How can you get more work done in less time? You’ve been fed this idea that productivity entails installing the latest app or chaining yourself to your office chair.
While it’s true that some apps (and slavery) can possibly work, there’s a much simpler solution to becoming more efficient. Here are tried and tested ways to get the job done in less time.
Be absolutely ruthless
With your time that is. Discipline should be one of your biggest priorities if you don’t want to end up wasting all those years, minutes, and seconds. Make a schedule and stick to it. If you say you’re waking up at 6am, then don’t let your alarm snooze until it’s 9am.
But be flexible, too
Of course there are days when the unexpected creeps in and your perfect schedule is suddenly ruined. This isn’t the end of the world. Keep calm and do the most urgent tasks first and the least important stuff last.
Prioritize your priorities
Identify your top three tasks for the day and prioritize accomplishing them. The teeny tasks you think you need to do are sometimes the biggest distractors to your work.
Focus, focus, focus
It’s easy to get distracted and lose sight of what you’re doing with all the real-time notifications, private messaging systems, and culture of procrastination we’ve built into our daily lives. Set your mind on two to four hours of focused uninterrupted work per day. You’ll be surprised at what you’ll be able to accomplish.
Do the mundane tasks while you’re commuting
Bored during the long commute to and from the office? Maximize the downtime by answering your messages, scheduling meetings, checking your email, or creating your grocery list.
Set a schedule for email and private messages
Email, SMS, and PMs are one of the biggest time-wasters. Block a time to respond to these messages and let your contacts know it. Don’t train others to expect that you’re on-call 24 hours a day. Use the auto-responder in your email or smartphone to let people know when you’ll be reachable.
Delegate tasks
Why do everything when you can ask for help? Admit it; you’re not always the best one for the job. Give opportunities to others, and stop thinking that you’re such a superhero.
Learn to say no
If an office mate wants to chitchat or a friend is demanding for your time even if it’s not an emergency, put your foot down. You can do this without being being rude; tell them that you’d love to set a date after work or during the weekends.
Keep your breaks sacred
Fatigue and stress make you less productive. Take short breaks when you need them, take your lunch when its lunch break, and get some sleep when you get home.
Shut the door
Some companies have this open door policy to create a “culture of openness”. This is all fine until the culture becomes distracting. If you want to do this, set a schedule for that open door. If you’re working from home, let your family know that you don’t love them less just because you kept the door shut while working.
Did these tips work for you? What other time-savers can you recommend? We’d love to hear from you.
The post 10 Ways to get more work done in less time appeared first on .