on our inner perfectionist. Now that you have a real job, you have to face the reality that most things will not be perfect. In fact, spending hours perfecting something might actually be a sign of procrastinating. Instead, work until the task is "good" and move forward.

MULTITASKING

We don't know why, but we do it anyway. Multitasking doesn't work because your brain can't focus on more than one thing at a time. It's humanly impossible. Switching back and forth between tasks is time consuming in itself. You need to come to terms with this fact and focus on a single thing for a fixed length of time. You'll find yourself moving through your workload faster.

GET RID OF DISTRACTIONS

Working with other people means that you're bound to get interrupted. One study found that workers get interrupted every 11 minutes. Whether you're getting some coffee with co-workers or running over to the next cubicle to get in on the latest office gossip, think twice before leaving that desk. Do you have to go right now? Is there something you should finish first?

GET ORGANISED

Being organised goes beyond having a tidy desk. Heck, maybe messy desks work for you. But if you're losing important contact details, papers, key information, and deadlines, it's definitely time to find a system that works for you. Whether it's an app on your phone, a whiteboard or an organiser, get your work life into order.

START SAYING NO

Being in an office means you're going to have to collaborate with your co-workers at some point in your day. It's also perfectly okay to help others out even when it's not your job. But if you're saying yes to time-sucking activities at the expense of your own work, know when to draw the line. If your plate is full, don't take up additional assignments—your boss will understand if you have a valid reason. Even in your personal life, draining and unsatisfying engagements should be avoided. Start getting your office work done during office hours and surrender to renewing and refreshing in your leisure. Remember, you're not alienating your friends and colleagues by saying no that one time.