5 Ways to Stop Wasting Time at Work

5 Ways to Stop Wasting Time at Work5 Ways to Stop Wasting Time at Work We all have days, or even weeks, on the job when our productivity declines. But if your output has been steadily diminishing, it could be because youre wasting time rather than focusing on key tasks at hand. If thats the case, the sooner you curb that behavior, the less likely itll be to compromise your job. Here are a few steps you can take to stop wasting time at work - and start doing your job more efficiently.Its easy to get distracted at the office when youre surrounded by chatty colleagues and side conversations that are far more interesting than the work youre supposed to be doing. But if you let yourself get sucked into those discussions, youre likely to fall behind and incur your bosss wrath as a result. If you cant tear yourself away from the folks around you long enough to stop wasting time, remove the temptation by regularly setting up shop in a quieter spot in the office, like the cor ner conference room most folks forget about. You might even ask your manager for permission to use his or her office if your boss doesnt use it all that much.A quick text message here and there during the workday might seem innocent enough, but a brief back-and-forth can quickly turn into a full-fledged conversation - one that takes you away from more important tasks. If youre eager to stop wasting time at the office, silence your cellphone. Give family members and close friends a way to reach you in an emergency (such as by calling your offices landline), and turn on that phone only during designated breaks.Its easy to inadvertently waste time when you dont have a preset schedule outlining your days at work. But if youre guilty of not maximizing your time at the office, itll help to create a daily calendar with blocks of time for various tasks . For example, if you give yourself from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. to write up your weekly data analysis report, youll be less likely to waste time during that period knowing that you only have an hour allocated to that task.A messy workspace can make you downright inefficient even when youre trying to do better. If your desk is full of clutter, carve out some time to get it organized. Shred papers you dont need, file essential documents in some sort of order and make your supplies more accessible. The less time you spend navigating the disaster zone that is your workspace, the more time youll free up to actually do your job.Sometimes we waste time at work by talking to colleagues, checking text messages or surfing the internet because our minds need a break from the constant grind. If that sounds like you, then youre better off scheduling some breaks during the day but powering through otherwise. For example, you might carve out 20 minutes in the morning or afternoon to chat with coworkers or look at your favorite websites. This way, youll get that need out of your system so you can then go back to concentrating.The more ti me you waste at work, the more your manager and peers are apt to take notice - and thats a good way to hurt your reputation and put your job at risk. Instead, clean up your act and keep searching for ways to be more efficient. Doing so might also spare you the misery of having to burn the midnight oil when deadlines loom and your work just hasnt gotten done.This article was originally published on The Motley Fool . It is reprinted with permission.