While every job is going to be challenging, at least at times, that doesn’t mean it should feel like a slog each and every day. If even the simplest tasks seem to take an eternity, or like they are harder for you than anyone else in your workplace, it’s possible that it isn’t the duty itself, it’s how you are tackling it.

In some cases, your approach to a task could be harming your productivity, as you are making the work much harder than it would be otherwise. Here are a few things that you may be doing that could actually be making your job more difficult.

If you’ve been in your role for a while, you’ve likely become comfortable with a variety of processes that were in place since you started in the position. Effectively, they are your normal way of doing things, so the idea of abandoning them for an updated approach might not seem very appealing.

However, if a new process was introduced, there is likely a reason. It may be more efficient or make better use of a new technology when compared to the old way of doing business. By clinging to the past, you aren’t getting the benefits of what’s current.

While change can be scary, it is often necessary. Once you familiarize yourself with the newer process, keeping up with your colleagues will probably be easier. Plus, you’ll likely get comfortable with the updated approach much faster than you realize, so consider giving it a try today and see if things aren’t better. Even if you need to ask for some help or training, it’s nearly always worth the effort.

While receiving confirmation that you are on the right track can make you feel more confident, getting validation from everyone is unnecessary. Not only does it take from other people’s workdays but it also keeps you from focusing on the next task, making you less productive.

Instead of touching base with everyone who may be impacted by your work, find out who the assigned decision maker is and only get a stamp of approval from them. This can give you the confirmation you need and sufficiently covers your bases but takes the shortest amount of time possible.

Having a solid plan can be incredibly beneficial. However, if you find the need to thoroughly plan for every possible outcome, your overanalyzing is doing more harm than good.

When your planning hits extreme levels, you aren’t just mitigating risk; you’re delaying your ability to start. Plus, giving all of the potential roadblocks some of your time is incredibly stressful as you are concentrating on the worst-case scenarios, even if they are exceptionally remote.

While understanding that you may encounter problems is wise, don’t try to plan for every potential issue. Instead, craft a basic plan and actually start the task. As you proceed, you can always adjust your approach when the need arises, so don’t let your planner nature prevent you from doing the work laid out before you.

By following the tips above, you can make sure that you aren’t making your job harder than necessary. If you’d like to learn more about workplace productivity, the professionals at The Advance Group can help. Contact us to speak with one of our skilled team members today and see how our expertise can benefit you.