The amount of work that the average employee needs to do every week increases steadily as the years go by. Did you think that the workweek was 40 hours? Think again; the average working person is now clocking in at least 47 hours per week at work. Try as we might, there just isn’t any way to put more hours into the work day. We can do the next best thing however; and that is to work more efficiently and effectively.

Focus makes a more effective worker.
In this age of multitasking, it can be tempting to try to do everything at once at all times. After all, coworkers and bosses like seeing people who seem to be able to focus on multiple things at once. The problem with trying to do several critical tasks at the same time is that none of these tasks ends up getting the attention that they actually deserve. The best office strategy is to focus on one task until it's done and then move on to the next one.

Use a calendar for everything.
One of the biggest drains on productivity is the tendency for workers to try to keep everything in their heads at all times. This ‘thought soup’ method of time organization forces the mind to keep busy just keeping track of everything that needs to be done; actually getting these things done is another thing altogether. The best way to work effectively is to download tasks from your mental agenda to a real calendar. It may seem counterintuitive to take the time to write tasks down, but doing so allows you to release the mental energy that you previously has to spend just trying to remember what you need to get done. Can you think of something to do with all of that extra mental energy?

Having a routine always make things go smoother.
Whether you’re an executive or a grade-schooler, doing things in a logical order ensures that everything that you need to do gets its proper attention. Schedule tasks in order of importance and knock them out one by one. Working this way ensures that your most critical tasks get the most attention. Occasionally, you may want to vary this schedule and move an easy job up to the front of the line just to give yourself a break.

Keep that smartphone turned off.
It’s almost a sacrilege to say this, but smartphones are a major source of distraction at work. The human brain is only capable of focusing on one thing at a time. What this means is that every time your phone beeps, vibrates or rings, your attention and focus are being diverted from your job. Throughout a typical day, a busy smartphone can cause you to have to focus and refocus hundreds of times. Give yourself a break and turn the phone off while you’re working.

Use technology to work more efficiently.
The process of arranging and holding meetings is one of the biggest time-drains in any office. Getting one person to work in a timely manner is difficult enough; that difficulty only multiplies as more individuals are added to the mix. One way to ensure smooth meetings is to use meeting room scheduling software such as the kind offered by Add-On. This software allows users to manage all of the myriad details involved with scheduling a meeting from one convenient location, and can save you the trouble of having to juggle different reminders and agendas.

Always pace yourself.
Speaking of breaks, don’t forget to schedule regular breaks throughout your work day. Taking a break schedule ensures that you won't be overwhelmed by your work. Breaks allow the mind to rest and to allow you to return to the problem afterward looking at it from a different angle. Having a regular break schedule also means that you can tell your friends and family to call you during these breaks if they really need to get in touch with you. Smart planning is the essence of multitasking.

Examine the way that you work.
Perhaps the most important thing that anyone can do to improve the way that they work is to examine their work process. Are certain things taking more time than others? Do you find yourself having to go back and correct mistakes often? Sometimes, we get into patterns of inefficiency at work. The only way to resolve these patterns is to first recognize their existence.