Wrong! The truth is that working part-time can make you more stressed out and possibly feeling more overworked than a full-time worker.

Integrating part-time work and other responsibilities is one of the biggest hurdles faced by part-timers. Shifting from one role to the next takes some doing.

In the book: Work and Life Integration: Organizational, Cultural, and Individual Perspectives, Kossek and Lambert claim that to make part-time employment and role integration work for you, a mental shift  is required, both by you and those around you, and in some cases even your employer. It is therefore necessary that you address the space and time that you need to work efficiently in each role so that you can fulfill your obligations.

Separate Work from Other Spheres

• Make your work space a separate area where you are able to give your undivided attention to your work. If you telecommute, create this area in your home, preferably in a room of its own, or reserve a corner of an existing room (the study for example).
• Talk to other household members and make them aware that this is your work space. That means, when you are in the room, you are at work and not at home, in your usual household capacity. This may be a tough adjustment for everyone at first but establishing this boundary between work and personal life early on is essential. Creating a suitable arrangement with the rest of the household will also eliminate any guilt you may feel if you aren’t participating in household activities during that time.
• Once you leave your work space though, leave your work at work. The inability to separate work from the rest of our lives causes work creep, where “the work domain gradually encroaches on personal and family time.” This causes tension in relationships as well as added stress and hampers total productivity over time.
• Do not respond to work-related calls, texts or emails outside your designated work time. If you are already used to working at all hours, wean yourself off this habit and notice the difference.
• Keep the home-front organized and its loose ends will not bother you at work, and vice versa.

Economize on Time

As a part-timer, you have more differentiated tasks than someone who is dedicating an entire working day to one field of work. This means that you have to be smarter with your time than a full-time worker.

• Sleep early and wake up early according to a weekly routine for better health and more time. Our beloved Prophet wished this for us with his prayer: “O Allah, bless my Ummah in its early hours”. [Tirmidhi] What better motivation than this to get started early?
• Fit in small tasks such as preparing lunches the night before. You can also plan your outfit for the morning the night before, if this takes too much time in the morning.
• Clear your work area at the end of each work day. You should also note down your tasks for the next day before you leave your work space.
• Delegate and share responsibilities at home and at work where you can. This way, you don’t overburden yourself or those around you.
• Uni-task. Multi-tasking has been proven to reduce productivity, especially in the long run. Focus your complete attention on the task at hand and complete it before you reach for another. If you absolutely must, bear in mind that multi-tasking has been proven to work better across similar tasks, or tasks which require minimal concentration, e.g. browsing through a magazine while waiting for your cake to bake.
• Resist the temptation to take very long breaks and procrastinate on tasks simply because you may have more time to do them. Wasting time consistently will lead to falling behind in the long run.
• Use a time-management matrix that schedules your tasks in order of importance and urgency. Then put it up where you can see it throughout the day. Productive Muslim’s Daily Taskinator allows you to do just that. Download the blank template and fill it into keep you focused on what’s really important.

Discipline and Accountability

Have you noticed the golden thread running through this article so far? Yes, it’s discipline! Since part-timers are largely accountable to themselves, self-discipline is the watchword.

• When you map out your tasks for the day, be realistic about what you can fit in every day and stick to it. Take short breaks throughout the day and then return to getting things done.
• Having said that, set flexible goals and be kind to yourself. If you have a creative task on your agenda for the week, you need to be in the right frame of mind to give it your best. Deferring it from Monday to Tuesday won’t kill the cat. But substitute this task for another one to maintain a continuous workflow.
• Draw up an accountability system for yourself so that you can take stock of your own productivity. I review progress on my weekly tasks with a quick glance at my diary at the end of the week. If it’s been a productive one, I reward myself with something nice or a bit of extra time off. If NOT, I give myself a good talking to (it usually works!). Alternatively, adopt an accountability partner to review your progress and offer support.

Trial and Error

• Achieving productive integration of our roles as part-timers is something that takes a bit of time and fine-tuning. You may find that you dedicate a lot of time to one task and excel at it, while another constantly suffers. Owning up to this realization and reallocating time from your favorite task/s to your least-favorite will have to be done by you, for you. Review your progress often and make changes. Adapt where necessary. You will probably have to do this often when starting out as a part-timer until you establish a routine.
• You can then use the ProductiveMuslim Habitator to check that you are keeping to your routine and maintaining productive habits. It uses a points system over a monthly period to track your progress in the physical, spiritual and social spheres of your life. Download it now and get started.

Don’t be Greedy

• Our biggest problem as part-timers with various roles to fill is that we often spread ourselves too thin. It is funny how we crave for more free time. However, the more of it we have, the more we cram in. In doing so, we often get less done.
• Take a leaf from the wisdom of our Prophet Muhammad :“Be moderate in seeking worldly things, for everyone will be facilitated for which he was created..” [Ibn Majah].Not taking on more than you can handle and pacing yourself prevents burnout.

We are always striving to maximize our work productivity but we should also strive to create a balance between the various spheres of our lives. If we make good time for prayer, family, recreation and relaxation, we can reduce stress and strive to become Productive All-Rounders by the mercy of Allah .

Do you have any tips on how to Be a Productive Part-Timer? Please leave a comment and share with us.

The post Productive Part-Timer: How to Integrate Multiple Roles appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

When you have your plate full, keeping focused isn’t always easy. And when we can’t give our full attention to a task, we can’t give it our best. This can start a cycle of demotivation and non-productivity, unless we pull in the reins and turn it around.

It takes a strong resolve to focus, good motivation, and working smartly to beat distractions. Here are some ways to hone your ability to focus and stay focused on the task at hand:

1. Planned productivity

Reserve time for daily tasks according to how your personal productivity and attention levels vary throughout the day. You might be a morning person for example, whose mind is freshest for challenging tasks early in the day, and simpler ones later. If you aren’t sure when you are most productive, consciously explore this over a week or two, making notes of what works well for you.

2. “Diarize”

When you have figured out your personal productivity scale, note down your tasks for the day in a small diary that you can carry around with you, and update as you go along. Taking tasks out of your head and putting them on paper is a relief for your mind, and a written commitment to yourself. Be realistic about how much you can fit into one day, taking into account your other responsibilities.

3. You can’t eat an elephant!

Break up big tasks into small manageable ones that you can note down, and handle step-by-step. This makes them easier to carry out, and should leave you feeling less overwhelmed. Once you have noted something down, stick to what you have set out: whether you feel like doing it or not. Small acts done consistently will bear fruit over time. Allah exhorts us to persevere in order to beat the clock and attain eternal success:

“By (the Token of) time (through the Ages). Verily Man is in loss. Except such as have Faith and do righteous deeds and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth and of Patience and Constancy.” [Qur’an: Chapter 103, Verses 1-3]

Keep at it to keep your head above water! Take regular breaks, re-group and don’t give up.

4. Direct your focus

Remove all distractions that are taking your mind off the task at hand, or decreasing your productivity. Be honest with yourself about what these are. 
Do not have any social networks close at hand while working! If you think you can multi-task better than most online, read the next tip.
If you aren’t sure of your optimal working environment, research ways to improve it and experiment with different options until you find a good fit for yourself.

5. Mono-task

In today’s always-on hyper-connected world, it is difficult to resist the temptation to open a new tab when we work online. And when we’re offline, our handheld devices never skip a beat. We forget that we have the power to choose to switch off. Given current research, mono-tasking is the smarter choice. A while ago multi-tasking was all the rage. But now it has been scientifically proven that in constant switching back and forth between tasks, one is actually slowed down.

The impact of multi-tasking varies across tasks of different intensities. Switching between casually reading a magazine and texting a friend won’t reduce productivity as greatly as texting and driving will (where the accompanying slowdown can mean life or death), but some level of impairment does occur. According to one study, productivity can be reduced by as much as 40 percent due to the mental slowdown in switching tasks.

Even more shocking is that over time, “heavy” media multi-taskers experience a reduced ability to filter out irrelevant information, i.e. distractors. That means that while we may think we’re getting more done at once, we’re actually reducing our own ability to focus, and in effect, our productivity!

A word to the wise: Reduce multi-tasking across unrelated tasks as far as possible.

6. Reward yourself

Sometimes when we have a task ahead of us – even if we enjoy the work we are doing – it can be a struggle to actually get down to doing it. This is only human, and we work better when we’re motivated to do a task. So why not create a reward for yourself for afterwards, as motivation to get it done? It doesn’t have to be extravagant or expensive. It can be something as simple as sitting in the park sipping your favorite coffee undisturbed, or taking a trip to the swimming pool, which you never have time for. Make time to get your tasks done, and make time for yourself too.

7. Don’t overdo it

It is important to know when you have passed your productivity level on a certain task and are now beating a dead horse. When your back aches and your mind isn’t functioning as well as it was, give yourself a break and focus on a simpler task. You can come back to this one when your mind is refreshed and ready again.

8. Keep sharp

Sleep well, eat healthy and make time for prayer, recreation and socializing. Work time should be work time, and rest time is rest time.
As believers, our strength is in our faith. It keeps us grounded and focused. So relax and focus your mind with meditation on Allah ’s creation, and do dhikr for a few minutes every day.

Try to establish a routine for your daily tasks: concentrating and getting them done one at a time will soon become a habit, in sha Allah.

Most importantly, make time each day to reflect on your deeds for the day and your productivity towards this life, and the next. Review to improve constantly, and the sky is the limit!

The post 8 Ways to Develop Concentration and Stay Focused appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.

When you’re a student, sharing a living space makes sense in terms of sharing the cost of living and domestic responsibilities. However, it also means that you are now co-responsible for running a household, which takes work.

You will have to re-adjust your living habits to some extent as you move into a new environment, filled with new people.

The productivity of your student life will be affected by how safe and comfortable a study and living space your new home is. As a housemate, you will naturally contribute towards the atmosphere and running of the house, which will in turn affect your productivity.

Here are some tips on how you can be a productive housemate:

1. Draw up a joint schedule

Manage shared responsibilities by drawing up a schedule for dealing with the realities of ‘adult’ life such as paying bills, doing the laundry, the cleaning and the shopping. Give each other a copy of your study and exam timetables so that each of you knows when the other is available, and when he/she is likely to be busier.

2. Keep to your end of the bargain

Pay your share of the rent on time, and do your share of the responsibilities without constantly having to be reminded of them by your fellow flatmates. This fosters goodwill in the house, and wards off tension and conflict. Also, it is only when you do your bit that you can expect the same in return.

As the Prophet said: 

“He who desires to be rescued from the fire of Hell and to enter Jannah, should die in a state of complete belief in Allah and the Last Day, and should do unto others what he wishes to be done unto him. [Riyadh as Saliheen]”

3. Save!

Living with fellow students means you can pool resources to save on time, effort and money. As one of my course instructors loved to say: “Work smart, not hard!”

Here are just a few ways to do this:

• Carpool
• Make a joint effort to save on costs, wherever possible. This can be done by being more aware of your consumption as a household in terms of electricity, water, and other expenses
• Where possible, share study material with each other
• Take turns for errands, such as grocery shopping or going to Clothesline Dry Cleaners, and make a list to get as many done at one time (once a week for example)

4. Be open

Communication is key to any successful relationship. If you can be friends with your fellow flatmates, that would be the ideal. If not, at least strive to maintain respect and open dialogue. This is especially important when you feel that for any reason, you are unable to fulfill your responsibilities. Your flatmate should feel comfortable enough to discuss the same with you.

5. Flexibility and compromise

When situations in which your flatmate cannot meet certain responsibilities occur – and they will – be open to compromise. Discuss possible alternatives and come to a new agreement, even if it is a temporary one. When one of you has a major exam coming up for example, the other can pitch in to do a bit extra that week, and the one who has compromised can enjoy the same privilege when they are in that position.

6. Be considerate

Be considerate of your fellow housemates at all times, in terms of the space you take up, and the noise or mess you may make. It is after all a shared space you are occupying. Again, if you feel you need more or less leeway in this regard, talk it through and reach an understanding.

7. Give and take

Give generously, and receive graciously. We can do this in so many ways. You can give of yourself by offering an attentive ear or lending a helping hand, for example. Consider and treat your fellow flatmates as family, and hopefully you can receive the same treatment and support from them. After all, we only get what we give.

8. Share and grow

We learn from the people we live with, and they from us. If you’re lucky enough to be doing the same courses as your flatmate, you can study together or compare notes. If not, you may be able to learn new study methods, and share your own. This can make your study-time more productive, while also promote bonding in the house.

When you’re not studying, share common interests and do leisure activities together, or learn new skills from one another. If your housemate is an excellent cook for example, ask them to teach you a few things, instead of simply relying on him/her to take over preparing meals. You on the other hand, might be good at a sport which you can invite your flatmates to learn and participate in.

9. Maintain balance

While change can be good in many ways, we also risk the danger of getting carried away in new and unfamiliar environment. Learn and share with your flatmates, but don’t lose yourself in the process. If you are in the habit of performing all your prayers on time, don’t be influenced to give this up for anything. Rather, keep to your devotional habits and you may soon become a source of good influence, with Allah’s mercy. On the other hand, do observe and learn from the good of those you live with.

It is our duty to encourage one another to good deeds, and away from evil, as Allah tells us in the Holy Qur’an:

“Help you one another in righteousness and piety; but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is severe in punishment.” [Qur’an: Chapter 5, Verse 2]

Having said that, strive to maintain a balance between study and leisure. Plan your study time well, so that you don’t end up stressed and cramming in last-minute studying as the end of the semester approaches. Also make time for a bit of regular relaxation to ensure that you don’t suffer a burnout when you need the energy most.

10. Be pleasant

The Prophet said:

“Shall I not tell you who is kept away from Hell and from whom Hell is kept away? From everyone who is gentle and kindly, approachable and of an easy disposition.” [Tirmidhi]

This is especially important if you’re living with or in close proximity to non-Muslims, as they will notice your general behavior, and in this way we can either become callers to, or away from the beauty of Islam. Though we often forget it, we are all performing non-verbal da’wah in our daily lives as Muslims.

All in all, your relationship with your housemate is much the same as any other in that it requires mutual respect, openness and understanding in order to work well. As for the daily mechanics of a student’s life, a little bit of planning and discipline, and a whole lot of faith will go a long way towards productivity, insha Allah.

The post How to be a Productive Student Flatmate appeared first on ProductiveMuslim.com.