24 hours. How well do you use the given hours in each day?
Counseling patients, networking, speaking with insurance companies or filling prescriptions—it requires Herculean effort to get everything done that’s required of a pharmacy owner or manager. Sometimes it can almost seem impossible.
Are you ready to become your most productive self? Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a list of 20 things the most productive pharmacists do to keep themselves on the track to success.
1. Get some sleep
Catching the right amount of Z’s is a simple way to increase your daily productivity. For reference, the National Sleep Foundation recommends adults ages 26 and older sleep between seven and nine hours a night. A good night’s rest will ensure you wake up alert and ready to take on the demands of pharmacy management.
2. Have a to-do list
Being organized is key to productivity. Every evening before you leave work, compile a list of what you need to get done the next day. Creating a to-do list will remind you of things you may have forgotten to get done, and checking tasks off your list will help you feel accomplished on your most stressful days at work.
3. Ditch unnecessary electronics
Social media, texts and personal phone calls can all lead to the demise of a productive work environment. Shutting off your cellphone, when you know you need to get something important done, can help you complete tasks you wouldn’t have done if you’d been focusing on your phone’s screen.
4. Know when to say “no”
Remember that it’s okay to say “no” if your schedule is too full. It’s okay to decline the offer to chair a local community board or to speak at an area pharmacy school if you’ve got too much on your plate. Focus on the tasks you need to do without getting overwhelmed by obligations.
5. Don’t overschedule yourself
Maintaining a hectic schedule may make you feel like you’re being productive. But a jam-packed agenda may actually be working against you. Don’t let work overwhelm you. Focus on the tasks at hand, and most importantly your patients.
6. Take a break
Everyone needs a break every once in awhile. In fact, your busy schedule almost requires it. How can you give 100 percent if you’re burnt out with work? Taking a short walk around your pharmacy’s neighborhood or eating lunch at the park across the street is essential to staying sane, and keeping your work at its peak performance.
7. Do the most difficult task first
Is resolving third party issues your most dreaded task of the day? Or, do you procrastinate planning events for your pharmacy?
No matter what your least desired job duty is, completing the most difficult task on your to-do list first can help make the rest of your day more productive. Once you’ve completed the most difficult task, you’ll feel like you can accomplish anything else.
8. Delegate
The most productive pharmacists know when to delegate work to other employees. Do you have a talented pharmacy technician with a knack for social media? If so, hand off that duty to her. Not only will employees appreciate being delegated tasks, taking a few things off your shoulders will allow you to complete other higher-level tasks.
9. Prioritize
Prioritizing your tasks from high to low importance will increase your productivity. For example, if a certain project has a deadline, do that task before another.
10. Hire like-minded employees
Working with compatible individuals can lead to both a socially cohesive and more productive workplace. Think back to when you were in college, and those dreaded group projects. They’re not so bad in the real world if you’re working with people you like who are willing to help.
11. Use tools that increase productivity
If you’re having trouble managing your time with patients and other responsibilities, use the tools available to help you complete your tasks.
For example, you likely want to keep up with your pharmacy’s social media pages, but you can’t find the time to do it regularly. If this is the case, it may be a good idea to preschedule your social media posts with an online tool like Hootsuite, which allows you to manage all your social media accounts in one place.
12. Cut out unnecessary activities
Do you feel like you spend your day doing menial tasks when you could be spending time with patients or planning out a new space for your front end? Cut out unnecessary activities.
For example, consider implementing automation at your pharmacy to fill prescriptions more efficiently. Not only will it make filling times faster for you and your patients, it will free up your time to do other tasks that can’t be completed by a robot.
13. Develop a routine
Having a set routine will make life exponentially easier for you. It will also help you remember to do certain things you may forget to do otherwise.
14. Brainstorm with others
Stuck on a project? If you’re having trouble staying focused, consult the wisdom of others.
For example, if you’re trying to find ways to market flu shots at your pharmacy, brainstorm with your coworkers. You may find that someone else can develop and build on your ideas to make them even better.
15. Become educated
Having trouble focusing at work? A little self-help book never hurt anyone. Read books that will teach you ways to increase your productivity, such as this list recommended by Inc., a magazine dedicated to providing advice, tools, and services that help small businesses grow.
16. Complete similar tasks at the same time
Time-blocking certain tasks to do at the same time can increase your productivity. For example, schedule 30 minutes at the beginning of the day to check email, listen to voicemails and plan out your day. Don’t let yourself get distracted. Stick to the tasks that you blocked off time to complete.
17. Keep track of your health
As a pharmacist, you already know it’s important to keep in good health. Not only will you set a good example for your patients, but with the right diet and exercise you’ll have the energy you need to tackle your day.
18. Be punctual
The saying, “the early bird catches the worm” can speak true for any business. Whether it’s being the first one at work or arriving early to a professional event to network, punctuality is key.
19. Remain positive
Being productive is hard. But keeping a happy outlook is crucial for patients, your employees and staying on track to completing your daily duties.
20. Reward yourself
Getting everything done that you need to in your pharmacy is difficult. If you’re productive, reward yourself for your hard work.
Want to improve your pharmacy’s workflow? Learn how in just six simple steps.
