What are top 10 professional life hacks?

We spend a major part of our lives working in a 9-5 job so that we can ensure that our future is secure and we can provide a desired lifestyle for ourselves and our loved ones. During the course of our professional life, we come to realize that our professional life can significantly impact our personal lives. So over the years, working in a single job or sailing through multiple roles, we come learn what holds us back and what helps us move ahead.

Here are professional life hacks that anybody in the 9-5 rut needs to adhere to for a stress-free professional life and to maintain a balanced equation between personal and professional roles. 

Here are ten professional life hacks that can help you boost your productivity, stay organized, and succeed in your career:

1. Work more closely with your Managers, Notice their work style and way of handling things, it will help you in your growth when you will be promoted.
2. Always love your work, not the organization where you are working.
3. Be punctual if possible reach 5 minutes before the time.
4. Learn to understand the office politics and don't react to everything that people talk around, act wisely
5. Keep your personal life away from professional life as much as possible.
6. Mind your own business but keep the ears open.
7. Help your peers in all possible ways but to an extent, sharing knowledge is always a good thing to do.
8. Keep your salary confidential and never ask your colleagues about their salary.
9. Never sit idle, do learn something out of your job role in leisure time, Ask your colleague or manager of other departments about their work and responsibilities.
10. Keep the communication healthy with your teammates.
11. Brainstorm, Q & A session, all hands-on events are important for consistent growth, do not forget to organize/attend such events.
12. Be open to challenges, take new responsibilities, and excel in that, you might fail on the first attempt but you will gain experience.
13. People in professional life are calculative and manipulative too, so you should learn how to handle them.
14. Always report about your task and targets via mail, never believe in anything which has been communicated verbally, ask for mail all the time as it becomes part of your proof.
15. Never postpone your work for tomorrow, finish all the tasks within the timeline, keep updating about your task and any challenges faced during your completion of work to the manager.
16. Keep upgrading your skills and learn new things regularly.
17. Working hard in the office is fine but you should know your responsibilities clearly and learn when to say no politely.
18. Do not forget to walk for a while after sitting for an hour, it's really not healthy to sit for long hours.
19. Treat everyone equally.
20. Speak for your right wherever required, if needed stand alone and fight for your right.
21. Do not forget to ask for an appraisal even if the organization is not doing any appraisal for any particular year wholly.
22. Switch organization after every 2–3 years, it is important for professional growth as it provides new challenges, responsibilities, and new ideas to explore your ability. Even your vision will get broaden after knowing new people after a period of time.
23. Dress well, comb hair properly, and wear nice shoes which are important to look confident and definitely bring positivity around.
24. Start Your Day Early: Pick up and read any successful person’s daily routine and you will find one habit which is a constant - they are all early risers. Don’t worry if you are in the habit of sleeping late; habits can always change. Try waking up as early as 5 AM or 6 AM. Once it becomes a habit, you will realize that you are more productive during work hours and can get your work done with much more efficiency.
25. Make Your Communication Game Strong: If you are pursuing a career in a field you are passionate about, you are not only lucky but are smart too. But, being smart doesn’t always guarantee success in your professional life. Communication plays an integral role, though it is a trait often given a backseat. You need to know how to present yourself well in front of co-workers, how to simplify complex ideas for being better understood, to present your arguments, etc. An important thing to keep in mind is never fear feedback as it will help you improve yourself. Grab every opportunity to improve your communication skills - written and verbal.
26. Set Boundaries and Know When to Stop: Work is never-ending; the sooner you accept it, the better. So don’t wait for the work to get over before you can do anything of your choice. It is okay, and even important to set boundaries and stop at a task to wind up your day on time. Avoid checking work emails over the weekend unless it is urgent. Avoid multitasking and focus on one task at a time and do the task which is easy due to which it bring momemtum or snow ball effect to do other tasks. Work hard when it is required, but knowing when to stop is equally important. This will make you more efficient in your workplace and let you cultivate healthy personal relationships.
27. Start Saving Early: Start by saving 5 percent of your income and gradually increase the portion as you rise on the income ladder. Saving as much as you can in the early stages of your professional life grants you financial freedom in the later stages of life. This, however, does not mean that you have to lead a boring stingy life – spend smartly, on things you really like while judiciously on other aspects.
28. Use Your Leaves Generously: A lot of us think that not taking any leaves from work indicate that you are more hardworking and loyal as an employee. This is false! Taking a break from work is important! That is why those leaves are assigned to you by your employer. So take that long-pending vacation with your family or all by yourself. You will notice that your performance will improve once you take timely breaks and you come back to the workplace with a fresher perspective and approach.
29. Prioritize your to-do list: Start each day by creating a to-do list and prioritize the tasks based on their importance and urgency. Focus on completing the most critical tasks first.

30.Use the Pomodoro Technique: This technique involves working for 25 minutes straight and taking a 5-minute break. This method helps you to stay focused and avoid burnout.

31.Avoid multitasking: Focus on one task at a time to ensure that you complete it efficiently and accurately.

32.Learn to say "no": Saying "no" to non-essential tasks or projects can help you stay focused on what's important and avoid over-committing.

33.Take regular breaks: Taking regular breaks throughout the day can help you recharge and stay productive.

34.Automate repetitive tasks: Use tools and software to automate repetitive tasks, such as email templates, social media scheduling, or invoicing.

35.Set goals: Set realistic and achievable goals for your career, and break them down into smaller, actionable steps.

36.Keep learning: Continuously learning and expanding your skills can help you stay relevant and competitive in your industry.

37.Use the power of networking: Building relationships with other professionals in your industry can open doors for new opportunities and help you grow your career.

38.Practice self-care: Take care of yourself physically and mentally, including getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and taking time to do things you enjoy outside of work.

Switch organization after every 2–3 years, it is important for professional growth as it provides new challenges.

• But there is another side of the story, One of the employees has been with the organization for almost 20 years now, He has climbed up to the top of the hierarchy, earns a six-digit salary monthly in a small town, so no big expenses go backpacking every four or five years by taking a hiatus (allowed in some companies, its a pause or break in continuity in a sequence or activity). So sticking to one company for 5 to 10 years or even for longer periods can be useful depending upon your future plan.

You should definitely discuss your salary with people in the same position. Only a few will be uncomfortable.

• Remember your colleagues have the same hesitancy as you. But remember not to breach the policy of that organization and discussion should be private with colleagues should not reach the management.

FYI:

Why one should not ask about salary to their colleagues?

1. 90% of people don't like to answer this question.

2. It may create unwanted gossip, jealousy, and even backbiting among colleagues.

3. Even the employer never wants you to discuss this with another colleague in any case.

4. There may be a chance where one employee may ask for appraisal just because he is getting less than the others as a result of a salary discussion among colleagues.

Alternative ways of knowing Salary Standards:

1. There are many websites which give you the information about the salary of posts, they even give the exact number as per the industry standard.

2. You will eventually know how much you deserve as soon as you start gaining experience.

3. And of course you will come to know about other salaries through your colleagues.